Presentation format:

 

 

On PowerPoint: give some history and a task for pupils to do. All presentations must include some definitions on standardisation. Ask FGI for help if necessary.

 

 

Devise a presentation on how spelling was standardised, the development of printing, dictionaries, mass education.

Devise a presentation on STANDARD ENGLISH and the media: when and why does the media use Standard English.

Devise a presentation on SEMANTIC AND LEXICAL CHANGE, looking particularly at DIALECTS and how and why they are dying off in our culture.

Devise a presentation on the History of the English Language, looking at key figures in the development of the language, Chaucer, Shakespeare, Dickens, the mass media in the twentieth century.

Devise a presentation on the differences between DIACHRONIC and SYNCHRONIC CHANGE

Devise  a presentation on the STANDARDISATION of Shakespeare’s language. Look at issues such as “false friends”, look at Crystal’s Encyclopedia.

Devise a presentation on Chaucer, looking at the different translations of Chaucer.

Devise a presentation on the ways in which STANDARD ENGLISH is the language of power, and how it made certain words and phrases taboo. Look in particular at the language connected with taboo subjects such as the ways in which SCIENCE has standardised the words connected with reproduction.

Devise a presentation on how dramatists in the theatre use and “abuse” Standard English. Look at plays you like and enjoy.

Devise a presentation on how and why non-standard forms of English create humour. Eg Fawlty Towers.

Devise a presentation on how and why the language connected with SPORT/BUSINESS/SCIENCE has become standardised.

Devise a presentation on SEMANTIC AND LEXICAL CHANGE, looking particularly at DIALECTS and how and why they are dying off in our culture.

Devise a presentation on the uses of dictionaries in the culture and the ways in which they have standardised the language.

PRESENTATIONS:

Standardisation

According to ISO, it is the process of formulating and applying rules for an orderly approach to a specific activity for the benefit and cooperation of all concerned, and in particular for the promotion of the over all economy, considering due safety requirements.

SEMANTIC AND LEXICAL CHANGE, looking particularly at DIALECTS and how and why they are dying off in our culture.

Dialects – the loss of status

Dialect – is a regional or social variety of language distinguished by             features of vocabulary, pronunciation, and discourse that differ         from other varieties.

• •The relationship between sound and spelling in the English language is not straight forward.  The way words sound are not the way they are spelt.  For instance there are many ways of spelling the same vowel sound ‘ee’, e.g. free, these, field
• •Newton tried ‘fixing’ the pronunciation of English.  The slippery slope began and the ideal sets out to replace all street language, all ‘uncouth’ usage. 
• •It was the 18^th century that dialects lost most status, which was the result of pressure to write ‘correctly’ and the codification of writing. 
• •Shreidan published a book in 1756 – ‘British Education’, basically if you wanted to say something in the best possible way, then you needed an education, which is what the book provided. 
• •Shreidan held a number of public lectures on elocution which attracted large and influential audiences.  He was one of the first to establish the number of distinct sounds in the English language and the number of diphthongs and syllables. 

 

Is standard English just another dialect?

• •Standard English was originally the dialect of the mid-eastern and became the accepted writing through the influence of printers, as this was the main area that they were situated.  i.e. Cambridge and Oxford.  It became used by people in power, law and education.
• •Local dialects, died as the media and education started to standardise English and people were influenced. 
• •It is a dialect that has become powerful

Taboo Language!

How taboo language has changed over time

• •In the 50’s words such as ‘damn’ were considered swear words.
• •Swear words were often not used around women (and women didn’t swear).

 

But now…

• •Women swear just as much as men do.
• •Words like c*** and f*** (which is from German origin), much stronger and more aggressive.
• •So, it would seem that people have become less sensitive to taboo language.
• •Damn has been ameliorated, it’s meaning has become less severe. 

Other taboo language

• •The word fag was less severe but now it has been pejorated and broadened in meaning.
• •Fag now can mean; gay man and cigarette.
• •Queen has also drifted in register, it can now also mean gay man. Damn you men for taking a powerful word about a woman and making it rubbash.

Different words for sex

• •Intercourse
• •Relations
• •Rutting
• •S*******
• •F******
• •To bone
• •Romping
• •Bumping uglies
• •Making love
• •Sleeping together

 

As you can see…

• •The different words for sex have become harsher and also more comical, for instance ‘to bone’.
• •This suggests that sex has become a more acceptable topic and also a funny one.
• •Hurrah for the modern age!

In what context has the word sex been used over time?

• •1382: Wyclif Gen vi 19-“Of alle thingis hauynge sowle of only flehs, two thow shalt brynge into the ark, that maal sex and femaal lyuen with thee.”
• •HOW INTERESTING!
• •1848: Thackeray Van. Fair xxv-“She was by no means so far superior to her sex as to be above jealousy”
• •2009: Kings of Leon-“Your sex is on fire”

Analysis

• •1382: Sex in that quote was referring to gender, which we still do.
• •1848: This quote still refers to gender, so it would seem that people still remained scientific about sex.
• •2009: This, it would seem, is referring to actual intercourse and, seemingly, someone being randy.
• •The semantics of ‘sex’ hasn’t changed, because we still do use it when referring to gender. However, it’s meaning has broadened to encompass actual intercourse.
• •The spelling of sex hasn’t changed over time either.

 

To conclude

• •The English Language is anything but standard, there are many variations of words.
• •Different words mean different things to different people.. Different!
• •People have become very rude and coarse.
• •Also, sex has changed its meaning. People have become more relaxed and colloquial.