Section A: Language Change & VariationWhat are the 9 causes of language variation?

Extension: can you think of a mnemonic to remember them?

Key Concepts Dialect levelling: the phenomena in which distinct dialect

differences decrease Solidarity: A bond of unity between individuals Identity MLE – multicultural London English Dialect Migration: the idea that globalisation is leading to

a standardising of language. Divergence: when a person’s speech patterns become

more individualised and less like those of the other person in a conversation.

Convergence: when a person’s speech patterns become more like those of the other person in a conversation.

Standard EnglishStandard English is the variety of English that is held by many to be 'correct' in the sense that it shows none of the regional or other variations that are considered by some to be ungrammatical, or non-standard English. 

Received Pronunciation, often called RP, is the way Standard English is spoken; without regional variations. Standard English and RP are widely used in the media and by public figures, so it has prestige status and is regarded by many as the most desirable form of the language.

So, What IS Standard English?

What causes Language Variation? Standard English

Geographical location

Age

Social variations (sexuality, gender, class, ethnicity, occupation, deviance, hobbies)

Voila! – Language Variation!

Aspects of Social VariationAspect of Social Variation

Examples of language and their origins

Age Think about words used by or to describe teenagers...

Sexuality Think convergence...Gender Think of greetings...Social Class Think posh...Ethnicity Think accent patterns...Deviance Think of deviant terms...Occupation Think ‘job’ words...Region Think of pronunciations...Hobbies Think subject-specific lexis...

Language Around You An individual’s particular style of speaking is known

as an ‘idiolect’. Make a mind map with yourself in the middle.

Build it out, noting the different varieties of English you hear around you and the people who use them.

Then add in other influences, such as interests you have, the sports you play or the music you listen to.

Forms of Variation Phonological: differences in pronunciation patterns, often

focused upon particular phonemes, for example the use of the glottal stop.

Lexical: Alternative and additional words within a particular variety, for example the word ‘mush’ as a colloquial word for friend in some Southern regional dialects.

Semantic: Change of meaning to established SE words, for example ‘weed’ or ‘stoned’ within the sociolect surrounding the drug culture in the UK.

Grammatical: The use of unusual syntax patterns or using rules of grammar different to SE, for example the use of double negatives.

Orthological: the explicit use of the written mode to represent their variation.

The Challenge... Script a conversation that you might

have had using as much Non-Standard English as you can...