INFORMAL metalang Flashcards
slang
Informal lexemes typically specific to a particular group
Changes with trends
Marker of groups
Can be inclusive or exclusive
PLAYFUL IN NATURE
phonological features
Elison: the slurring of sounds, unstressed vowels and consonants, vowel reduction/ schwa
Insertion: the addition of sounds, can demonstrate group identity (‘No wayahh’)
dysphemisms, swearing + taboo lang
Impolite and subject to avoidance in conversation (taboo)
Socially or culturally inappropriate
Intentionally harsh, offensive or derogatory terms
Used in realton to sensitive
TO: express strong emotions, demo contempt, persuasive argument.
TABOO: strengthen bonds, emotion + humour, playfulness
colloquialism
Location specific
Tied to identity
Australian colloquialisms: The G (MCG), Pollie (politician)
Insight 41-43: features of colloquial language
connected speech processes: gonna
idiomatic expressions: chuck a sickie or chuck a U-ey
contraction: we aren’t going out/ we are not going out
abbreviation: BTW
informal syntax or grammar: ‘cause, y’known
ellipsis: you going too? (VS. are you going, too?
regionally specific language - particular to identity: mate, bogan, things
shortening of names: Baz, Tim, Nat, Ern, Murph
other lexical choices
Acronyms
Initialisms
Shortenings
Neologisms
creative, inventive, funny
Emoticons, emojis, context-specific graphemes
openings + closings
- Consider socials norms of opening and closing in their specific context
- Consider opening and closing on text messages and social media and the difference from an in person conversation
adjacency pairs
Questions and answers
Compliments and acknowledgments
Thank you and your welcome
Apology and acceptance
minimal responses + backchannelling
Eye contact
Facial expressions, smiles, wide eye and mouth
Laughter
Backchanneling signals: hmm, oh, aha, nodding, yeah, no way, no
discourse markers + particles
Seeking empathy or feedback
Demonstrating or checking for understanding
Clarifying or elaborating
Absence of accuracy, proof or indicate uncertainty
non-fluency features
Common in spontaneous speech and everyday conversations
May represent a lack of preparation
Used to hold the floor
Indicate emotion or situational context: nerves, excitement, distraction
NOTE: deliberate pauses for dramatic effect ≠ non-fluency features as they are purposefully planned
False starts
Repairs and corrections
Pauses and hesitations
Filled pauses and hesitations
Repetition
overlapping speech
Agreement or disagreement
Cooperative or uncooperative discourse
Emotion (positive or negative)
Desire to take the floor
Can meet or threaten face needs
hedging
Assisting in maximising the cooperation between speaker and reduce the force.harshness of what is being said
yeah/no, like, sorta, might - should, could, I mean, I s’pose, yeah maybe
Less syntactic complexity, increased ellipsis
Convos are full of missing words + phrases
coherence: achieved thru situational context + shared inference
cohesion: achieved thru ellipses
prosodic features
volume => excitement, rapport
emoticons + emojis
:) - emoticon
To:
Convey emotion/ton
Replace lengthy phrases
Gesture
Be playful
personalise message (phatic)
clarity
openings + closings (spoken discourse)
Unprompted + varied
Allow for dynamic convo
Less structured, less constraints,
adjacency pairs(spoken discourse)
Build rapport, ensure participants are included/valued in convo. Repair issues that may have arisen. protect face needs
minimal responses + backchannels (spoken discourse)
Maintain convo flow, signal understanding, show active engagement + interest
Reflect agreement, support, enthusiasm
overlapping speech(spoken discourse)
Cooperative overlaps more common in informal (reduced social distance)
- Excitement/agreement
- Meet face needs
Discourse markers/particles (spoken)
Organise thoughts during spontaneous convo
Emphasis, indicating uncertainty, express opinions
non-fluency features (spoken)
Typical in spontaneous speech, shows lack of planning, preparedness.
‘hold the floor’
- Pauses
- Filled pauses/voice hesitations
- False starts
- Repetition
- Repairs
Maints as they think of next statement
hedging (spoken)
hedging expressions convey nuances of meaning + can reduce the force of what is being said
Assist in mazimising cooperation bw speakers + also used by speakers who do not wish to commit to point of view
topic management (spoken strats)
Emerge from mutual interests, prior knowledge, personal experiences
Naturally shifting reflects:relaxed nature, reveal relationship/familiarity bw speakers
turn-taking (spoken strats)
Relaxed atmosphere: more casual imperatives, interrogatives, roles of speakers less defined
Assist in overlapping speech which shows:
- Active engagement
- Enthusiasm
- Collaboration
Tenor/relationship is evident in TT (how informal + friendly manner)
management of repair strats (spoken strats)
Repair sequences: spontaneous nature
More relaxed register: more comfy to make errors
intimacy PURPOSE
Sense of closeness + connection bw individuals
solidarity PURPOSE
Feeling of unity bw individuals, based on shared experience/purpose
equality PURPOSE
Sense that individuals in particular exchange are of equal status (deserving mutual respect)
social harmony PURPOSE
Positive social enviro in which all individuals feel comfortable/respected + at ease
social taboos PURPOSE
Topics that are considered uncomfortable/controversion + are typically avoided in social contexts
rapport PURPOSE
Sense of friendliness/harmony/shared understanding in a relationship
in-group membership PURPOSE
Sense of belonging to any kind of social group (family, community, classroom or any group defined by particular interest)
