VARIATION Flashcards
Define “language”
- rule-governed system of linguistic communication particular to a community
- spoken, written and signed modes of communication
- express feelings, thoughts, ideas, experiences
- Components work together to create. meaningful communication (phonemes, morphemes, lexemes and syntax + semantics, pragmatics or discourse analysis)
Phoneme
smallest unit of word that can change the meaning, but is meaningless on its own
Example: Pit and pet
Morpheme
smallest unit of a word that can carry a meaning
Example: un-, do, -able
Lexeme
set of all inflected form of a single word
Example: king, king´s, kings, kings’
Syntax
- Arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences
- Subject>verb>object = the boy > kicked > the ball
Linguistic standard
Prestigious norm of a language which:
- spans regional border
- used in media
- used in public/normal occasions
- codifies in reference grammars and dictionaries
- serves as a basis for foreign language teaching
Linguistic varieties
Different major types:
- Regiolect = national variety, regional dialect
- Sociolect = social dialect
- Temporal = time period, Old English
- Functional = used for a particular purpose/in a particaular situation (style, formality, genre), Slang
Linguistic categories
Obvious:
- pronunciation
- grammar
- vocabulary
Others:
- spelling (particular in BE ad AE)
- pragmatics
GA
- frequently taught to learners of English, used in textbook and dictionaries
- no regional, social or ethnic associations
- not a single accent, but a large accent showing common characteristics (accent continuum)
BE vs GA spellings
BE: our (colour), -re (fibre), single. written novel + l (instil)
GA: or (color), -er (fiber), single. written novel + ll (instill) > but -l in an unstressed syllable
BE vs GA grammar
GA: “have”, should, don’t need, subjunctive verb after the verbs “demand”, “insist”, “order” and in the construction it’s essential/important/necessary > “I demanded that he apologise, its essential that he be informed”
BE: “have got”, shall, needn’t
Tautonomy
- Same word, different meaning
- Example: “homely” (down to earth BE, ugly GA)
Heteronomy
- same meaning, different word
- Example: drawing ping (BE) and thumb tack (GA)
Pragmatics vs semantics
Pragmatics:
- What does the speaker mean?
What is said -> what is meant? (situational)
- “its cold” -> close the window
- universal (international and cultural differences)
Semantics:
- what does the word mean?
