Bernstein: Codes - Social Formation Flashcards
What is the theory by Bernstein?
Restricted and Elaborated Codes
What do these codes allow?
A way of communication with each other
What orientation does Restricted Code have?
Position (it has a hierarchy)
What orientation does Elaborated Code have?
Person
What are the roles of the family like with Restricted Code?
Roles within families are clearly defined:
man goes to work, woman does housework, children go to school.
What are the roles of the family like with Elaborated Code?
Roles are less defined. They are more negotiable and have a variation in who does what.
What class of people use Restricted Code?
(lower) working class people and families
What class of people use Elaborated Code?
middle class people and families
What sort of sentences does Restricted Code use a lot of in comparison to Elaborated Code?
Imperatives (Do this, do that) = RC.
Children are allowed to express theirselves and their opinions more = EC.
What are common features of Restricted Code?
- grammatically simple
- simple/unfinished sentences
- little subordination, a few conjunctions used repeatedly
- limited use of adverbs and adjectives
- confuses reasons and conclusions
- frequent use of ‘sympathetic circularity’ = “you know?”
- frequent use of idioms
- implicit meanings: use of deictics
- use of pronouns without cohesion
What are common features of Elaborated Code?
- accurate grammar order
- complex sentences
- range of both coordination and subordination
- frequent use of pronoun ‘I’
- Range of adverbs and adjectives
- explicit meaning
What is the quote from Bernstein to describe a feature of Elaborated Code?
“language use the points to the possibilities inherent in a complex conceptual hierarchy for the organising of experience”
What is believed about Restricted Code but not about Elaborated Code?
Every user has access to RC, however not everyone can access to EC
What are the consequences of not being able to use Elaborated Code
You are unable to succeed in education. Working Class people do not have access to EC and this is why they are at a disadvantage at school.
Who are the theorists that support Bernstein’s codes?
Henderson and Cook (1972)
