In this course, I discovered the most interesting aspects of lingustical transformation. The language is a reflection of our thoughts, mentality, and our expression towards the world. The historical circumstances, traditions, and culture have a great influence on language. The way in which we speak identifies us who we are. This is our identity. Through the course of dialectology, we found the different lingustical variations of American English. There are vernacular and social dialects, which have interesting historical development. USA is a big country with many ethno groups, which have their own history, traditions, and ways of development. Therefore, it is not surprisingly that all those dialects so different, unusual, and unique.
The study of dialects itself is, the study of variant features within a language, their history, differences of form and meaning, interrelationships, distribution, and, more broadly, their spoken as distinct from their literary forms. This discipline recognizes all variations within the bounds of any given language; it classifies and interprets them according to historical origins, principles of development, characteristic features, areal distribution, and social correlates. For example when we talk about AAE, we all realize the history of African American ethnicity and understand the way in which their dialect had been formed. So it is all about dialects. Now we are witnesses another lingustical revolution is the bilingual transformation of Spanish English. Again we can follow all steps to answer on one simple question is why do we have such kind of phenomenon as Spanish English. There is because of great population of Spanish speakers in the country. However to find out the deep roots of lingustical transformation we should look very carefully in anthropological and etymological retrospections. Because every language is own culture and history of ethno group. And we are investigators on philological fields who wants to learn all those aspects in the lingustical system.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
gender and language
People concerne about issues of social inequality. There is a relationship between our language use and our social reality. If we "erase" women from language, that makes it easier to maintain gender inequality. [M]ale-based generics are another indicator—and, more importantly, a reinforcer—of a system in which "man" in the abstract and men in the flesh are privileged over women. Words matter, and our language choices have consequences. If we believe that women and men deserve social equality, then we should think seriously about how to reflect that belief in our language use. The clear example of gendered language is the way the words "Mr.," "Miss," and "Mrs." are used. "Mr." can refer to any man, regardless of whether he is single or married—but women are defined by their relationship to men (by whether they are married or not). A way around this is to use "Ms." (which doesn't indicate marital status) to refer to women. Sometimes we modify nouns that refer to jobs or positions to denote the sex of the person holding that position. This often done if the sex of the person holding the position goes against conventional expectations. To get a sense of these expectations, think about what sex you would instinctively assume the subject of each of these sentences to be
The doctor walked into the room.The nurse walked into the room.
Many people assume that doctors are men and that nurses are women. Because of such assumptions, someone might write sentences like "The female doctor walked into the room" or "The male nurse walked into the room." Using "female" and "male" in this way reinforces the assumption that most or all doctors are male and most or all nurses are female. Unless the sex of the nurse or doctor is important to the meaning of the sentence, it can be omitted. Also good examples of using gender identity in language are the nouns: fireman, firefighter, mail carrier, letter carrier, postal worker, police officer, congress person, legislator, representative, freshman, congressman. There are much more examples of gender identity in language. Because of our historical development of the society, we have specific preferring the male identity in language. All work occupations we identify as a male opportunity. While a women always associated in our society as a weak beings, who don not have a social power. Because of that patriarchate culture the female identification in the work occupation on the lowest level.
The doctor walked into the room.The nurse walked into the room.
Many people assume that doctors are men and that nurses are women. Because of such assumptions, someone might write sentences like "The female doctor walked into the room" or "The male nurse walked into the room." Using "female" and "male" in this way reinforces the assumption that most or all doctors are male and most or all nurses are female. Unless the sex of the nurse or doctor is important to the meaning of the sentence, it can be omitted. Also good examples of using gender identity in language are the nouns: fireman, firefighter, mail carrier, letter carrier, postal worker, police officer, congress person, legislator, representative, freshman, congressman. There are much more examples of gender identity in language. Because of our historical development of the society, we have specific preferring the male identity in language. All work occupations we identify as a male opportunity. While a women always associated in our society as a weak beings, who don not have a social power. Because of that patriarchate culture the female identification in the work occupation on the lowest level.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
AAE
"African American English" (="AAE") is one name for a collection of varieties (ways of speaking) characteristically used by African Slave Descendants in North America. Over the years a number of names have been used, and a number of different varieties or dialects have been the focus of both linguistic and general public attention. Some of the more common terms include "Black English", "Ebonics", "Black Vernacular English" (="BEV"), and "African American Vernacular English" (="AAVE"). In an earlier period (mid/late 1960s), the name “Negro Non-standard English” was often used. It’s obvious that the terms for this language variety change more or less in step with terms of self-identification for the people who speak it. Thus, the term “Negro” gave way in popular (and eventually out-group) usage to the term “Black”, which was followed by “African American” (though as Geneva Smitherman points out, this term is actually much older).
The use of these names, and their changes over time, has sometimes been cited as an example of “political correctness”. One valid response to this might be to point out that the term “PC” is typically used as a way to attack or show contempt for a set of values, ideas, practices, or a group of people by ridiculing the language they are expressed in. It is a basic that bias against a language or dialect stands in for bias against its speakers. From this point of view, an attack by outsiders on the validity of changing names for an ethnic group of people or their language could be seen as quite simply racist. It’s also worth considering the question of names and ethnic self-identification in a global context, as a case study of Lingustic Human Rights.
AAE is a systematic language variety, with patterns of pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, and usage that extend far beyond slang. Because it has a set of rules that is distinct from those of Standard American English, characterizations of the variety as bad English are incorrect; speakers of AAE do not fail to speak Standard American English, but succeed in speaking African American English with all its systematicity. The term Ebonics (a blend of ebony and phonics) gained recognition in 1996 as a result of the Oakland School Board’s use of the term in its proposal to use African American English in teaching Standard English in the Oakland Schools. The term was coined by Robert Williams in 1973, but it wasn’t until the Ebonics controversy that Ebonics became widely used. Most linguists prefer the term African American English as it aligns the variety with regional, national, and sociocultural varieties of English such as British English, Southern English, Cajun English.
Of cause as all others dialects are alive and always developing. The have a big population among Africans-Americans and so language always has different transmissions. Early, even 20 years ago African American communities were closed, because of social racism, so they kept their dialect without changes. However, now we have a big cultural diversity and their language changing with more influence of white speakers. However, because in same areas still we witnessed cultural limits we need to teach children from those black communities classical English. This will help a future generations to be adapted in the society.
The use of these names, and their changes over time, has sometimes been cited as an example of “political correctness”. One valid response to this might be to point out that the term “PC” is typically used as a way to attack or show contempt for a set of values, ideas, practices, or a group of people by ridiculing the language they are expressed in. It is a basic that bias against a language or dialect stands in for bias against its speakers. From this point of view, an attack by outsiders on the validity of changing names for an ethnic group of people or their language could be seen as quite simply racist. It’s also worth considering the question of names and ethnic self-identification in a global context, as a case study of Lingustic Human Rights.
AAE is a systematic language variety, with patterns of pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, and usage that extend far beyond slang. Because it has a set of rules that is distinct from those of Standard American English, characterizations of the variety as bad English are incorrect; speakers of AAE do not fail to speak Standard American English, but succeed in speaking African American English with all its systematicity. The term Ebonics (a blend of ebony and phonics) gained recognition in 1996 as a result of the Oakland School Board’s use of the term in its proposal to use African American English in teaching Standard English in the Oakland Schools. The term was coined by Robert Williams in 1973, but it wasn’t until the Ebonics controversy that Ebonics became widely used. Most linguists prefer the term African American English as it aligns the variety with regional, national, and sociocultural varieties of English such as British English, Southern English, Cajun English.
Of cause as all others dialects are alive and always developing. The have a big population among Africans-Americans and so language always has different transmissions. Early, even 20 years ago African American communities were closed, because of social racism, so they kept their dialect without changes. However, now we have a big cultural diversity and their language changing with more influence of white speakers. However, because in same areas still we witnessed cultural limits we need to teach children from those black communities classical English. This will help a future generations to be adapted in the society.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
What about class analysis I would like to make a little-bit research about that interesting subject. By looking at class and activity in class, I made interesting observation. It is interesting how people from different social, economical, cultural, and vernacular backgrounds try to find solutions and ideas for critical discussions. Class activity and freedom of the speech make us to show all our experience and social issues, which we cannot identify in usual class activity. Say me the way how you are talking and I will say you who you are. Of cause, it is issue that is more psychological, however, it is so interesting to observe characters, and behaviors people by listening them. Not surprisingly, because in that class we learn not just dialectological academical definitions, also we learn parts of anthropology and history. The way how that sciences connect with each other so unique. It is a beautiful picture of development of our mentality and expression toward the world. The ethnical and religious backgrounds mixes give us the most unusual history of humanity in language. Moreover, when we are discussing about those different lingustical paths and variations we share with each other at least one common factor—our experience and expressions, which help us to realize who we are.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
californian dialect
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Californian dialect
In any language, we can see a variable diversity. In American English, because of social aspects that diversity the most recognizable and colorful. Population in United States consists from the different ethnic groups, communities, because that country is an immigrant’s land. Therefore, it is not surprisingly that we have the most large linguistical diversity around the world. For example, large ethnic group of Mexican-American population in California created their own dialect Chicano English. Usually it is very common in the area bilingual speakers to mix native language with second language. Grammar, lexicon pass between two language with specific adaptation. Minor ethnic group uses special “lingustical glue” to adopt both languages in one surge. In addition, because today Hispanic speakers have a great population in California Americans also adopted some innovations in American English. Also a great influence on language played Chinese and Japan ethnic groups, which had their settlement since 1950 yy. after a Second World War. Another influence was created by Hollywood images. All that lingustical innovations depended from social and historical aspects. As any language American English transformed in a new form and will be have other transformations while political, historical and demographical aspects will be have developing.
Californian dialect
In any language, we can see a variable diversity. In American English, because of social aspects that diversity the most recognizable and colorful. Population in United States consists from the different ethnic groups, communities, because that country is an immigrant’s land. Therefore, it is not surprisingly that we have the most large linguistical diversity around the world. For example, large ethnic group of Mexican-American population in California created their own dialect Chicano English. Usually it is very common in the area bilingual speakers to mix native language with second language. Grammar, lexicon pass between two language with specific adaptation. Minor ethnic group uses special “lingustical glue” to adopt both languages in one surge. In addition, because today Hispanic speakers have a great population in California Americans also adopted some innovations in American English. Also a great influence on language played Chinese and Japan ethnic groups, which had their settlement since 1950 yy. after a Second World War. Another influence was created by Hollywood images. All that lingustical innovations depended from social and historical aspects. As any language American English transformed in a new form and will be have other transformations while political, historical and demographical aspects will be have developing.
californian dialect
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Californian dialect
In any language, we can see a variable diversity. In American English, because of social aspects that diversity the most recognizable and colorful. Population in United States consists from the different ethnic groups, communities, because that country is an immigrant’s land. Therefore, it is not surprisingly that we have the most large linguistical diversity around the world. For example, large ethnic group of Mexican-American population in California created their own dialect Chicano English. Usually it is very common in the area bilingual speakers to mix native language with second language. Grammar, lexicon pass between two language with specific adaptation. Minor ethnic group uses special “lingustical glue” to adopt both languages in one surge. In addition, because today Hispanic speakers have a great population in California Americans also adopted some innovations in American English. Also a great influence on language played Chinese and Japan ethnic groups, which had their settlement since 1950 yy. after a Second World War. Another influence was created by Hollywood images. All that lingustical innovations depended from social and historical aspects. As any language American English transformed in a new form and will be have other transformations while political, historical and demographical aspects will be have developing.
Californian dialect
In any language, we can see a variable diversity. In American English, because of social aspects that diversity the most recognizable and colorful. Population in United States consists from the different ethnic groups, communities, because that country is an immigrant’s land. Therefore, it is not surprisingly that we have the most large linguistical diversity around the world. For example, large ethnic group of Mexican-American population in California created their own dialect Chicano English. Usually it is very common in the area bilingual speakers to mix native language with second language. Grammar, lexicon pass between two language with specific adaptation. Minor ethnic group uses special “lingustical glue” to adopt both languages in one surge. In addition, because today Hispanic speakers have a great population in California Americans also adopted some innovations in American English. Also a great influence on language played Chinese and Japan ethnic groups, which had their settlement since 1950 yy. after a Second World War. Another influence was created by Hollywood images. All that lingustical innovations depended from social and historical aspects. As any language American English transformed in a new form and will be have other transformations while political, historical and demographical aspects will be have developing.
Monday, February 11, 2008
ydenysen-post4
Discourse and diversity
Different ethno and social groups can show us a different variable of diversity. The most valuable cultural issues open for us the interesting variable retrospections of the mentality specific ethno and social groups. For example in some languages we can find unusual archetypes for subjects so uncial, so we can not find definitions for them in another languages. For example, the name of the color khaki in English language has assimilation and all English speakers use that word without doubts, that is color light brownish, mostly known as a military color. However, in Slovenian languages, we can not find that word. Not surprisingly why. Because, in another languages there are not that kind of phenomena. In military people use a blue color of uniform and word khaki doesn’t reflect the reality of that ethno group. And if we can make lexical and semantical analysis of different languages and even dialects we can see a huge amount of diversity in mental system of different languages. Because, every language reflects the mentality of the specific ethno group or community. Differences in ideology, cultural clash, homogeneity develop internal dynamic of the languages in specific ways for every language. As for dialects I can tell that even in one population of the similar ethno groups we can follow all kinds of the lingustical variation on semantical. Culturally diverse different social groups and small communities can provide a small model for the world of how people with differences can learn to live together to make a difference. Because, the language is a way of thinking and exploring the thoughts on the verbal communicative level.
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