2015-08-21
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Conversations occurring between a native speaker and a non-native speaker can be impeded for a number of reasons. Match the conversations given below with the difficulties that the non-native speaking student experiences in the UK
| Conversations | Difficulties |
| 1. Student: I’d like to go to the city centre. I wonder if you could call the taxi. Porter: Where do you want to go? Student: Hm? Porter: Where do you want to go? Student: No, no … Porter: Where to? Student: Ah, thank you very much | A. Impeded pronunciation |
| 2. Student: Excuse me, would you take this blue watch out? Assistant: Which one? This one? Student: No, this one, no, that one, not this line, this line, the blue one … Assistant: Oh, that one Student: No, here, next … | B. Impeded communication |
| 3. Student: Excuse me, I want to go to Walkabout. Driver: Where? Student: Walkabout. It’s a kind of Australian New Zealand bar… Does this bus … to … Driver: I don’t know where you are talking about …(Adapted from Walkinshaw, I. 1999. Immersion in an English-Speaking culture: Learning to Swim in the Deep End. IATEFL Issues. December. P. 16-18) | C. Impeded comprehension |
In an attempt to understand how human language works in reality was shown in the aspects of Sociolinguistics. It studies the relationship between language and society and the diversity of languages. Sociolinguistics can study ethnography of language such as formulas of politeness, terms of address and other socially accepted behaviour. It can analyse speech repertoires in social groupings (e.g. communicative repertoire in a modern office) and dialects (language variations as a result of geographical locations). Interest can be taken in gender differences such as anti-sexist campaigns (the use of s/he pronouns) and slang (jargon typical of social group to mark solidarity of its members, e.g. Cockney in London). The study of social class distinctions in speech as well as language authenticity an become an object of research too (Spolsky, B. 1998. Sociolinguistics. OUP.)
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Exploratory task 2.20
Match the following conversational words and expressions with their formal counterparts
| Conversational language | Formal language |
| 1. Pricey | A. Gloomy |
| 2. Choosy | B. Nice to hug |
| 3. Nosy | C. With unpleasant odour |
| 4. Roomy | D. Unreliable (person) |
| 5. Handy | E. Easy to handle |
| 6. Dodgy | F. Much space |
| 7. Smelly | G. Prying (person) |
| 8. Cuddly | H. Difficult to please |
| 9. Moody | I. Expensive |
