Varieties of Varieties of EnglishEnglish

GREENBAUM, S & QUIRK, R. (1990) GREENBAUM, S & QUIRK, R. (1990) AAStudent’s Grammar of the English Student’s Grammar of the English

Language.Language.London: pearson English Language London: pearson English Language TeachingTeaching

Analysed byAnalysed by Mariana Mariana

Alarcón G.Alarcón G. Sep 27 th 2008Sep 27 th 2008

Types of VariationTypes of Variation In the text five types variations are mentioned, In the text five types variations are mentioned,

and classified in two groups:and classified in two groups:

Regional variation Relate to the language userRegional variation Relate to the language userSocial variation Social variation

Varieties according to field of discourse Varieties according to field of discourse Relate to theRelate to the

Varieties according to medium Varieties according to medium languagelanguage

Varieties accroding to attitude. useVarieties accroding to attitude. use

A common core refers to the root or heart of A common core refers to the root or heart of the language that is present in all the the language that is present in all the varieties.varieties.

Inside the Regional Variety, the authors Inside the Regional Variety, the authors mentioned the use of dialects.mentioned the use of dialects.

Dialects:Dialects: popular and technical use of popular and technical use of language of geographical region.language of geographical region.

the use of dialects is the most noticeable the use of dialects is the most noticeable example of regional variation, this means in example of regional variation, this means in terms of the language user.terms of the language user.

The second variety related to language user is The second variety related to language user is the Social variety. In this variety, the authors the Social variety. In this variety, the authors mentione a considerable variation in speech mentione a considerable variation in speech according to education, socioeconomic group according to education, socioeconomic group and ethnic group.and ethnic group.

There is an important polarity between There is an important polarity between uneducateduneducated

and educated speech, the 2 social variationsand educated speech, the 2 social variations

mentioned by the authors.mentioned by the authors.

Educated English, tends to be given the additionalEducated English, tends to be given the additional

prestige of any institution which must attempt toprestige of any institution which must attempt to

address itself to a public beyond the smalledt address itself to a public beyond the smalledt

dialectal community.dialectal community.

Educated English, it comes to be referred to asEducated English, it comes to be referred to as

Standard English while forms associated withStandard English while forms associated with

uneducated are called nonstandard.uneducated are called nonstandard.

The degree of acceptance of a single standard The degree of acceptance of a single standard of English throughout the world is a truly of English throughout the world is a truly remarkable phenomenon: Uniformity.remarkable phenomenon: Uniformity.

Uniformity is greatest in otrhography. There Uniformity is greatest in otrhography. There is basically a single spelling and punctuation is basically a single spelling and punctuation system throughout with two minor subsystem:system throughout with two minor subsystem:

• The subsystem with British The subsystem with British orientation.orientation.

For example:For example: Colour – CentreColour – Centre• The subsystem with American The subsystem with American

orientation.orientation. For example:For example:

Color - CenterColor - Center

The uniformity is especially close in neutral The uniformity is especially close in neutral or formal styles of written English.or formal styles of written English.

For example:For example:

realize – realiserealize – realise

judgment – judgementjudgment – judgement National standard should be seen as National standard should be seen as

distinct from the standard English.distinct from the standard English.

There are two predominant national There are two predominant national varieties:varieties:

• American English AmEAmerican English AmE• British English BrE British English BrE

Grammatical differences are few, the most Grammatical differences are few, the most known is that AmE has two past participles for known is that AmE has two past participles for get and BrE only one. Another difference is get and BrE only one. Another difference is that in BrE either a singular or plural verb that in BrE either a singular or plural verb may be used with a singular collective noun.may be used with a singular collective noun.

For example:For example:

The government is in favour of economic The government is in favour of economic sanctionssanctions

areare

Lexical differences are far more numerous, Lexical differences are far more numerous, but many of these are familiar to users of both but many of these are familiar to users of both standards.standards.

For example: For example: AmEAmE BrEBrE

Radio sets have had… Tubes ValvesRadio sets have had… Tubes Valves

Besides of AmE and BrE, there are other Besides of AmE and BrE, there are other national standards.national standards.

The idea of these is to establish an independence The idea of these is to establish an independence of BrE and AmE in spite of the differences in of BrE and AmE in spite of the differences in grammar and vocabulary are rather few, like in grammar and vocabulary are rather few, like in the case of Scots.the case of Scots.

In the text, five national standards are In the text, five national standards are mentioned:mentioned:• Hiberno-English or Irish English:Hiberno-English or Irish English: has a has a

little development of a separate grammar and little development of a separate grammar and vocabulary.vocabulary.

• Canadian English:Canadian English: is very similar to AmE. is very similar to AmE. This standard receives an enormous influence This standard receives an enormous influence from United States in terms of Linguistic, from United States in terms of Linguistic, economy, social and intellectual matters. economy, social and intellectual matters.

• South african English:South african English: virtually with BrE virtually with BrE but with some considerable differences in but with some considerable differences in vocabulart developed under the influence of vocabulart developed under the influence of the official language of the country, Afrikaans.the official language of the country, Afrikaans.

• New Zealand English:New Zealand English: Similar to BrE. Similar to BrE.• Australian English: influences in Britain. influences in Britain.

What is distinctive in Australian English is What is distinctive in Australian English is related with grammar features.related with grammar features.

Pronunciation is a special case in that it Pronunciation is a special case in that it distinguishes one national standard from distinguishes one national standard from another.another.

in BrE exists one type of pronunciation called in BrE exists one type of pronunciation called “Received Pronunciation” RP. This type of “Received Pronunciation” RP. This type of pronunciation is related with the accent pronunciation is related with the accent associated with the older schools and associated with the older schools and universities of England.universities of England.

RP has the unique authority for teaching RP has the unique authority for teaching the British variety of English as a foreign the British variety of English as a foreign language, seen from dictionaries and language, seen from dictionaries and textbooks intended for countries that teach textbooks intended for countries that teach BrE.BrE.

The first type of variation related with the The first type of variation related with the language in terms of use is “the field of language in terms of use is “the field of discourse”.discourse”.

The field of discourse is the type of The field of discourse is the type of activity engaged in through language, this activity engaged in through language, this means that it is relates to the activity in means that it is relates to the activity in which people are engaged.which people are engaged.

There is a second type of variation related There is a second type of variation related with the language in terms of use, and is with the language in terms of use, and is the “medium”.the “medium”.

This type of variation refers to the way in This type of variation refers to the way in which the speaker communicate with which the speaker communicate with others whether spoken or written English, others whether spoken or written English, depending on the proximity of the depending on the proximity of the participants in the communication.participants in the communication.