š«ā¢ Language & Social Groups: Key Jargon Flashcards
What is a social class?
A term to refer to a group of people with similar levels of wealth, influence and status
What are the 3 sociolinguistic terms used to determine social class?
- objective method
- subjective method
- reputational method
What is the objective method?
A measure and analysis of hard facts that relate to class
What is the subjective method?
When people are asked what they think of themselves
What is the reputational method?
When people are asked what they think of others
List the UK class system in order of prestige
TOP
Upper class
Middle class
Working class
Lower class
BOTTOM
List the core attributes of the Lower Class
- Low pay; poorest and most deprived class group
- 80% of class renting homes
- Common jobs: blue-collar jobs e.g. bricklaying (low pay manual labour jobs)
- Society views as: less comiptent and educated that other class groups with a many negative steryotypes associated with them e.g. unemployment
List the core attributes of the Working Class
- Strong class collectivism, close knit communities
- Primarily, Men: breadwinners & Women: carers for children
- Geared towards enduring difficult circumstances
- Common jobs: higher-end blue collar e.g. expereinced electrician, customer service/ resturant worker
- Society views as:the most hardworking & kind class, ackowledged for being largest contributor to society + most mistreated by government
List the core attributes of the Middle Class
- Strive for good education, tend to have disposable income, go on holidays e.g. overseas & having more than 1 car
- Common jobs: accountant, lawyers, teachers, doctors/ nurses/ midwives, police officers
- Society views as: (27% of UK citizens said) best class in system, view is that people are well-educated with good jobs who arent poor but arent rich
List the core attributes of the Upper Class
- lifestyle of highbrow activities, predominantly private education, attendance to elite universities being common
- magnitudes of money and therefore disposable income to spend on luxuries
- Common jobs: entrepreneur, surgeons, laywers, scientists,
- Society views as: class that contributes the least to society, being least sympathetic, having things easiest in life and being most powerful class
What is a percariat?
Commonly used to describe lower classes: people existing without predictability or security, impermenance, so much so that it affects their mental/ psychological wellbeing
What are class assumptions?
Steryotypical beliefs generated and applied to certain class groups, marginalising them to certian behaviours/ social personas e.g. lower class asociate with criminal behaviour
List some common social groups of this generation
- roadman
- chav
- emos
What is a discourse community?
Groups who have goals or purposes, and use communication to achieve these goals
What was the name of the linguist who founded the idea of a discourse community?
John Swales
What is a community of practise?
A group of people who share common goals, use similar vocabulary and commonly share expertism in relevant discourse who come together to fulfil both individual and group goals
What was the name of the two linguists who founded the idea of a community of practise?
Lave & Wegner
What is a difference between a discourse community and a community of practise?
- Discourse community = broad
- Community of practise = specific
What are the three characteristics of a community of practise?
- Domain - the domain of interest, what brings community together and guides their actions
- Community - activities to persue domain e.g. discussions, information sharing
- Practise - members are actual practitioners in said domain of interest, how community develops whilst interacting with common interest e.g. relationships building, learning from mistakes etcā¦