occupation and power Flashcards
(50 cards)
what does a specialist lexicon mean?
a vocabulary that only particular people will understand and have knowledge about
when does lexis become special?
if denotation is different or narrower to the common meaning
what are two occupations that rely highly on specialised lexis?
law and medicine
what language is law based around?
latin and french
how can lexis lose their restrictions?
modern idioms that were once special lexical phrases restricted to certain occupations can now be used in a much broader term
what are examples of lexical terms that have lost their restricted use?
‘bringing home the bacon’
‘close shave’
‘spinning the yarn’
how can a certain audience change someones language/use of an example?
teachers language may change upon their audience
children/other teachers/parents
which occupation is an example that includes many acronyms?
education
when was schooling made compulsory in uk?
1870
why do language and occupation intertwine?
due to the importance in society
why do occupations develop their own languages?
to make communication easier
how can discourse structure be linked to occupation?
certain occupations may have specific discourse structures that run throughout
teachers report
what is a discourse community?
a community in which all have knowledge about how to write occupational discourse
is discourse structure set in stone in an occupation?
no it is changed all the time through the creativity of employees, keeps basic structure throughout
who is the theorist linked to discourse communities?
john swales
what did john swales say about people in a discourse community?
they share common goals
use specialist lexis and discourse
they own genres of communication
how can grammar differ in occupation, include examples
depending on the job at hand grammar can be used differently in order to fulfil certain tasks
teachers - verbs
sales - nouns and adjectives
how can directives and imperatives differ in use depending on occupation?
imperatives will be used in an occupation that relies on instructing others in order to get tasks done (teacher)
where as declarative will be in in a job in which statements need to be used (sales)
what are pragmatics?
assumed meanings
what period was french important in England?
the nomadic period
why was french important in England and what has been left behind?
it was used in all courts in England, if you did not speak french then you had to pay for translator
why does french and Latin in courts create power?
the knowledge needed can separate insiders and outsiders
what is inference?
when people share unspoken understanding
how can knowledge create a hierarchy?
it may be that only specific roles in an occupation understand certain language, also certain occupations
