Language and Class

Question 1

What is the difference between covert and overt prestige?

Answer 1

• Covert is lower class (e.g. carrying a knife)
• Overt is more socially acceptable (e.g. getting a good job)

Question 2

What is the difference between prescriptivists and descriptivists?

Answer 2

• Prescriptivists believe there there is right and wrong language (based on standard English and Received Pronunciation)
• Descriptivists (us) try to describe what language is actually like

Question 3

What did Alan Ross’ U and Non U study say about language?

Answer 3

• U = upper class, Non U = middle class
• middle class speakers tried to sound like upper class
• giveaways were shibboleths
• e.g.: Preserve instead of jam, pardon instead of what

Question 4

What did Bernstein say about the language differences between the classes?

Answer 4

• Both middle class and working class used restricted code (context based + shared knowledge)
  
  • e.g zapper not remote control
• Only middle class had access to elaborate code which was used by teachers in tests and textbooks
• e.g. remote control

Question 5

What did Trudgill find in his Norwich Study?

Answer 5

• Norwich was a g dropping city in a g dropping county
• use of velar nasal /ŋ/ “ng” increased in both classes (0 -> ⅓, ⅓ - 100%) as a result of style
• higher usage in higher class

Question 6

What is Henri Tajfel’s Social Identity Theory?

Answer 6

• We exaggerate the similarities within the same group
• We exaggerate the differences between groups