Wolfram and Schilling-Estes: Standards and Vernaculars
So you've read Wolfram and Schilling-Estes (that's Walt above, Schilling-Estes below). Thoughts on something other than the relative size of the photos of them that I was able to locate online?
The fact that other countries have institutions that decide what is standard when it comes to language was interesting to me. Putting so much effort into standardizing something that changes as much as language seems almost strange.
This was something that I noticed too. One point that I wanted to make though is that even though prescribers go through so much trouble to create standards for English, there will always be people to disputer this anyways. Not everyone who speaks the language will choose to conform to what is "proper".
An idea that stuck out to me once it was stated in the article was that North Americans still look up to the language in Britain with high regards, and this may be still an effect from when it was part of Britain’s territory. This is an interesting concept because while it may be widely denied, it may also be true. There are some people who think that the way others in Britain speak is "fancy" and high class.
Something I found interesting when comparing formal and informal standard English was that “Unlike standard dialects, which are largely defined by the absence of socially disfavored structures of English, vernacular varieties seem to be characterized by the presence of socially conspicuous structures” (15). I took this to mean, for instance, that “southern English” is characterized by words such as “y’all” and “fixin’ to,” Boston English characterized by those missing R’s, et cetera. Characteristics that are made fun of by people who don’t speak like that. So in America, the formal standard is valued higher than the informal standard vernaculars.
According to the piece it is very unusual for average Americans to speak Formal Standard English that follows prescriptive grammar rules. Even though I feel that I am rather formal in my speech, I also am aware of my lack of knowledge as far as prescriptive grammars go. I love English and I love to read and write but grammar has always been a very weak spot for me. I have always tried to learn grammar and use it well, but frankly all the rules are overwhelming. I am sure that this is the big reason why Formal Standard English is not often spoken casually; not for lack of class, just for lack of knowledge on prescriptive grammars.
The fact that other countries have institutions that decide what is standard when it comes to language was interesting to me. Putting so much effort into standardizing something that changes as much as language seems almost strange.
ReplyDelete(Emily Callan)
This was something that I noticed too. One point that I wanted to make though is that even though prescribers go through so much trouble to create standards for English, there will always be people to disputer this anyways. Not everyone who speaks the language will choose to conform to what is "proper".
DeleteAn idea that stuck out to me once it was stated in the article was that North Americans still look up to the language in Britain with high regards, and this may be still an effect from when it was part of Britain’s territory. This is an interesting concept because while it may be widely denied, it may also be true. There are some people who think that the way others in Britain speak is "fancy" and high class.
ReplyDeleteSomething I found interesting when comparing formal and informal standard English was that “Unlike standard dialects, which are largely defined by the absence of socially disfavored structures of English, vernacular varieties seem to be characterized by the presence of socially conspicuous structures” (15). I took this to mean, for instance, that “southern English” is characterized by words such as “y’all” and “fixin’ to,” Boston English characterized by those missing R’s, et cetera. Characteristics that are made fun of by people who don’t speak like that. So in America, the formal standard is valued higher than the informal standard vernaculars.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the piece it is very unusual for average Americans to speak Formal Standard English that follows prescriptive grammar rules.
ReplyDeleteEven though I feel that I am rather formal in my speech, I also am aware of my lack of knowledge as far as prescriptive grammars go. I love English and I love to read and write but grammar has always been a very weak spot for me. I have always tried to learn grammar and use it well, but frankly all the rules are overwhelming. I am sure that this is the big reason why Formal Standard English is not often spoken casually; not for lack of class, just for lack of knowledge on prescriptive grammars.