Language Diversity Class Notes

Varieties of language:

• Regional dialects  (estuary English, Northern)
• National varieties  (Standard English)
• Personal and social varieties including

• Age
• Gender
• Occupation
• Sexuality

Identity can be something that is created by individual characteristics thus creating a personal identity.

Factors that contribute to personal identity:

• Forbidden behaviours
• Rebellion
• Idols (celebrities)
• Cliquish exclusion- where teens exclude those who, they believe, have unacceptable or unattractive characteristics.
• Immigration and migration

Creating an identity through language:

• Specific lexical choices
• Grammatical constructions in speech
• Variations in phonology
• Its done consciously or subconsciously
   
  Myriad- large number of identities and cultures.
   
  Cultures that affect language:
• Religion
• Music
• Gender
• Age
• Generation
   
  Language is organic, it grows and dies
   
   
  Neologisms- new words. They are constantly entering the English language. In 2013 & 2014 new additions to the dictionary included: bestie, selfie, twerking and emoji.
   
  Taboo- lexical choices which can be deemed to be offensive, it includes swearing or using words which are considered inappropriate and unacceptable.
   
  Dialect- Variation in words and structures associated with a particular geographical region.