Key Features Flashcards
Phonological
Vowel fronting
When the vowel is pronounced closer to the front of the mouth than its original position.
E.g. Duuuuuuude
Lexical
Slang terms
‘Lit’, ‘vibe’ etc
Lexis
Informal lexis
Colloquial language
Grammar
Contractions
‘Gonna’ & ‘Wanna’
Lexis
Archaic words
Words no longer in use e.g. fax
Grammar
Ellipsis
Dropping words in speech
‘You coming’
Grammar
Double negatives
‘I ain’t done nothing’
Grammar
Lack of subjective-verb agreement
‘We was there’
Grammar
Incorrect use of verb forms
‘I seen it’ rather than ‘I saw it’
Discourse
Fillers
‘Like’ ‘so’ ‘ummm’
Discourse
Discourse markers
Frequent use of words like “like,” “you know,” “so,” “just” to signal transitions and manage conversation flow
Discourse
Conversational overlapping:
Interrupting or talking over each other during conversation
Lexis
Intensifiers
Frequent use of words like “so,” “totally,” “really” to emphasize points.
Lexis
Taboo language
Swear words and taboo expressions
Repition patterns
Studies indicate that younger speakers repeat entire phrases, whereas older speakers repeat words
Features of older peoples speech
- Archaic vocabulary to refer to modern technology (a recorder when referring to an IPhone)
- Less Americanisms
- Stronger adherence to turn-taking etiquette
- More frequent use passive voice (reflecting a formal or narrative style)
- More frequent use of past-tense verbs (nostalgia)
- Accents are more distinct (before accent levelling)
