Occupational groups (paper 2)

Question 1

Jargon

Answer 1

a piece of language which is unique to the group in which it’s used and would not make total sense to those not in that group

Question 2

“the web of discourse”

Answer 2

• JOHN SWALES
• states that within a work place, employees are part of a group who share a common purpose and goal and within that web, language use shares similarities and differences
  eg. two employees may use the same jargon but one may be the boss so language use will be different

Question 3

positive views of jargon

Answer 3

• Kollataj - argues some language (slang) have a stigma in the workplace but jargon does not
• Spolsky - jargon helps you to become indoctrinated into the group
• Drew & Heritage - research suggests that knowing the relevant jargon allows us to make the job run more efficiently
• Crystal - jargon leads to efficiency and ultimately optimal communication
  builds a group identity in which more elite members can emerge

Question 4

negative views of jargon

Answer 4

• Althusser - disturbs our thoughts if we don’t know/use the jargon
• Spolsky - counters his point by saying you can stand out if you do not know the jargon
• Plain English Campaign - aim to reduce amount of jargon being used because it detracts from the “plain English”

Question 5

CONVERSATIONS
Koester - “transactional” and “interactional”

Answer 5

• transactional conversations - all about making a transaction (getting something done)
• interactional conversations - all about serving a social purpose

Question 6

CONVERSATION
Norman Fairclough

Answer 6

• in conversations at work there is a trend towards “conversationalisation” (interactions in the workplace become less and less formal)

Question 7

CONVERSATION
Drew and Heritage

Answer 7

• conversations that take place at work are goal orientated
• the person who starts the conversation is trying to achieve a work based goal

Question 8

CONVERSATION
Myers-Scotton

Answer 8

• states that we code switch our language to one which will benefit us the most
• may include using increased politeness markers

Question 9

HIERARCHY AND POWER
Blank

Answer 9

• argues that we change our language in an attempt to fit in with the social situation and to exert influence

Question 10

HIERARCHY AND POWER
French and Raven - 5 bases of power

Answer 10

• legitimate - a genuine power that someone has eg. a teacher and a student
• coercive - the ability to force someone into doing something eg. headteacher making a student behave
• reward - offering some form of reward in exchange for compliance eg. teacher giving a student a sweet for answering a question correctly
• referent - based on rapport with people
• expert - formed from superior knowledge eg. you listen to your teacher because they have knowledge that you need