Familect

Question 1

What is a familect?

Answer 1

‘A technical term for these dialects of the home: they call them familects’

Question 2

What is a shibboleth?

Answer 2

According to the Cambridge definition, it is a ‘word, phrase, custom, etc. only known to group of people, that you can use to prove to them that you are a real member of that group.

Question 3

How does it link with Familect? And what is it an example of?

Answer 3

Shibboleth come out of neologisms within family households which they can use and become a part of a domestic tradition.
This is an example of an argot!

Question 4

What is the first view that is associated with Familect?

Answer 4

Is it only associated with children who often at a young age known for inventing coinages that the rest of family use.

Question 5

What is the second view that is associated with Familect?

Answer 5

It is viewed as a ‘private, personal and unknown’ essentially it is exclusive to each household.’ Other families would not understand.

Question 6

What does the linguist David Crystal say?

Answer 6

David Crystal ‘everyone has a linguistic story to tell’ familect illustrate ‘how playful creative and emotional that linguistic story and our relationship with language can be.

Question 7

Give me 3 examples of familect.

Answer 7

Bimbensioner (a superannuated bimbo) through blending, the words bimble and pensioner.

Winkie – word for something sour

Plodgers – An old pair of sandals or trainers

Question 8

Give me 3 reasons why and how familect is formed.

Answer 8

1. Group bonding (as opposed to Polari, for need or Martha Vineyard -> for pride, Jenny Chesire - > adhering to norms)
2. Social acceptance
3. Overt way of speaking