EN 433
Modern Grammar

Dr. Russell A. Potter

EXERCISE III:  Shifting
 
 

For this exercise, you will need to catch a very shifty sort of linguistic behavior.  Shifting from informal to mid-formal to formal -- and even within these ranges, from one social environment of audience to another -- is both the most common and most elusive form of linguistic variation.

For this exercise, you will need to establish a baseline by recording or observing speech under seemingly "informal" circumstances.  Old videotapes of family holidays,  old cassettes sent by friends, or a new observation of a speaker or speakers (including, possibly, one's own self) can help establish this.  Then you need to find a way to record or observe language produced by the same person or persons under more formal conditions -- a phone call to a supervisor, a formal lecture or talk, a discussion with some sort of authority figure.

Please observe common sense and courtesy in making these observations -- and work with a person who feels comfortable helping you with this project -- you can even partner with another person in the class if you like, and observe each other.

For each observation, note features which seem to reflect marked usage -- usage that is peculiar either to a formal or informal register of speech.  For instance, certain lexical items ("heretofore," "simultaneously," "nevertheless"), certain idiomatic phrases ("if it please the court," "may I suggest"), and certain forms of address ("your honor," "professor," "Mr. President") are peculiar to formal settings, while others ("yaknowhatimsayin," "uh huh") are peculiar to informal speech.  Watch also for marked phonological usages, such as postvocalic -r and n for ng substitution.

Your final paper should have four parts:

1. Plan / Hypothesis  State the circumstances under which you plan to observe speech, and give your best guess as to what you are likely to observe, and why you think it likely.

2.  Observation under "informal" circumstances -- the "baseline."  Note specific lexical, phonological, and other features which seem to be marked.

3. Observation under "formal" circumstances.  Note specific lexical, phonological, and other features which seem to be marked.

4. Assessment.  Did what you predict would happen occur?  Why/why not?  Were the differences as great or greater than anticipated.  Analyze your results.

The final version should be about 3 pages or so in length -- longer if needed.