Download English Language and Usage Definitions

English Language and Usage Definitions
Language: a code whereby ideas are represented
through a shared system of arbitrary symbols and
structural rules for communication.
Grammar: the whole system and structure of a
language or of languages in general, usually
consisting of syntax and morphology and sometimes
and semantics.
Teacher Jeff Anderson writes: “Grammar
includes all the principles that guide the structure of
sentences and paragraphs: syntax—the flow of
language; usage—how we use words in different
situations; and rules—predetermined boundaries
and patterns that govern language in a particular
society. Mechanics, on the other hand, are ways we
punctuate whatever we are trying to say in our
writing: punctuation, capitalization, paragraphing,
formatting.”
Prescriptive grammar: rules of grammatical
conduct; divides the spectrum of possible human
behaviors into socially acceptable (legal or moral)
behavior, and socially unacceptable (illegal or
immoral) behavior. Rules of prescriptive grammar
make statements about how people ought to use
language. Instruction students receive in school is
prescriptive; most pet peeves fall under this category
as well.
(Adapted ling.upenn.edu/~beatrice/syntaxtextbook/ch1.html.)
Descriptive grammar: is more about the scientific
observation of how language works, how speakers
use language, rather than about they way that they
ought to use it. There is less judging and more
noticing and describing here. (Adapted
ling.upenn.edu/~beatrice/syntax-textbook/ch1.html.)
Syntax: the branch of grammar dealing with the
ways in which words are put together into phrases
and sentences to create meaning.
Standard American English: the practiced,
standard dialect of English. Generally accepted for
use in most textbooks, in schools, in the news media
and as the basis for English teaching across the
world. Non-standard English includes regional
dialects and slang. Other standard dialects include
British English, Australian English, etc.
Dialect: the regional variety of a language, differing
from the standard dialect in grammar, vocabulary,
pronunciation or idioms. Nearly all languages have
dialects. Any ethnic group living in an area where
they use their home language as well as the shared
regional language are likely to have distinct dialects
and language practices specific to their group.
Slang: informal pronunciations, abbreviations and
vocabulary inconsistent with the standard written
and spoken wordings commonly used among the
educated and ruling class. Standard English might
have us greet each other like this: “Hello. How are
you today?” Whereas slang might look more like:
“`sup dude?” or “hey” with a head nod.
Code switching: the practice of moving back and
forth between two languages or
two dialects / registers of the same language. We’re
more likely to code switch during conversation than
in writing. Many of us naturally code switch when we
speak in our home dialect with family and close
friends and the more standard American English
when we speak at work or school.
Ebonics: black, vernacular English, spoken in the
United States. Contrary to popular prejudices, this is
regarded as a language, with a grammar and social
rules of usage distinct from Standard American
English. It is not slang nor is it a regional dialect, as
it’s spoken all over the States. Many people who use
Ebonics code-switch in and out of it as their social
contexts change.
Chicano English: is a dialect spoken mainly by
people of Mexican ethnic origin in California and the
Southwest, though it’s generally only spoken by
native English speakers or those fluent in English
and Spanish. There are other varieties associated
with Latino communities as well. In New York City,
for example, one finds Puerto Rican English, which
shares some properties with Chicano English, but is
different in other ways. Chicano English is
influenced by Spanish and has many phonological
and syntactical features of Spanish. Many speakers
of Chicano English are not bilingual; you don’t need
to know any Spanish to speak Chicano English.
Women, in general, speak Chicano English a bit
differently than men. The language used by young
speakers who are gang members includes terms
that other members of the community do not use.
(Adapted from: Carmen Fought is an associate
professor of linguistics, Pitzer College in Claremont.)
Spanglish: is more about vocabulary than syntax.
Even speakers who do not know much Spanish will
occasionally throw in a word or phrase like
ándale or hasta la vista as a kind of identity marker.
This occasional use of a Spanish word is different
from code-switching. (Adapted from: Carmen
Fought is an associate professor of linguistics, Pitzer
College in Claremont.)