In school, you have two different dynamics where you use two different styles of language. One is when you are in classroom among your peers and with your teacher. The other is when you are among your friends. In a classroom you must speak intelligently and with respect. In no way would there be a time where you could say to your teacher "That's a stupid fucking question," or "I think that King Louis the XVI was kind of a pussy." Growing up in school, you acquire an unconscious anxiety towards authority that forces you to try to be respectful in the classroom environment. You use less slang and begin to use more "standard English," because that is the best way to communicate with your teachers in a classroom setting. Once you are with your friends, the slang returns back to your language and you begin to speak freely. You curse, and begin talking less grammatically. You'll use abbreviations instead of saying full words. You use nicknames and insults to refer to your best friends, instead of using the Mr.'s and Mrs.'s that are said in the classroom.
At home, you refer back to the language you were taught by your parents. Generally speaking, your family shapes how you speak and the things you say. As you grow older, you stray away and find your own language, but when you are back home in this environment, you will always refer back to the mother tongue you were taught as a child. You mumble words, and uses expressions that no one else would understand.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1) Keep in mind that even Standard English has its own slang.
ReplyDelete2) You talk very generally about language differences; however, I'd like to see more specifics about your own experiences with spoken and written language.