Thursday, 25 February 2016

Grammar

  • Grammar Is a language level in the same way that lexis, phonology etc.
  • A solid grammatical analysis will allow you to reach the higher bands
  • Refers to the underlying structure
Linguistic rank scale-
MORPHEME - WORD - PHRASE - CLAUSE - SENTENCE - TEXT


Morphology/morphemes
  • The study of the way words are formed
  • A morpheme is NOT a syllable
  • The smallest unit of language that we can analyse 
Example:
The word 'apple' has two morphemes
apple=noun
s = plurality
apple = free morpheme
  • Free morpheme = meaning in its own right, stands out
+s = bound morpheme
  • Bound morpheme = cannot stand alone, much be attached 
A root word can stand alone but a suffix or a prefix much be attached. The term affix can be used for both.


Modal auxiliary verbs
  • auxiliary verbs are a 'helper' verb that is attached to a main verb, it shows tense
  • a modal auxiliary verb indicates obligation, necessity or certainty
Example: Notice how the last modal verb is a slightly different meaning
-Bristol City should beat Man Utd
-Bristol City will beat Man Utd
-Bristol City might beat Man Utd
-Bristol City must beat Man Utd


Epistemic modality
- possibility, probability, certainty
Deontic modality
- necessity, obligation

Thursday, 4 February 2016

Online teen speak

http://parentinfo.org/article/online-teen-speak-updated


The government have produced an online teen speak article that includes many slang words  and acronyms that are said to be popular recently. At the beginning of the article it states that 'Speaking in coded language has been used for years by teenagers trying to hide something, or communicating in their own way'. Particular terms are said to come and go, may be said to be outdated in one country but then seem to be very popular somewhere else.


Although most of the words that are included in the lists are often heard and being spoken by teens many of them seem to be incorrect and aren't in fact used as much as the government may think. For example the word 'pre-ing' said to mean pre drinking isn't something that I have heard being spoken by teens before. Most teens would just simply say 'drinks' or 'pre-drinks'.


I would say that a lot of the words and acronyms aren't just used by teens and shouldn't be under the category of 'teen speak' or 'teen slang'. This article many focusing on the use of slang that teens use online. But the acronyms such as 'IK' meaning 'I know' and 'Ur' meaning 'your' aren't just used by teens and in fact are using everyday by people of all ages.


Being a teen myself I think that this article may be seen as quite humorous and slightly strange that the government has provided a article specifically on teen speak and slang. When I looked at the article myself I was actually quite shocked at the words and acronyms listed as a lot of it is rubbish and aren't commonly used at all!


I think that the list of acronyms is really quite strange and I guess may be seen as offensive to some. For example 'GNOC' apparently meaning 'get naked on camera' and 'IWSN' said to mean 'I want sex now' are most defiantly not very popular and aren't commonly used by teens. I haven't ever seen or heard half of the acronyms listed and i don't think many other teens have either.