SF Linguistics Lecture 4 Medium and Register Medium

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SF Linguistics Lecture 4 Medium and Register

SF Linguistics Lecture 4 Medium and Register

Medium and register n n Language may be transmitted via two highly contrasting media:

Medium and register n n Language may be transmitted via two highly contrasting media: speech and writing. There are important differences between spoken and written French: n n n Speech is naturally acquired whereas writing requires deliberate learning Speech and writing also differ in respect of convenience and availability i. e. writing is relatively permanent & speech is relatively transitive

Medium Grammatical and lexical differences between spoken and written French: Grammatical differences: 1. Use

Medium Grammatical and lexical differences between spoken and written French: Grammatical differences: 1. Use of the past historic tense 2. Expression of number

Grammatical differences between spoken and written French 3. n Verb forms: many distinctions made

Grammatical differences between spoken and written French 3. n Verb forms: many distinctions made in written French are obscured in spoken French (e. g. certain verb forms): phonetic transcription reveals redundancy of many written grammatical distinctions when it comes to the spoken medium.

Grammatical differences between spoken and written French n A partial solution is the use

Grammatical differences between spoken and written French n A partial solution is the use of liaison in the spoken medium elle arrive vs elles arrivent n quelque homme vs quelques hommess n

Grammatical differences between spoken and written French n However, liaison is decreasing in ordinary

Grammatical differences between spoken and written French n However, liaison is decreasing in ordinary spoken usage and it is only applicable in a small number of cases.

Grammatical differences between spoken and written French: past participle agreement Past participle agreement: 4.

Grammatical differences between spoken and written French: past participle agreement Past participle agreement: 4. n n In the written medium, the agreement between a preceding direct object and the past participle relating to it is apparent. In the written medium, the agreement between a female speaker or a number of female speakers and the past participle relating to them, is visually apparent.

Grammatical differences between spoken and written French: past participle agreement n n n In

Grammatical differences between spoken and written French: past participle agreement n n n In the spoken medium the situation is not so clear-cut. e. g. la lettre que je lui ai écrite or les lettres que je lui ai écrites: whereas: la lettre/les lettres que je lui ai envoyée(s), there is no such indication.

Grammatical differences between spoken and written French: the use of conjunctions n n The

Grammatical differences between spoken and written French: the use of conjunctions n n The use of conjunctions: this is more a matter of complexity of sentence structure than pronunciation reflecting spelling. . Spoken French quite frequently consists of strings of clauses without any explicit link between them: relationships of cause and effect are ignored and have to be inferred by the hearer

Grammatical differences between spoken and written French: the use of conjunctions n e. g.

Grammatical differences between spoken and written French: the use of conjunctions n e. g. J’étais occupée dans ma cuisine, je ne me suis rendu compte de rien, j’ai seulement entendu une explosion, j’ai cru que c’était un accident, je n’ai pas pensé que ça pouvait être une bombe’

Register n Register: the way in which a speaker adjusts his or her speech

Register n Register: the way in which a speaker adjusts his or her speech in order to respond to the nature of the occasion prompting that speech.

Register Factors affecting adjustment of register: n Age, sex and socioeconomic status of the

Register Factors affecting adjustment of register: n Age, sex and socioeconomic status of the addressee n Degree of intimacy between participants in conversation n Formality of situation n

Linguistic expression of register: n Awareness of register differences has a long history in

Linguistic expression of register: n Awareness of register differences has a long history in France. n In 17 th century, writers declared that certain words were appropriate for particular genres and styles and not for others n

Linguistic expression of register In 18 th century, this concept was taken a stage

Linguistic expression of register In 18 th century, this concept was taken a stage further and formalised into a hierarchy of ‘styles’: n e. g. sublime/poetic style n mediocre / historical n familiar/conversational n comic/burlesque n

Linguistic expression of register e. g. ‘face’ n face (sublime) n visage (du stile

Linguistic expression of register e. g. ‘face’ n face (sublime) n visage (du stile mediocre), n garbe, frimouse (du stile burlesque)

Degrees of formality n n n Joos (1962) suggested 5 degrees of formality in

Degrees of formality n n n Joos (1962) suggested 5 degrees of formality in language: Frozen Formal Consultative Casual Intimate

Formality in language Intimate Casual Consultative Formal Frozen cute comely pretty attractive to guzzle

Formality in language Intimate Casual Consultative Formal Frozen cute comely pretty attractive to guzzle to swig to drink to imbibe to quaff nutty demented mad crazy insane scared frightened on the ball to play smart intelligent to act to pretend apprehensiv affrighted e perceptive astute to feign