Synchronic Language Change

Synchronic Language Change

Political Correctness

Political correctness is the avoidance of using language or forms of expression that excludes, marginalizes, or insults groups of people who are socially disadvantaged or discriminated against.


http://www.economist.com/style-guide/political-correctness: 'Coloured' is deemed as offensive in some cultures but is commonly used in South Africa for people of mixed race.


It is important in business and marketing not to insult or offend your audience or potential consumers; this can be linked to influential power and Fairclough's synthetic personalisation by using the language to address them specifically.


http://www.virginia.edu/woodson/courses/aas102%20%28spring%2001%29/articles/names/dubois.htm: Names are not merely matters of thought and reason; they are growths and habits. Some people are against the idea of political correctness as they believe that changing the word of something will not change the attitudes of it. For example in this text the writer says that if people are racist towards black people, calling them 'African' or 'coloured' instead of 'negroes' will not affect or change their attitudes towards them.


This can be linked to how words become offensive because they have 'pejorated' over time. e.g. 'gay' and 'spastic'.

Crystal Mark

Crystal Mark is a seal of approval to say a document is clearly written. Many businesses use it to ensure they are providing clear and reliable information.

Language Change Revision

Language Change Revision

Accents and Dialects

• Prejudice exists in language with accents and dialects and is seen as 'socially acceptable'.
• "Native speakers of English are generally at least bi-dialectal" - meaning they can switch between at least two dialects. This suggest they can apply these dialects in particular contexts to suit different audiences. E.g. A student wouldn't use their Essex dialect in a job interview.
• This is called code-switching according to context.
• Language changes according to societal attitudes.
• Slang lends covert prestige - tends to make you sound more 'down-to-earth' or more 'cool' and in particular occupations and situations this technique can be advantageous.
• Divergence - to speak differently to your audience by using language with either a higher social status or a lower social status than you.
• Convergence - to speak similarly to your audience by using language with either a higher social status or a lower social status than you.

Arguments For Banning Slang in Schools

• Head teacher of Ongar Academy head teacher, David Grant, says that students’ dialect "may not favourably reflect on them when they attend college and job interviews".
• Lindsay Johns: "Language is power". It affects what people think of us and accents give perceptions of us being uneducated.

Arguments Against Banning Slang in Schools

• "Because children are sensitive to how they’re perceived, stigmatising their everyday speech can be harmful" - links to Julia Snell's ideas about language.
• "Our dialect and language use are part of our identities, connecting us to time, place, community, and self-image."
• Michael Rosen: "There is no evidence that speaking using one type of slang prevents us from speaking using another."
• Michael Rosen: Banning language doesn't work. "Teachers have been trying to ban slang in schools for over 100 years."
• Stan Carey (writer for the guardian): Children should not be lead to believe that there is something inferior or shameful about their dialects.
• Julia Snell: "children may simply remain silent in order to avoid the shame of speaking ‘incorrectly’, and miss the interactions crucial to learning."