Lower Class And Middle Class Language Feature

Question 1

Macaulay (1991) (4) - middle class

Answer 1

• use adverbs more frequently, particularly adverbs of degree e.g. very / rather / quite
• use the relative pronoun ‘who’ more frequently
• Use more evaluative adjectives
• use more hedges

Question 2

Bernstein (1971) - middle class

Answer 2

• use the passive tense e.g. “ the dishes are washed by John”. Used when you think the thing receiving the action is more important or should be emphasised

Question 3

Trudgill (1974) - middle class

Answer 3

Pronounce fewer ‘r’ sounds
E.g. “dahling “

Question 4

Labov (1966) (4) - middle class

Answer 4

• can change their style of speaking more quickly
• can adopt a more ‘careful’ style more quickly
• uses overt/ covert prestige
• uses convergence/ divergence.

Question 5

Macaulay (1991) - lower class

Answer 5

• dislocated syntax
• syntax structure tends to be grammatically incorrect
• use of more pronouns

Question 6

Yule (2006) - lower class

Answer 6

• speak in dialect
• change the ‘ing’ to ‘in’
• h dropping

Question 7

Eckert (2000) - lower class

Answer 7

Use more taboo language