Language Types: definitions and practice

Academic language: 0 Language that abides by the grammar of Standard American Academic English. Often thought of as the “correct” form. Formal in nature, with sophisticated vocabulary. 0 (ex. In Richard Wright’s Native Son, the societal construct and conception of race play a major role in shaping the narrative.)

Slang: 0 Language only understood and used by a select group (often youth) and place in time. This language is ever-changing, has no rules, and is not formally recognized. 0 (ex. Those are some Phat beatz! “Poppin’ tags”)

Dialect: 0 The standard speech of a certain culture and/or region, which abides by its own consistent rules of grammar and syntax. An accepted, though not traditionally academic, way of speaking. 0 ex. In AAVE, the copular “to be” verb is dropped in description, “ain’t” substitutes “isn’t”, “finna” signifies “going or intending to.” Look! He walking over here. Ain’t he in my class? I’m finna talk to him, because he real cute.

Jargon: 0 The terminology of a profession or hobby, exclusively understood and used by the members of that profession. 0 (ex. For educators: pedagogy, IEP, learning objective For florists: processing, green up, premade, CP)

Colloquial Language: 0 A phrase or way of speaking that is characteristic of a certain region of the world. A local way to say something. 0 (ex. Bubbler. Go Bucky! I’m having a Sprecher Root Beer, and my dad’s having a brewskie.)

Vernacular: 0 the language of the common man, casual or conversational language. 0 (ex. How’s it going? or That’s for sure!)

Name that language type! 0 Yo, G, I gotta get my ice and my threads just right before we go out on the town. ________________________ 0 Brew City is a major factor in what makes Winsconsin the amazing place that it is. I mean, the Fonz is a local, and we actually know that you’re supposed to call that bubbly stuff “soda.” ________________________

0 Oh, hey man. What’s goin’ on? This day has been something else. I am so ready to go home. ________________________ 0 People get it in they minds that they ain’t fit to be in AP English. But I been telling them, if you a writer, you a writer. It don’t matter the way you was brought up to speak, as long as you ready to work and study hard. ________________________

0 Get a crash cart, stat! BP is rising rapidly. We’re gonna have to trach her right now! ________________________ 0 Silko’s style is an eloquent blend of poetry and realism. The native legends that she deftly spins into the narrative of her debut novel, Ceremony, bolster Tayo’s quest for spiritual fulfillment. ________________________