Diversity

Question 1

What is meant by identity

Answer 1

Can be sometimes that is created by individual characteristics thus creating a personal identity

Question 2

Joanna Thornborrow (2004)

Answer 2

Began her discussion on identity by stating: ‘One of the most fundamental ways we have of establishing the identity, and of shaping other people’s views of who we are, is through our use of Language.’

Question 3

William Labov 1961: Martha’s Vineyard Study

Answer 3

The focus was dialectology in Martha’s Vineyard, an island which, although part of the state of Massachusetts, is fairly isolated and can only be accessed via boat. A popular tourist destination.
The main finding was linked to group identity. Certain groups in his sample shared the tendency to pronounce the diphthongs, these tended to be a small group that had fishermen, people between the ages of 31 and 45 and Up-Islanders (Original islanders in a less populated area at the Western end of the island which was not as popular with tourists)
The conclusion was that this group wanted to create their own identity and Vineyarders, distancing themselves from the tourists who were frequent visitors

Question 4

Standard English

Answer 4

The dialect of English that is considered to have the most prestige ands is used in the education system and in formal written texts

Question 5

Slang

Answer 5

Referred to words and phrases which are considered informal, is there a tendency for your social group to use more slang than standard

Question 6

Dialect

Answer 6

Remember that dialect can be lexical features or variations in grammar. In the Yorkshire dialect, for example, lexical examples include snicket (an alleyway), spice (sweets), laiking/lecking out (playing out) and beefing (crying). Grammatical variations in this dialect include ellipsis of the definite article (Let’s go to shops) and the use of ‘were’ in place of ‘was’ (I were late).

Question 7

Taboo

Answer 7

Lexical choices which can be deemed to be offensive, taboo language includes searing or using words which are considered inappropriate and unacceptable.

Question 8

Technology influenced words and phrases

Answer 8

There is evidence that certain social groups use words and phrases in their speech which are normally associated with written technology forms such as tweets, texts and other forms of instant messages

Question 9

Neologisms

Answer 9

New words are constantly entering the English language. In 2013 and 2014, new additions to the Oxford English Dictionary included: bestie, selfie, me time, twerking, unlike, emoji, and geek chic

Question 10

Occupational Register

Answer 10

Sometimes stemming from personal interests, an occupational register or jargon is largely based on shared understanding between certain groups or individuals

Question 11

Received pronunciation

Answer 11

This accent is used in teaching of English as a foreign language and used in dictionaries which give pronunciations

Question 12

Regional accent

Answer 12

RP is not associated with particular area of the country. In contrast, one of the key aspects of language diversity is regional accent. This is the way you pronounce certain words depending on where you live

Question 13

Idiomatic Phrases

Answer 13

A phrase that has an accepted and known meaning that is different from the dictionary definition of each individual word

Question 14

Social mobility

Answer 14

A phrase that is used to describe a person’s move from one social class or level to another - this may occur through changing jobs, getting married or a through change in a person’s economic or financial situation

Question 15

Code-switching

Answer 15

Occurs when a bilingual speaker will use and alternate between different languages while talking

Question 16

Multiple negation

Answer 16

When a sentence or utterance contains more than one negation

Question 17

Plural Marking

Answer 17

The method of making a singular noun into its plural form

Question 18

Unmarked plurality

Answer 18

when a singular form of a noun is use rather than the plural

Question 19

Dialect levelling

Answer 19

the process by which language forms of different parts of the country converge and become more similar over time, with the loss of regional features and reduced diversity of language

Question 20

Gary Ives (2014)

Answer 20

Commissioned two case studies to be carried out in London and Bradford. In each study the participants were questioned and subsequently discussed their language use and, more specifically, their dialect.

Question 21

Jenny Chesire and Viv Edwards (1997)

Answer 21

In a national survey, they found that the use of ‘them’ as a demonstrative was reported by 97.9 per cent of the schools who took part in the survey.

Question 22

Kortmann and Szmrecsanyi (2004)

Answer 22

Indicated that the use of ‘them’ is part of all English dialects (excpect Orkney/Shetland) The use of ‘them’ in place of ‘those’ is of obvious importance when discussing grammatical variations