Tutorial Linguistics 1

Indo-European

Issue 1

An integral part of the history of English include the rise of prescriptive grammar and the notion of grammatical correctness.

Answer:

Descriptive Grammar > The rule of grammar's can be used to describe (explain) how people use language effectively. It is usually used by speakers and writers.

Prescriptive Grammar > The rules of grammar can be used to prescribe (tell) how people should use the language.

Grammatical Correctness > Quality of linguistic utterance sentence of being grammatically well-formed dependents on the group which have greater influenced to people.

Issues 2

The idea of language authority who decides what is correct, what is not and why.

Answer:

The idea of language authority

Which one is correct?

1) 'Drive slow' or 'Drive slowly'

2) 'They don't have more' or 'they don't have any'

who's right?

• some observer claim that the real issues about linguistic right and wrong is one of deciding who wields power and who doesn't.
• The stigmatized forms of language are typically those used by social groups other than educated middle classes-professional people, including those in law, medicine and publishing.

Linguists' point of view

• some standardization of forms is useful for the variety of a language used, especially in print.
• the expression appearing in dictionaries and grammars are not the only grammatical forms and may not be suitable for use in all circumstances. (reprinted courtesy 'Finegar, E PhD)

 Issues 3
A more moderate approach to language norms is to base on usage how long is actually used in community.

Answer:

Country: Austria
Location: Central Europe
Language: Germanic language, spoken by 98% of the population

Austrian Norms:

• Eating together in the evening
• Have outdoor activities during weekends
• Always keep their house neat and tidy
• Close friends and relatives are invited to have informal communications
• They are generally conservative people
• They are prudent and moderate in their behavior

Moderate Approach:

• Have dinner together - while we having dinner, we can chat with them.
• We must having informal communication with them - visited their house.
• Be brave to talk in their language and ask them to correct us.
• Mix with them.
• Learn their culture
• We must learn their culture - in order to be accepted.

World Englishes

Issue 1

How we different WE perceived socially?

Answer:

WE >> Eng. as used around the world with all of its resulting variation; also the common features of international standard Eng.

Example:

SINGLISH

"He sent his family to live up in different queues for some item, so "kiasu"!!

Fact>>Singapore is currently promoting the anti - Singlish campaign nationwide.

Why??

• Maintain identity
• Trade economy
• To ensure standard good command of English
• To be looked up upon the ability to speak Eng.
• Technological know how/inventions
• Economic strength
• Status of language changes throughout time

 MANGLISH

"It's free seating at concert, we need to get there early to 'chope' seats for our gang."

Fact>> Includes by languages in Malaysia. e.g: Malay, Chinese, Tamil

Why??

• Native speaker varieties of English.

Issue 2

How recognizable are different WE?

What factors influence this recognition? 

Answer:

1. Wide variation between varities of WE. Most difference are:

• Pronounciation
• Vocabulary
• Syntax
• Grammar
• Accent used
• Sound
• Schemes

2. Varieties reflect the culture of their speaker and this another cause of difference between varieties, as the ways of cultural norms are expressed thus differ across varieties. This is why the way people present information may differ.

For example>> Manglish (Malaysian English)

3. Since 1968, Malay has been countries sole official language, while English is widely used. Many Malay words have become part of common usage in informal language.

An example >> is suffixing with 'Lah'. "Dont be so worried Lah"

4. Speakers of Manglish tend to translate phrases directly from their first languages into English.

Example: "on the light" instead of "switch on the light" (direct translation from Chinese)

Issue 3

How is English used in the word?

How should it be used?

Answer:

(xde bahan)

Issue 4

How do WE differ from each other and how are they similar.

Answer:

1. The way they pronounce/speak influenced by their mother-tongue.
2. Most of the speakers of WE come from the countries which using English as either first or second language.
3. Mixture of their mother-tongue.

• e.g: Manglish: +'lah',+'ma'+'ah'
• "Borrow RM10 can ah "
• "He is very blur one lah'

     4. Create new word/phrases

          e.g: In the pink of health

 

     5. Direct translation from their own language.

          e.g: (M) My tyres got no flower and cannot eat the road well.

                  (E) My car's tyres are worn out and cannot grip the road well.