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Questions and Answers
What is the main argument made about Standard English in this chapter?
What is the main argument made about Standard English in this chapter?
How did the concept of Standard English emerge?
How did the concept of Standard English emerge?
What aspect of Standard English is compared to the choice of driving on a particular side of the road?
What aspect of Standard English is compared to the choice of driving on a particular side of the road?
What kind of variation is Standard English intolerant of?
What kind of variation is Standard English intolerant of?
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Why do you think the author uses terms like "received pronunciation" and "Estuary English"?
Why do you think the author uses terms like "received pronunciation" and "Estuary English"?
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Which of the following is NOT a significant factor in the emergence of Standard English?
Which of the following is NOT a significant factor in the emergence of Standard English?
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What is the author's perspective on dialect variation?
What is the author's perspective on dialect variation?
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What is the author's attitude towards Standard English?
What is the author's attitude towards Standard English?
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Flashcards
Standard English
Standard English
A fixed variety of English used universally by speakers, regardless of location.
Origins of Standard English
Origins of Standard English
Emerged from 18th-century efforts to codify language, including spelling and grammar.
Dialect Variation
Dialect Variation
The many different forms of English that exist in various regions.
Societal Status of Language
Societal Status of Language
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Misconception of Superiority
Misconception of Superiority
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Language as a Tool
Language as a Tool
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Unanimous Choice
Unanimous Choice
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Current Status of Standard English
Current Status of Standard English
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Study Notes
Standard English
- Standard English is a fixed variety of English, not varying by geography
- It's used by all English speakers.
- It's a relatively recent linguistic development
- It emerged in the 18th century from concerns about English's status and prompted attempts to standardize it, including spelling, grammar, and pronunciation
- It was codified and fixed in the 18th century to bring order to the variations in spoken and written English.
History of Standard English
- Standard English is the dominant form of English today.
- It's taught in schools and used in government, prestigious institutions, and the media
- It's a fixed form, intolerant of variation, used widely geographically
Variation in English
- Human language is naturally prone to variation and change
- Spoken English exists in numerous dialects across Britain and the English-speaking world; these differ by accent, grammar, and vocabulary.
- Standard English is just one dialect that has a higher social status than others.
Standard vs. Other Standards
- Standard English is neither inherently better than other forms of English.
- It's merely an agreed-upon norm for facilitating communication, similar to other standardized systems, such as currency or voltage
- Using an analogy of traffic driving on the same side of a road helps to explain common use of standards, ensuring everyone is following the same rules.
Etymology of "Standard"
- The use of "standard" to describe language originates from its earlier semantic association with classical literature.
- There is a desire to associate standard English with prestige.
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Description
Explore the development and significance of Standard English, a fixed variety of the language that emerged in the 18th century. Learn how it became the dominant form of English used in education, government, and media, and understand the inherent variations present in spoken English today.
