1. Language, Society and Culture
In sociolinguistics, the relationship between language, society, and other
factors, such as anthropology or sociology derivate in the correct understanding
of the specific changes of the language covered in this text. This contributes,
not only to the course of Lexical Analysis, but also to other complementary
courses in the program of English Pedagogy.
The different aspects that define social dialects, is also a tool for us as future
teachers. To realize how the aspects of a communicational situation can affect
the way our students speak, and to be aware of these possible changes, could
be an implement in a real teaching situations, because in a classroom are many
different social backgrounds such as different social class that can affect
pronunciation of words, or Educational background that will be noticeable in the
way students use different words, and not only that, because aspects like
gender or age can also be active agents of language change.
Is interesting to notice how some changes in languages are the same for
English speakers than for Spanish speakers, for instance, the example given
about the nouns that our grandfather would use and how we give new names to
the same things. But this is not only useful for us in everyday life. The speech
differences had been covered in the course of Lexical Analysis several times.
These aspects are added to the ones we have checked, in order to work as an
aid for the understanding of many terms used in the course.
Also, is important to remark that a ethnic dialect, for instance Afro-American
way of speaking, will not be a standardized language, as a result of the features
or characteristics that these dialects posses.
Standard language is a term that in the course has been revised several times,
and always has something new related to it. It is important to emphasize to our
future students that language is constantly changing, but socially accepted or
educated English is not something that changes easily. If they are accurate
English speakers, communicating with their peers in a proper style, depending
on the situation, they will be successful communicators in a real situation with
foreign or native English speakers. And this also works for us, as students of a
foreign language.
The term Idiolect, and the correct understanding of it, is a tool to realize that
every individual has its own way of communication. This is not only related to
vocabulary, but also to intonation, pronunciation and use of different sounds in
different situations. The correct understanding of this is almost mandatory for
the course.
Also, there is a topic covered, that is useful for us as students, as well as for
future teachers. The relationship between Style, Register and Jargon, and the
proper use and distinction of these expressions were covered in the course, and
in the text the author explains them, giving examples of real life situations,
which would help as an addition to the material given by the teacher. The style,
register and jargon used in Pedagogy it is also a very interesting topic, not
covered by the author, but as a future teacher, is our duty to learn about them.