Accent and Dialect- MLE

Question 1

Multicultural London English (MLE)

Answer 1

A sociolect, often also called a multiethnolect, of English that emerged in the late 20th century

Question 2

Phonological features of MLE

Answer 2

Using ‘f’ ‘v’ ‘t’ and ‘d’ sounds rather than ‘th’
Pronouncing ‘ng’ endings with just ‘n’
Pronouncing diphthongs as more open vowels

Question 3

Grammatical features of MLE

Answer 3

Tag questions like ‘innit?’
‘Mans’ used as first-person singular pronoun
‘Man’ also used as second-person pronoun rather than ‘you’

Question 4

Eckert and McGonnel-Ginet (1992)

Answer 4

Described Communities of Practice (CoPs) which are groups of people sharing a common interest or engage in a shared activity. Members develop shared language practices to create a sense of group identity.

Question 5

Features of a Community of Practice

Answer 5

Mutual Engagement- collaboration
Joint enterprise- collective purpose
Shared repertoire- language habits

Question 6

Code-switching in ethnicity

Answer 6

Can reflect pride in one’s ethnicity and help navigate where one feels marginalised.

Question 7

Situational code-switching

Answer 7

Switching languages based on setting or audience, like speaking standard English in a more formal setting

Question 8

Identity code-switching

Answer 8

Using language to signal different aspect of one’s cultural identity

Question 9

Communities of Practice and ethnicity

Answer 9

Ethnic groups form CoPs, developing distinct language styles which reflect their cultural identity.