AOS 2: LANGUAGE VARIATION ACCORDING TO USE.

Year 12 ENGLISH LANGUAGE

DIMENSIONS OF VARIATION ACCORDING TO USE.

“The language that we use is a reflection of the society we live in. Language expresses the underlying cultural values and social understandings that we share with the community around us.”

Heinemann English Language, VCE Units 3 &4

“When we communicate information or ideas, we communicate more than just the sum of our words. Our choice of words or our use of intonation and stress, for example, can reveal attitudes and prejudices.”

Heinemann English Language, VCE Units 3 &4

BACK TO UNIT 1…

FUNCTIONS OF LANGUAGE?

“Language not only enables us to communicate, it also helps us to establish who belongs and who does not, it facilitates the structuring of reality into particular categories, and is an instrument of action.”

Living Lingo: VCE English Language Units 3 &4

LANGUAGE VARIES ACCORDING TO CONTEXT

What are the circumstances of the conversation?

Language in the school yardvs

The language in a job interview

What is the purpose of the conversation?

Organising a party with friendsvs

Politely trying to convince an employer to hire you

SOCIOLINGUISTIC VARIABLES…

Interlocutors

The person(s) with whom you are communicating. This

factor includes the age of the person(s) you are

communicating with

SOCIOLINGUISTIC VARIABLES…

Domain

The context of the communication, such as

religion or sport

SOCIOLINGUISTIC VARIABLES…

Locale

Where the interaction is taking place, such as at home, in

the street, at a school or in a place of worship

SOCIOLINGUISTIC VARIABLES…

Type of interaction

For instance, are you telling a joke or an anecdote, conducting a formal

meeting, or giving a wedding speech? Are you writing a personal

letter or a business letter?

SOCIOLINGUISTIC VARIABLES…

The role relationship (or social distance) between the interlocuters

Do you have a close, even intimate relationship with the person, or is it someone you

hardly know and thus interact with in a more formal way?

SOCIOLINGUISTIC VARIABLES…

Mode

Is it spoken language, written language, or electronic communication such as email or text message

“A multiplicity of excellent runs was made by Gilchrist”

Do you think that this statement would be a likely part of casual conversation between two cricket fans?

Lexical item Passive grammatical construction

Formal register

“Gilchrist played really well, making so many runs, didn’t he?”

“A multiplicity of important discoveries by Einstein led to new insights into quantum mechanics”

WRITTEN DISCOURSEvs

ORAL DISCOURSE

Which is more formal?

“Looking forward to hearing from you at

your earliest convenience, Yours

faithfully”

“Please write again soon. Bye

for now”

“The offender was apprehended and taken to police headquarters where he is now assisting police with their

inquiries.”

THE AGEvs

THE HERALD-SUN

Which is more formal?

• Lexical items• Length of sentences

• Number of paragraphs• Sentence structures (simple vs complex)

• Complexity of clauses