Language and Social Class Varities

Question 1

What is Ross’s U and Non-U Language?

Answer 1

U - Posh
Non-U - Not posh
He said middle class speakers tried to sound like higher class speakers, however ‘shibboleths’ gave their class away. They’re words the middle class wrongly believed to be upper class.
EXAMPLE - MC WOULD SAY ‘Servuitte’ HOWEVER HC WOULD SAY ‘NAPKIN’.

Question 2

What is Bernsteins Restricted and Elaborated code?

Answer 2

Restricted code - Not explicit, kind of language used in informal setting with family, assumes you have shared background etc. Requires context. Working class can’t use this as they’re moving around.
Elaborated code - More explicit, makes everything clear and doesn’t assume a shared background.
Middle class can use both.

Question 3

What is Trudgill’s Norwich Study?

Answer 3

Studied how and why accents vary. Sound ‘ng’ is velar nasal. Those from Norwich tended to ‘g-drop’ a lot making words like ‘running’ move to ‘runnin’.
Styles of speaking - Reading for word list, Formal Interview, Passage reading, Casual
Class - Lower Working class, Middle working class, upper working class, lower middle class, upper middle class.
Use of the ‘ng’:
UPPER MIDDLE CLASS - 100% in WORD LIST WHEREAS LOWER WORKING ON 28%
LOWER MIDDLE IN CASUAL - 23% AND MIDDLE WORKING 0%