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Language in its social setting

Language in its social setting. By Betz Lund. Language is a social phenomenon. Language expresses solidarity or group identity, separating insiders and outsiders, creating those in and out of the language loop. Groups can be determined by geography

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Language in its social setting

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  1. Language in its social setting By Betz Lund

  2. Language is a social phenomenon • Language expresses solidarity or group identity, separating insiders and outsiders, creating those in and out of the language loop. • Groups can be determined by geography • Northerners put groceries in a bag but Southerners use a sack • Groups can be small • families, friends, roommates, colleagues, couples • Larger social groups have dialects based on class, ethnicity, gender, or age

  3. Examining Social issues with social dialects • African-American Vernacular English • Also called Ebonics or Black English • Mainly used by African Americans from working class or inner-city areas. • Not strictly used by African Americans, those living in inner cities or in opposition to mainstream culture will use it. • Some find Ebonics as ignorant, others see is as a symbol of pride and some see it as a language separate from English. • With enough exposure anyone can pick up the lingo of a new context

  4. Gender differences • Gender roles not gender influence language • 1970’s- US Department of Labor tried to eliminate gender bias • Use “flight attendant” not “stewardess” • Users adapt a word to mean something different from original intent • Ms was meant to be female equivalent of Mr where marital status is not identified • It is used as trendy alternative to “Miss” or by widowed or divorced women • “Guys” is gender neutral though guy is usually masculine, the plural can refer to a group of all females

  5. Do You speak American? • US is founded on diversity in religion and ethnicity, but diversity gives way to one language: English • Some believe if you don’t speak “American” you are not an American • Government policy tried to end Native American languages • Trying to preserve them now-too little to late? • Loss of language is common for immigrants • Schools during 1900s focused only on English • More than 50% dropped out of high school during the height of Eastern European immigration

  6. Bilingual Education or isolationism? • 1970s-court ordered bilingual education tried to help speakers of minority languages • Idea to teach core subjects in native language • Effective when done well yet controversial • California rejected bilingual education for English immersion projects • Supporters fear that this is a step backwards towards isolationism • Americans still face issues of assimilation and minority language rights

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