Class Notes,  7 September 1999

By Ray Smith

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I.  Review

A.  Language is a living system

1.  Living

a. It grows

b. It changes

2.  System

a. It has structure

a.  Sounds:  phonology, phonemes (sound) phonetics (sound letter relationships)

1b.  Words (lexicon)

1c.  Punctuation

1d.  Grammatical rules (syntax)

1e.  Spelling (orthography)

1f.  Pronunciation

1g.  Situational uses:  greetings, speaking in class vs. talking with friends etc.

B.  All languages change & vary

 

II.  Discussion Chap 1

A.  History & diversity

1.  English not only has a long & storied history but it also has a rich & flavored diversity.

2.  Diversity is created by the longevity of a language & the number of people speaking it.

B.  Issues in English

1.  Language issues:  What English is.

2.  Cultural issues:  What English means.

 

III.  Text Analysis

A.  Discussed second side (seven different excerpts varying in  length) of week 1 handout in groups.

1.  Placed each in chronological order (most in class came up with the same order)

a.  No. 1 was dated 1422 from a London Brewer's Guild

b.  No.2 was dated c. 900

c.  No.3 was dated 1644 John Milton

d.  No.4 was dated 1960s

e.  No.5 was dated 1856 Walt Whitman

f.  No.6 was dated c. late 1300s Chaucer

g.  No.7 was dated 1781 John Witherspoon

 

2.  In most cases order was determined by syntax, spelling, vocabulary, grammar & content.

 

IV.  Text Analysis of Activity 1.2 (pages 7-10 in text)

A.  Discussed, in groups, which of the seven given excerpts, if any, would be considered English.

1.  Most in class agreed that that numbers 1 & 3 were out. However, a good argument was waged for number 3 staying in the fold.  It was reasoned that number 3, when said aloud sounded like the translation to the right.

2.  Several definitions came out of this discussion.

a.  Pidgin:  contact variety of 2 or more languages, usually used between 2 or more people when trying to accomplish a task & no one  speaks the same language; restricted vocabulary. (#1 act. 1.2)

b.  Creole:  a full-fledged language based on the contact language.  (#1 act 1.2)

c.  Register:  jargon: language that is specific to a particular situation; different vocabulary,  but may also include other aspects of language.

3.  Language has varieties

a.  Language vs. dialects can be hard to discern

b.  Can have political & economical ramifications

4.  Big theme of chapter 1 is that English is fuzzy around the edges.

V.  When and When not to Speak English Section 1.4 (pages 15-22)

A.  Class divided into thirds each discussed the tensions that arise when English should or should not be spoken in cases where another language is used or preferred.

1.  In case 1 English was brought to Kenya as part of the legacy of a conquered nation.  With the language came social, political, and economic baggage that worked in favor of English speaking people.

2.  Case 2 pits English against French.  Unlike case 1, where English was being spoken by a predominantly Kenyan society, in Quebec both French & English people were in co-existence.  Again the same arguments from case 1 apply, but in reverse.  French holds sway in Quebec.

3.  Case 3 is completely different.  English in France is merely a foreign language, nothing more.  Its use is not encouraged in everyday society, but reserved for international affairs &commerce.  However, there is a growing fear in France that contamination is unavoidable.

 

Study questions

1.  What causes diversity in a language? List the pros & cons.

 

2.  Explain why language is a living system.

 

3.  Compare & contrast pidgin & creole.

 

 

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