Occupational Language

Question 1

What is occupational language?

Answer 1

The lexical items that are part of that occupation’s semantic field.

Question 2

What is a restricted occupational lexis?

Answer 2

Specialist vocabulary that is only ever used in a specific occupation (most notably law and medicine-influenced by other languages)

Question 3

In a primary classroom setting, by considering frameworks, how would a teacher and their pupils usually demonstrate power in discourse?

Answer 3

TEACHER-
•Typically the topic manager> leads the conversation and sets agenda> asymmetrical symmetry
•A lot of tag questions> thought-provoking
•Framing/scaffolding of sentences> easier for children + gives them more confidence
•Vocally stressing keywords> downward convergence to lessen distance in ability
•Frequently praising pupils + reassuring them

Question 4

EXAMPLE 1- Lesson in a primary school.

How do both teacher and pupils demonstrate power in this discourse?

Answer 4

T: “pictures up on the wall hadn’t he?” > tag question
T: “he had some…” > framing/scaffolding Sentence> opportunity + prompting for children to answer
T: “the tiger(.) hunts other animals” > scaffolding + vocally stressing keywords (downward convergence)

Pupils-given many opportunities to answer through the many interrogatives & tag questions > follows a Q+A format

Question 5

What does Howard Giles say in his Accommodation Theory?

Answer 5

-Using/varying language to perhaps abridge social gap and build relationships or to increase formality/professionalism in interview setting
•Upward, downward, mutual converge or divergence
-Divergence = power & authority? > use of imperatives

Question 6

What does Drew & Heritage say in their theory?

Answer 6

Talks about how important institutional talk is and how members of a discourse community share inferential frameworks and share goal orientation

• talks about turn taking
• structure/ lexical asymmetry

Question 7

What is the Face theory?

Answer 7

Way of discussing politeness as a response to mitigate or avoid face threatening acts such as insults

• positive face = accepted and valued
• face threatening act= intimidating and daunting and can increase social gap

Question 8

What did Koester say?

Answer 8

Showed how important phatic talk is in getting things done in the work place.
-need to compensate seriousness, business like talk through interpersonal markers such as idioms or modal verbs to fulfil interpersonal needs

Question 9

What did John Swales say?

Answer 9

Defined a discourse community as sharing a set of common goals in the work place.

• a common level of understanding and knowledge is required to participate in community
• they communicate through specialist lexis/jargon as they share a level of expertise