Teenspeak
1. If we are to assume that we do speak differently at various times in our life, how could you argue that age is the most significant factor?
We could argue that age is the most significant factor due to the fact we speak differently at various times in our lives because we sometimes converge our language to fit a specific social group. For example, the way we speak as a teenager in the company of our group of friends would be different to how we speak to our grandparents as language is more restricted around those where we think carefully about what we say, as we most likely wouldn't swear.
2. What is your opinion on the view that 'life events' are more influential and more significant on our language than age?
Occupational lexis could come from life events such as particular jobs that could influence your language, as in different working environments they require different communication skills not only to customers but also to colleagues.
3. What 'life events' may influence your language? (Consider the age groups 13-17, 18-25, 30's, 50's, elderly/retired) Becoming a teenager may influence your language as you begin to associate yourself with a larger group of different people and pick up things said by others. But as you turn an adult, you start working so you take things said more into consideration but you also have the right to speak more freely, for example use taboo language as much as you please. In your 30's you may have children so your language is bound to mature, as you want your child to grow up properly adapting the right language skills and when you're elderly/retired you're at the stage when you have learnt all you need to know about different ways of speaking so it should stay the same for years forward.
Attitudes to Teenspeak
A 2010 newspaper article entitled 'The teens who can barely talk' presents a far less positive view of teenspeak.
1. What does the article suggest contributes to the drop from knowing 40,000 words to using 800?
The article states that children are being warned they may become unemployable or it will be harder to find jobs if action doesn't take place on their communication skills. They are said to be spending too much time communicating through electronic media and text messaging which is short and brief, restricting them from understanding the difference between their textspeak and formal language needed to succeed in life.
2. Do you agree with this argument?
I do agree to some extent that social media is limiting communication as it is a fact that teenagers spend far too much time on their phones and much less time speaking in real life, and even sometimes text speak like the word 'lol' can be brought into everyday communication. However a lot can be learnt through social media and it can help to broaden individual's vocabulary so this argument isn't completely true in my opinion.
3. Do you agree that teenagers having their own language is their way of saying 'we are different'. Is it inventive, ever changing and brilliant? I think that teenagers language is different to someone in their 50's for example but I don't think it is something intentional that teenagers to use to expose their uniqueness and brilliance. It is one of the most significant periods in your life where you and your language develops so it is bound to be constantly changing depending on who you choose to associate yourself with.
4. What is your opinion on the comment that 'some disadvantaged children don't know that there is a different way of speaking in a job interview'?
I think that this statement is true for some because those disadvantaged may not get the same opportunities as some to get a job interview therefore won't know that you have to converge your language from the norm to make it more appropriate to the mature setting an interview takes place in. But if you're disadvantaged but have still been brought up properly to be polite and formal then this should not be an issue for all.
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