Australian Variety of English - Essay Example

Australian variety of English {Insert student’s name} {Insert instructor’s name} 18th October 2011. Australian variety of English Dialect is defined as language variety which is systematic in nature and characterized by differences not only in vocabulary and pronunciation but also in grammar as compared to other varieties of a particular language such as English. For a long period of time both linguistics and researchers in the field of sociolinguistics have argued that Australian English has no regional dialect but rather social variation. Then what is social variation? Linguistics has defined social variation a variety which has been regarded as prestigious and associated with certain class of people (Walsh and Colin1993). Clyne (1991) pointed out that a larger percentage of Australian population believes that there is no class system in Australia as compared to other countries such as United Kingdom. Nonetheless Australians are categorized in various social groups which are as a result of effects of the languages that they speak. The social variation in Australian language is therefore indicated by the different accents which shall be illustrated in this essay. According to Horvath (1985) there is Australian variety of English which is distinct. This distinct variety is spoken by approximately 90% of Australian inhabitants and it is characterized by both social and regional variation. Australian English dialects originated from Irish and English settlers. For a long time Australian English was viewed as a substandard form without any prestige. The social background of people impact on the type of linguistic variety they apply when they are speaking. This makes every person to have an accent that is linked to particular geographical area. In addition to that speakers of a given language have differences concerning not only vocabulary but also grammar. Some dialects are regarded to be more prestigious than the rest in addition to being associated with either certain social groups or situations and Australian English is not an exception. However, linguists argue that it is not possible to draw a line between regional and social linguistics variations (Horvath 1985). This is because speakers who are associated with a particular variety are associated with specific social status and geographical area. Moreover, linguistics claim that Australian English is one dialect but this does not imply that there is linguistic uniformity regarding this particular speech community. Australian English has a number of varieties ranging from those which the distinguishing features are extremely marked to those which are less marked. Nonetheless, the variation is more social than regional. Concerning Australian English, linguists have argued that with regard to phonology, there is little or no regional variation or dialect at all but instead there is social variation. This has been Australian accent to be grouped into three major classes but the classification points out that there are three discrete varieties of Australian English but not continuum verities. However the status of each of the varieties can be drawn from the terminologies used to refer to them. Nonetheless the social variations can only e recognized linguistically. For a long time Received Pronunciation proved has played a significant role in the Australian society and as the only accent which was regarded highly (Clyne 1991). However, it as lowest the status as it is linked to the Australians who hold Britain with high esteem. Compared to American and British English, Australian English is homogenous in nature. Therefore, Australian English varieties are socio-cultural in nature rather than having regional dialects. Therefore it can be argued that Australian English has no regional dialects but social variations. These social cultural variations are grouped as cultivated Australian English, broad Australian English and lastly the general Australian English. These social variations are not only based on word usage but also on pronunciation. The cultivated Australian English is made up of the accents which are associated with the people who hold high status in the society. However the general consists of the middle while the broad is associated with the lowest status in the society. The broad Australian was founded in New South Wales and it was used by children from this particular area. This social variation was the same as the one that was being used in London. Furthermore, this variety as developed not only as a male variety but also a rural one mostly spoken in the northern Australia. Thus the variety is characterized with voiced taps which is also associated with the American English. Moreover, individuals who speak this variety are viewed as incompetent and stupid. The taping is further associated with Australian make speakers and not the female. For instance, the manner in which the sound /t/ is pronounced in words such as better, Betty and letter among other is not realized as /t/ but as /r/ (Dixon and Barry 1979-83). Moreover, the broad Australian English is different from the Received Pronunciation in the vowel realization in certain sets of lexical. In addition to that it is different from the general Australian English in that it has a wider and diphthongs that are more shifted. Furthermore, there is distinction in the length of the diphthongs in comparison with the general Australian English. Additionally, the Broad Australian English has a twang which is majorly associated with people of low status in the society. For instance the word “mouth” is pronounced with a twang as compared to General and Cultivated varieties of Australian English which are not regional dialects but social variations. In addition to that the word price is pronounced at the farthest back of the mouth while the initial vowel in the word “mouth” begins from a distinct point in the mouth of the speaker and the pronunciation of the same is more fronted as compared to the Received Pronunciation. In this variety which is regarded as low, there is –ing suffix in words such as riding. In addition to that it has a distinct pronunciation for the pronoun “you” whereby when it is uttered it is realized as the weak form of the sound /j/. Thus based on this Australian English is regarded as having social variation rather than regional dialect. On the other hand, the General Australian English was a major accent in Australia in 1800s. It emerged in an environment whereby, there was an increased immigration of both free settlers and convicts (Clyne 1991). Therefore, children who were born at this time contributed to the development of this social variation of English in Australia. Horvath (1985) further pointed out that during this time both the Broad and the General Australian varieties of English were in existence. However, the General variation was perceived as not only prestigious but also new and urbanite. On the other hand, the Broad variety was viewed as conservative and older. Furthermore, according to Horvath, this variety was commonly used in towns than in rural areas and more people wanted to gain competence on the same (Dixon and Barry 1979-83). Thus making Australian English to qualify as a social variation and not regional dialect based on the aforementioned concept. Horvath (1985), another social variation is the Cultivated Australian English. This variation is held up with high esteem and its closer to the Received Pronunciation. According to Horvath, this social variation is more associated with education. In addition to that it was perceived as a model which was not imported but one that was caused by shift in pronunciation which was as a result of Received Pronunciation influence. In 1830s numerous clubs were founded with the assistance of education in developing this particular social variation. This made people in the middle class to put in place social networks which facilitated sharing of interests. However in 1840, a system of social hierarchy developed in Australia. This made the cultivated variety to be more common in South East of Australia and in cities (Horvath 1985). In addition to that it was commonly used by women and not men. Due to the fact that the diphthong /ae/ is only present in cultivated variety it can be argued that Australian English has a social variation and to some extent a regional one. In pronunciation, there is regional variation based on the type of the vowel that precedes the sounds nch, mple, nd, ns, nce and even –mand as a suffix (Walsh and Colin1993). In addition to that in words such as branch, demand, chance and example, a majority of Australians make use of the short vowel /æ/ rather than the long version of vowel /a/. However, in the case of South Australia, majority of people make use of the broader vowel /aː/ rather than the shorter version of it (Horvath 1985). Thus from the differences in pronunciation it is evident that Australian English has a regional dialect even though it is very minimal and majorly based on one vowel (Clyne 1991). However in Southern Australia there is centering of diphthongs which are evident in words such as sheer, ear, hear and air but in Western Australia the aforementioned centering diphthongs are pronounced the way full diphthongs are pronounced (Horvath 1985). Nonetheless, Australians who come from Eastern part of the country does not move their jaws when pronouncing words such as sheer and fear. On the other hand western Australians pronounce the same as/ shia/ and /fia/ respectively (Dixon and Barry 1979-83). In the vocalization of the sound /l/ South Australians vocalized the sound and pronounces it as a vowel and not as a consonant. For instance in South Australia the word /hurled/ is pronounced as /herwd/ (Horvath 1985). However, in other parts of Australia the sound /l/ is not pronounced as a vowel but as a consonant. Moreover, there is regional varieties which consist of differences in vocabulary but not in accent or tone. For instance beer glasses have different names depending on the geographical area. In Queens land, swim wears are called togs while in New South Wales they are called cossie. But in the remaining regions it is referred to as bathers (Clyne 1991). In conclusion for decades there have been controversies whether Australian English has social variation or regional dialect. However, based on the aforementioned accents such as General, Cultivated and Broad, it can be concluded that Australian English has social variation and minimal aspects of regional dialect drawn from grammatical features and lexical. References Horvath, B. M. 1985. Variation in Australian English: The sociolects of Sydney. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Clyne, M. 1991. Community Languages: The Australian Experience. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Dixon, R.M.W. & Barry J. 1979-83. The Handbook of Australian Languages. Canberra: ANU Press. Walsh, M & Colin, Y. (eds) 1993. Language and Culture in Aboriginal Australia. Canberra: Aboriginal Studies Press. Read More

Compared to American and British English, Australian English is homogenous in nature. Therefore, Australian English varieties are socio-cultural in nature rather than having regional dialects. Therefore it can be argued that Australian English has no regional dialects but social variations. These social cultural variations are grouped as cultivated Australian English, broad Australian English and lastly the general Australian English. These social variations are not only based on word usage but also on pronunciation.

The cultivated Australian English is made up of the accents which are associated with the people who hold high status in the society. However the general consists of the middle while the broad is associated with the lowest status in the society. The broad Australian was founded in New South Wales and it was used by children from this particular area. This social variation was the same as the one that was being used in London. Furthermore, this variety as developed not only as a male variety but also a rural one mostly spoken in the northern Australia.

Thus the variety is characterized with voiced taps which is also associated with the American English. Moreover, individuals who speak this variety are viewed as incompetent and stupid. The taping is further associated with Australian make speakers and not the female. For instance, the manner in which the sound /t/ is pronounced in words such as better, Betty and letter among other is not realized as /t/ but as /r/ (Dixon and Barry 1979-83). Moreover, the broad Australian English is different from the Received Pronunciation in the vowel realization in certain sets of lexical.

In addition to that it is different from the general Australian English in that it has a wider and diphthongs that are more shifted. Furthermore, there is distinction in the length of the diphthongs in comparison with the general Australian English. Additionally, the Broad Australian English has a twang which is majorly associated with people of low status in the society. For instance the word “mouth” is pronounced with a twang as compared to General and Cultivated varieties of Australian English which are not regional dialects but social variations.

In addition to that the word price is pronounced at the farthest back of the mouth while the initial vowel in the word “mouth” begins from a distinct point in the mouth of the speaker and the pronunciation of the same is more fronted as compared to the Received Pronunciation. In this variety which is regarded as low, there is –ing suffix in words such as riding. In addition to that it has a distinct pronunciation for the pronoun “you” whereby when it is uttered it is realized as the weak form of the sound /j/.

Thus based on this Australian English is regarded as having social variation rather than regional dialect. On the other hand, the General Australian English was a major accent in Australia in 1800s. It emerged in an environment whereby, there was an increased immigration of both free settlers and convicts (Clyne 1991). Therefore, children who were born at this time contributed to the development of this social variation of English in Australia. Horvath (1985) further pointed out that during this time both the Broad and the General Australian varieties of English were in existence.

However, the General variation was perceived as not only prestigious but also new and urbanite. On the other hand, the Broad variety was viewed as conservative and older. Furthermore, according to Horvath, this variety was commonly used in towns than in rural areas and more people wanted to gain competence on the same (Dixon and Barry 1979-83). Thus making Australian English to qualify as a social variation and not regional dialect based on the aforementioned concept. Horvath (1985), another social variation is the Cultivated Australian English.

This variation is held up with high esteem and its closer to the Received Pronunciation. According to Horvath, this social variation is more associated with education.

Read More