Age

Question 1

What does Jenny Cheshire say regarding the reason for language development?

Answer 1

“Adult language, as well as child language, is developed in response to important life events”

Question 2

What did Unni Berland research?

Answer 2

How teenagers used tags (e.g. innit, yeah) and how these are class related- innit=WC, yeah=MC. Generally used the same by both genders. Tags can signify that teens may be feeling unsure and are seeking reassurance

Question 3

What did Penelope Eckert say are features of Teen speak?

Answer 3

• Irregular turn taking/overlaps
• Word shortening and slang
• Code switching
• Use of fillers ‘like’ ‘okay’
• Use of negatives
• Use of tags
• Use on non-grammatical features
• verbal duelling

Question 4

What did Zimmerman say were the major influences of teenspeak?

Answer 4

• The media/ press
• New means of communication/ social media
• Music
• Street art

Question 5

What did Martinez say about the way in which teenagers use language?

Answer 5

Negatives used more frequently by teenagers than adults. Teens tend to be more direct. Negatives tend to be more informal- e.g. no way, nope, nah

Question 6

What did Odato research?

Answer 6

He researched the use of ‘like’. He found that ‘like’ was used not just by teens, but also in children as young as 4

Question 7

What did Gary Ives find out in his study?

Answer 7

100% of the 63 teens in west yorkshire he asked said that people do speak differently depending on their age.

Question 8

What assumption did Gary Ives find around swearing in relation to age?

Answer 8

As we get older our language becomes more standardised and we will stop swearing and eventually become ‘posh’