Pardon? What did you say? Understanding the different ways that we use speech

Learning outcomes: To recognise the difference between formal and informal speech and how you adapt your speech for different people. To recognise that everyone has an accent and particular ways of speaking To be aware of what is a dialect, sociolect and idiolect.

FORMAL and INFORMAL LANGUAGE Activity 1: whole group discussion Formal language What is it? When do we use it? Informal language Activity 1: Q&A discussion

How would you speak to: Your aunt Your friend Someone on your course Activity 2:Group work to discuss How would you speak to: Your aunt Your friend Someone on your course Your lecturer An interview panel Your employer An employee Would you use formal or informal – or even semi formal? What is the difference? 10 mins? Use the flip chart paper to record your ideas then we will share

Do you change the way you speak according to who you are talking to? Activity 3: Whole group discussion Do you change the way you speak according to who you are talking to? Why? Activity 3: Whole group discussion –

How do you think this relates to writing? Activity 4: Group work to discuss How do you think this relates to writing? English at university An email to a friend? A shopping list? A letter of complaint? Verbal feedback prompts on click on slides Each one formal/informal Does it depend on who you are writing to? Standard, academic English A note of thanks? Any more??

Accent: The way a person speaks based on where they grew up. Some useful terms: Standard English: also known as ‘The Queen’s English’ with no definite accent. Accent: The way a person speaks based on where they grew up. Dialect: A way of speaking found in certain areas, words may be different. Sociolect: A way of speaking used by a certain social class, profession or group Idiolect: A person’s unique way of using spoken language based on education, class etc. Formal vs informal language: How we adapt the way we speak to the situation

21 Accents… Listen to the way she says similar phrases. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UgpfSp2t6k Were you able to understand them all? Were there any you recognise? We all have an accent!

CLUE!!! Where do you think these people are from? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXqgdR1K_OQ May meet people in Bristol who speak like this CLUE!!!

Where in the country do these phrases come from? “Ha’way, pet” “Top of da mornin’ to ya” “Calm down, calm down” “Just on the dog and bone, luv” “Ey up, there’s trouble at t’mill” “Och aye lassie” We know this because of the accent that it is spoken in. *Do you know what a stereotype is?

DIALECT Dialect is a way of speaking associated with a particular area Dialect varies from Standard English in 3 ways: lexis (vocabulary), grammar (structure) and phonology(pronunciation or accent) It is more than an accent

How many terms do you think we have in the UK for a bread roll?

West Country slang https://youtu.be/WYecGY5X06g 1. That’s gert lush that is. 2. Alright my luuvver? 3. I need to get my peak. 4. Where’s it to? 5. Going down Brizzle http://www.bl.uk/learning/langlit/sounds/text- only/england/bristol/

Would you say dialects and slang are formal or informal? Activity 5: Whole group discussion Would you say dialects and slang are formal or informal? At uni most people will aim to use standard English – but socially is different Can a dialect ever be formal?

SOCIOLECT Sociolect is the way we speak amongst a particular social group: friends, within a profession, or any specific group Specific professions have a very specific sociolect, for example health related, engineering, law – can you suggest others and some specific terms? Writing should be understandable for everyone – write out accronyms in full for the first time

Professional use of vocabulary, acronyms Activity 6: Whole group discussion Professional use of vocabulary, acronyms Professions use specific vocabulary because …

IDIOLECT Idiolect is something specific to you. Your idiolect is developed by your back ground, where you grew up, where you went to school, where you work/ have worked, who you communicate with It is what you say, and how your expressions represent you as a person. It could affect the way you construct sentences as well as the words you choose. What’s yours? Fill in the workbook questions!

Re-cap of terms Dialect: Sociolect: Idiolect: A way of speaking found in certain areas, words and constructs may be different. Sociolect: A way of speaking used by a certain group of people or profession. Idiolect: A person’s unique way of using spoken language based on their life experiences