Variation in English free essay sample

English like any other language, like every language, is subject to variation. This variation can be complex and at times subtle. This text provides us with information about the principal ways in which British and Irish English speech varies and, just as importantly, the non-linguistic (social, geographical) factors which condition variation. Variation in pronunciation RP Dialect: refers to the varieties distinguished from each other by differences of grammar and vocabulary. Accent: on the other hand, refers to variations in pronunciation. RP stands for â€Å"received pronunciation†. Received here is understood in its nineteeth-century sense of accepted in the most polite circles of society. RP remained the accent of those in the upper reaches of the social scale, as measured by education, income and profession, or title. It has traditionally been the accent of those educated at public schools. It is not the accent of any particular region. It enjoys the highest prestige in England. We will write a custom essay sample on Variation in English or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It is estimated that only about 3 to 5 percent of the population of England speak RP. Since it is clearly a minority accent, why then, is it the only British accent taught to foreign learners? Social prestige; RP is often associated with high social status, wealth and power of its speakers. It is often considered the best, the clearest, and even the most beautiful accent. Because of its use on radio and television within Britain RP has become probably the most widely understood of all accents. Moreover, it is by far the most thoroughly described of British accents. Language change Accents change with time. In RP, for example, there has for some considerable time been a tendency, through a process known by linguists as smoothing, for certain triphthongs and diphthongs to become monophthongs. There is not a perfect correlation between age and pronunciation. Some RP speakers will regard the distinguishing features of the advanced variety of the accent as â€Å"affected† and will not alter their own speech, at least not until these features become more general with the passage of time. Other RP speakers will be only too ready to integrate them into their own speech. As there are early or conservative adopters, it would be misleading to say there is only one, fixed form of the accent, since at any stage the accent will be a mixture of traditional and innovative features. The long-standing association of RP with affection, social snobbery, aloofness, and so on, is increasingly out of keeping with the kind of image many of the accent’s younger speakers would wish to project of themselves. This trend can be noticed in the influence of non-standard and foreign accents and dialects, along with a general deterioration in other modes of behaviour (dress, manner, respect for elders) and a perceived rise of sloppiness in pronunciation and disregard for proper grammar. The decline of RP and standard English can be reflected in the rise of a new variety first dubbed â€Å"Estuary English† by Rosewarne (1984) The usual definition of Estuary English is an amalgam of RP and working-class London speech (Cockney). This seemed to be a neutral variety which provided the opportunity for lower-class speakers to appear higher status than they are, and for middle-and upper-class speakers to appear lower status than they are. A particular salient, widely discussed and often heavily stigmatized Estuary form is glottal stop / / as a pronunciation of / t /in certain contexts. Another example of a feature entering modern RP which probably has its origins in a non-standard accent is the (w)-like labio dental approximant (v)as a pronunciation of / / that appears to be spreading fairly fast in British English. Another example of a change is at a relatively early stage in its progress is the so-called High-rising, the high rise terminal (HRT), Australian question intonation (AQI)or uptalk. This phenomenon is often defined as the use, in statements, of the rising intonation pattern normally associated with questions. Some people interpret high-rising tone as an indication of general uncertainty and lack of confidence on the part of the young people who use it. These people have also attributed this influence to Australian and New Zealand English, both of which share this property. This suggestion has been raised because it has become so common for young British school leavers to travel independently overseas on the backpacking trail, often for extended periods. The use of high-rising may have come to act as a badge of well-travelled or wordly status. In tandem with its association with the appealing stereotype of Australians, and New Zealanders as relaxed, friendly, open, sporty, fun-loving, etc. The claim that the use of HRT patterns indicates uncertainty is also probably untenable, given that such patterns may be used when giving information about which the speaker cannot have any doubt (name, personal information, etc. ) Stylistic variation It is the variation conditioned by speakers? perceptions of the situation in which they are speaking. There is variation among RP speakers and in the pronunciation of individual speakers.

Squeegee kids essays

Squeegee kid's essays Should people be punished for trying to put food on the table? Well, I dont think so. I want to address a topic that has the rich in an up roar, the squeegee kids. Its true that the squeegee kids dont pay taxes, but its not like they get health benefits from cleaning windows. Unfortunately these kids are being punished for making an income; nevertheless, they dont pay taxes. And another thing, if the squeegee kids are going to be fined for panhandling, how are the courts going to find these kids to pay the fines. People also have to consider most of these kids are homeless for a reason of escape. Most important of all, its only a dollar or less, people dont have to pay it if they dont want to. The motorists just have a cleaner windshield. The squeegee kids shouldnt be fined for trying to make money. Its true that squeegee kids do not pay taxes, but they also dont get any health benefits for cleaning windows. Taxes seem to be the big thing, when this topic comes up, because its the only thing people could find wrong with squeeging. These kids are making about $40 a day, which is $280 a week. That is an average salary and its all tax-free. Squeegee kids may make ok money, but they dont have any health benefits. If squeegee kids need to get a tooth pulled or get sick, they have to pay their own medical bills themselves; if these kids do not, they simply grow sicker and or have to live with the pain. These kids are homeless, why does society punish them more? Its unfortunate that these kids are being punished for making an income. These kids are homeless, at the bottom, but they still have the strength to push themselves for something better. Society is pushing these kids down every time they try to move up in life. Is the business class and the politicians so angry with these kids, some with out a high school education, found a way to not p...

Leadership Philosophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Leadership Philosophy - Essay Example The effective leader is a person who has already developed a leadership philosophy which includes the core values that he holds to be important. The modern effective leader imbues these values into every action he or she takes so that the people around see him or her as an example that should be emulated. The incorporation of the leader’s own values into his or her own life means that the leader has effectively chosen the right direction in life. Not every person has the strength required to determine his or her direction and to stick to it in life as challenges arrive. The leader is effectively a person who has chosen a path and chooses to persevere on this path no matter what obstacles appear. In choosing the path, the leader has to sacrifice a number of things in life to set his or her priorities in the right order. Only this method of setting personal values allows a true leader to gain a direction that other people can emulate.