research for computer lesson- Labovs New York research

Labov's research in the New York Department store 1966 found that ‘individuals speech patterns were part of a highly systematic structure of social and stylistic stratification'. He studied how the letter ‘R’ was pronounced a word with the variable of the place the letting ‘R’ sits on the word. 

• New York is seen as a prestigious city when it come to their language, so it can be measured accurately and as the letter is used often in words is easier to collect a large amount of data quickly.

He knew that the new York accent didn’t have to letter ‘r’ featuring in their language and it was only nearer to the 1960’s that it had been reintroduced.

He had three different locations in his study, these were; 

• saks fifth avenue (expensive upper class shop) 
• Macy’s (less expensive middle- class store) 
• S. Klein (a discount store used by working class people)
•  in all three of these stores he analysed the language of the employees.

In order to collect the data he needed he aimed questions at them which would allow him to hear the letter ‘R’ four times.

•  He asked the questions- Where can I find the lamps? Which he knew the answer would be ‘fourth floor and the second question being 
• ‘excuse me?’ so the answer was repeated more carefully so he can hear how they say it more clearly.

From his findings he found that for the New York citizens the strength of their ‘R’ sounds depended on their social class- the letter was more common in the speech of in people with higher social class.
This differs to the RP language as it is set in New York therefore it is hard to generalise his findings to English speaking people as the accents are very different. Also language in the 60’s may have changed dramatically to what it is like now, we have adapted our language to fit in with people, because of this the English accent may have changed to be more like the New York accent as it often features on TV and on films that are broadcasted in the UK. 

Bibliography; http://www.ello.uos.de/field.php/Sociolinguistics/Exemplarystudylabov

http://www.putlearningfirst.com/language/research/labovny.html

Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence speaks of her disgust with the fact that her male co- stars, from the same movie, get made a great deal more than she does, playing the same sort or part. She only became aware of this due to a Sony phone hacking scandal, which revealed to her the salary her co-stars were earning doing the same job as her but they had ‘dicks’ she said. In her article she shares who view on why she thinks it is wrong for men and women to be treated differently in this situation. She uses the evidence of women fighting for equality many years ago and how this being successful was supposed to set up a fair scheme where men and women are treated equally.

Throughout the text she manipulates he language to change depending on which gender she is talking about. When she is talking about men she uses words in the semantic field of anger; she uses words such as “fierce” and “tactical” she uses typical stereotypical language to describe the actions she believes a man would take if he was in this situations and how they would be praised for this type of behaviour. It’s thought that men are controlling and dominant in many situations- such as in conversations, this is proved by the Zimmerman and West theory, which says that men are keen to take a lead and control a conversation when talking to the opposite sex.

When talking about the difference between her money and her male co-stars difference in pay cheques she also highlighted the difference between her and them physically by referring to them as “lucky people with dicks”, this phrase is contradictive in itself as it uses abrupt and aggressive language in itself which Lakoff connotes to a masculine way to talk. The light hearted phrase also suggests that the fact that their biological make up is different is hers automatically gives them an advantage without taking into their acting ability (which they should be being paid for).

She refers to feminine language as equally as she does the masculine language (ironically), she says she doesn’t want to seem “difficult or spoiled” which are examples of empathetic language which Lakoffs study says is trend of the feminine spoken language.  The adjective “adorable” is used in a sarcastic manner to mock the stereotype of girls being ‘cute and adorable’ all the time, looking sweet an innocent, as if they click their fingers and what they want falls at their feet, because in this instance it isn’t the case. She is showing that when women have to

Right up until her very last word she is criticising the ‘male way’ to do things and how they dint think about what they say or do they just do it unlike the thought through process women take. I commend her for getting the courage to post the article online, she stands up for herself in a situation she thought she wasn’t treated equally in. Throughout her article she backs up points made by many theories such as Lakoff and Dehorah Cameron to prove her points, I believe having this attitude toward her job and lifestyle will help her a great amount in the future. 

The continuous change to dialect and accents

The continuous change to dialect and accents

From the top of the Scottish isles to the very bottom of Cornwall there are on average 56 different accents, all in one very small island. For people who don’t live in the UK this is very surprising as stereotypically they assume we all talk in one monotone central London accent which is prim and proper (estuary English). However, within the United Kingdom dialect and accent both vary depending on your religion, social group and culture, this benefits people within the island to identify who lives in what region and gives them a culture identity.

Although these are unique to certain people there is still changes constantly occurring between the dialects, this could happen because of people from outside the region or even the country travelling to the UK and giving us a taste of their accent and dialect, which has an impact on us if we are around it for a duration of time, leading to us adapting our language and picking up some of their sounds/words and adding them to our language. For example, if an American citizen visit a shop in London and ask for a ‘trash can’ the sales assistant could pick up on this and unconsciously refer to a bin as a trash can in the future to this customer or one they deal with in the future. Social media can also affect your dialect in the same way as we are constantly spoken to by a television, radio and more.

questions on the barrister transcript

Questions on the barrister transcript

1.       In the transcript, pronouns are used frequently. Names are a type of pronouns and this is the most common pronoun in this extract. The barrister shows his authority in this situation, by calling the defendant ‘Mr Neil’ ,  this illustrates to the audience the power he has over him because not only is it a formal way to address someone it is said in a patronising way/ manipulating way.  It shows that he isn’t familiar with the man and calls him a name his friend or family wouldn’t call him on a daily basis, but maybe someone would address him as if he was in trouble.  He refers to him as this the whole way through the extract continuing to manipulate him with the formality, even when the conversation becomes more spontaneous.

2.       In the sections 5-15 it seems suited to a court situation as the barrister holds his power by repeatedly questioning the defendant and when necessary talking over him ‘is that right? What happened?...’ this gives the barrister the upper hand in the conversation and has control over what information he needs to find which is evident to the audience. Mr Neil answers in a closed manner as far as possible and to the audience this means that he is guilty, nervous or unable to remember- he often answers ‘no’ with a prior uncomfortable pause, he also stumbles and becomes noticeably uncomfortable with a lot of utterances and ‘er’ sounds during his conversation. The conversation here is structured by the barrister however later on the questions get noticeably spontaneous due to the nature of the situation, his questions start to adapt depending on this answers and the next set of information he needs to gather.

Later on Mr Neil ‘laughs quietly’ when responding to the barristers question where he raised his voice, this was clearly a natural response that wouldn’t have been pre learnt, it may have come from his nerves of the fact that he is so confident that it is rubbish.  The barrister still goes on to raise his voice to emphasise certain words which would have been unplanned.

3.       From the beginning of the transcript it is clear who has the control in the situation the barrister manipulates his language and language techniques to belittle the defendant. He emphasises words which would reach out to Mr Neil as it would bring him back into the conversation and highlight the importance of what the is saying like when he suggests the ‘police’, this picks out the fat that it is a serious matter and the potential consequences. Mr Neil denies most of what he says and doesn’t give very detailed, truthful answers.

  

4.       To me nothing specifically stuck out to me for being unusual or uncommon in a transcript.  

Commentary of same sex marriage article

Commentary for same sex marriage article

The two blogs speak of the controversial subject of same sex marriage. They both have very opposing views on the subject due to personal experiences, religion and other factors. I created these characters as I thought they had a clear insight to the topic of same sex marriage as one was a women who is in a heterosexual relationship and finally has the freedom to marry her fiancée and my other character, a middle aged man (around 35/40 year old) who was brought up with the religious views that same sex relationships are wrong and now wants the same views on this for his children.

In the first blog I open with a rhetorical question ‘Isn’t getting married supposed to be the happiest day of your life?’ this immediately makes you think of what your day would look like and consist of, it holds your attention as it gives you the time to bring yourself into the writing, it also makes you question just what the lady is going on to talk about, it’s clear that it is going to be on the subject of marriage but the aspect of this is unclear. My character then spoke about the facts that shocked her “definition of marriage” I used a fact to emphasis what the ‘Oxford University’ class same sex marriage as, the definition was surprising.

blogging Controversial subjects

Same sex marriage

Blog 1

Isn’t getting married supposed to be the happiest day of your life? So why should the sex of who you marry have an effect on this. I think that falling in love is out of your control, the person who stills your heart is the one, and if this is between two males, two females or a man and women it will have the same effect.

The definition of marriage is critical in itself, 'the legally or formally recognized union of a man and a woman (or, in some jurisdictions, two people of the same sex) as partners in a relationship.', I think it’s appalling that the definition has the words 'same sex' in brackets which suggests to me that it’s a side comment as if it’s something to be ashamed of or abnormal to having a heterosexual relationship. But this has only been the case since 2000, before then there was no mention of same sex marriages, so in a way there is some improvement but I think there is still a long way to go.

During childhood we all know our wedding day is a recurring dream that excites us, but the question of who we married didn’t matter then so why should it matter now. The day can be just as perfect whether you share it with your gay partner or not. However the catholic religion is against this as they believe Adam and Eve were created for the reason that only men and women should marry each other.

People criticise people in a same sex relationship that want or have children. Although having a child in this situation is unable to happen naturally why does this make them not fit to have their own child? The child would still receive the same amount of love and care it would get from a mother and a father with two mums or two dads. Even though this would make them different to other children they may know, they would be the ‘same’ as them. Life has adapted to people not being able to have children naturally with IVF, sperm donors and even adoption can come from a same sex partnership.

I think it’s good that TV programs are introducing the same sex couple idea, in shows such as Eastenders, and goggle box. It is letting the younger generation become more exposed to the situation which will help them understand that a same sex relationship is just as normal as a heterosexual one.

I think it is right that same sex marriage is legalised as it captures the love of two people that were forbidden marriage due to their sex. Marriage for some is the promise of their love so why shouldn’t this be for a couple of the same sex?

People may say this is a typical feminine view and maybe they are right but to this day I still dream of this, a big white wedding with my wife and I being able to now legally marry.

Blog 2

I believe that same sex marriage shouldn’t be legalised as I have grew up around the idea of men and women being together, not men and men or women with women. As a fully grown man I don’t think it is right for children (especially my own) to see this as they have a mum and dad and could become confused by why some ‘dads’ kissing other ‘dads’.

Being brought up in a church England school I also see the religious side to it; I believe that god made Adam and Eve to produce live on this earth, which is carried on by men and women having babies. This isn’t possible in a same sex marriage as it doesn’t mirror the way god created the world. it’s said that those who don't agree with the same sex marriage (like me) believe that 'same-sex relationships are immoral and against God's will', this is important to them as they believe that God gave women the responsibility of adding life to the wold and that this is their main duty in life. Many other religions discard same sex marriages and I believe they are right to do so.

Regarding getting jobs I agree with the fact that people who are in a heterosexual relationship shouldn't be first in line to be offered a job as it could be off putting to customers that they are talking too as it is uncommon for them to see. The may present behaviour that is related to being heterosexual which could be off putting for people they come in contact with, resulting in a company loosing sells and reducing their income. Being a manager myself I have taken my own advice and when I interview a possible employee I do ask what their relationship status is and what gender they are interested in. From experience I know this benefits my company as my takings are high and consistent.

Promoting same sex relationships in ways such as using them on the TV and in adverts isn't setting a good example for the future generations, they should be taught that the norm is to marry the opposite sex and that is the only/right thing to do. By putting this in the media (which has a big influence on younger children these days) they would become so familiar with this then it would seem right for them to do it, when it isn't and should be prevented.

Article analysis

‘Banksy's Dismaland in Weston-super-Mare closes its doors for final time’
 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-34364808 (BBC news)



‘People queue for last day of Banksy's Dismaland’-BATHCHRONOLOGICAL
  http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/Pictures-People-queue-day-Banksy-s-Dismaland/story-27877388-detail/story.html Visitors to Banksy's Dismaland have toured the pop-up "bemusement park" for the final time.

This article describes the park in detail with lots of adventurous vocabulary and exaggeration. Although it does focus on some facts, like that it captured ‘150,000 paying visitors and £20m to the seaside town’ which gives the readers an insight to how it is benefiting their local are this differs from the other article as it uses more formal language which is also fact based in the introduction but goes on to get a lot of quotes from visitors ‘Mr Sanks said:’, ‘Rachel said:’ this gives the readers primary evidence of how other visitors found the experience. Both articles said positive things about the temporary attraction with their words being backed up by delighted visitors. Both articles used statistics ‘50 artists from around the world’ and ‘£20m’ to prove how bus and how much of a success this was for Weston which was Banksys plan for this project, as it is his local area and he has said to have used the old ‘Tropicana’ a lot when he was a young boy.

Article on the adaptation of spoken language.

TEENAGERS ADAPTING ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEAVING PARENTS CONFUSED.

Parents around England are left baffled by the strange language choice spoken by their teenager children.

Lots of people are aware that English language is continually changing but it seems that the younger generation have the biggest influence on the rapid race of the language evolving, leaving the older people stuck behind on the language. 

Texting and social media has been identified as the main cause for this, as teens have been adapting common spoken clauses to written abbreviations. Parents are finding it hard to understand the things their child is saying or implying when they use the new shorted terms. Things like; ‘I don’t care’ has been changed to ‘idc’ which originally was just written but now it is starting to be used verbally as well. This is leaving parents worried as their children are going through or coming up to taking important ‘English Language’ exams, where they will need to be able to speak and write in ‘proper’ English. 

Parents are feeling left out in this as they are able to communicate with people ages 13-19 without being left behind in the conversation due to the misunderstandings. English language is evolving to adapt to the younger generation as they are going to be contributing most to society in the near future. The Oxford Dictionary has added over 1,000 new words to the dictionary which is believed to be over the heads of many parents. Words like ‘Hangry (angry due to hunger)… and rando (a stranger acting oddly)’ have been added to the dictionary meaning they are now part of the English language but how is that fair because any of the English population over the age of 20 are unaware of their meaning?

However some words for when the parents were children are coming back around, words like ‘banter’ are becoming reborn and used by the youths, which once the parents pick up on they will continue to use excessively.” beer o’clock, bants” is a new addition to the online dictionary too which I could image to be used by the older people in the population as a lot of the teenagers are unable to legally drink, but as it was entered online it is thought that it must be used more frequently in online social network sites.

Adverts that use mixed-mode techniques

Abbreviated words; 'UK's safest broadband', 'You know they're good because they're Heinz', 'I'm lovin' it', 'Finger lickin' good'

Synthetic personalisation; 'The best coffee for the best you', 'Because your worth it', 'Have it your way', 'Share a coke with...'

Exaggeration; 'UK's safest broadband' 'Make game day awsomer' 'P-p-p-pick up a penguin', 'I woke up like this', 'Can't get anymore ribenary', 'Friendliest drink on earth', 'It will blow your mind'

Instructions; 'just do it', 'make delicious custard with bird's', 'Taste the rainbow'

Kaitie Hopkins article on Accents

The article this summary is about was last accessed on 15/09/2015- https://uk.news.yahoo.com/katie-hopkins--stephanie-mcgovern-and-northerners-sound-stupid-131026114.html#rfyMkQ3

In this article Katie Hopkins is slating the way Northerners, Liverpudlians and Geordies speak claiming that their accents make them sound stupid. She went on to say " Personally I can't stand a Brummie accent."


She highlighted the fact that the BBC are desperate to get a variety of different regional accents on their show to show that they believe in diversity. She then criticised the BBC choice in TV presenters as she says their accents are hard to understand and that viewer wouldn't want to watch the programs with presenters with accents as they would have to spend their time deciphering what they are saying.


The Devon born Lady went on the say that she believes that the London accent to be the 'clearest', she said "London is a first class city, surrounded by a second class Country.



I think that she is wrong to assume that everyone who has a strong accent is hard to understand, and to generalise her opinions to everybody else watching the presenter. What if you come from the same region as the person presenting the program? I'm sure they would have no problem in understanding them. Her opinions are very strong and judgement and a lot of the time are incorrect and many people cant relate to them. Accents help give people their identity, when you watch TV and you hear someone with the same accent as you immediately engages you to keep watching the program just so you can hear the way they talk as you can relate to it.

English grouping homework

Groups of words from the lesson; 

Miss-used words: Hate (D), Literally (D), Like (D), Trust (D), Mint (D) and Sweat (D).

Food:  Nugget(D), Gravy(D), Asparagus (D), Sprout(D) and Honey(D).

Adjectives: Amazing (L), Lush (L), Naive(L), Peng (L) and Moist(D).

Positive words: Flower (L), Home(L) and Love(L).

Negative words: Hate (D) Slut (D) and Inconvenient (L)

Food words are dislike most of the time, this could be because they are being associated with things that people dislike. Positive words are liked this may be because the word reminds them of happy experiences/ memories. Its likely that negative words are disliked this could also be down to them being associated with bad experiences.