Language and Age: Teenspeak
Teenspeak
Questions:
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
Although there are obviously times where people experience a life even too early in their life, most events happen at certain times in your life. and when you are a certain age. For example: having a child or children is a huge life event that some people will experience from the ages of 20-30. However there are some people who have children very early in life or later, but stereotypically women will have a child after the age of 20 and before the age of 40. The ages of 20-30 is the time when most people become more independent and more mature, especially if you have a child be be looking after. As an adult you are now expected to act a certain way and if you have children there will be come colloquial terms that you may drop as they're more of a teenage thing or they're not appropriate anymore. Retirement is also another example. Most people retire in their late 60's and because of this, most people of that age and older will have the similar language overall. I believe that as you get older you use less swear words and taboo language, as I feel that that type of language is more reserved to children, teenagers and young adults.
2. What is your opinion on the view that "life events" are more influential and more significant on your language than age?
I think life events can really shape you as a person but also can change your language. For example: having children makes you become more "responsible" and mature. A "normal" 16 year old would generally be using lots of slang and taboo lexis in their language as the people around them are of the same age, and teenagers/children are highly influenced by others. However, if a 16 year old were to have a child, which isn't that uncommon, they may speak slightly different compared to their friends and peers. This is because they now have so much responsibility having to look after this child. Although, they are still a child themselves, having to look after a baby could cause them to think differently and act more mature given the circumstance. So although they and their friends are the same age, in this case age is not a factor when it come to the change in a person's language, but more the life events that have occurred.
Children who went to public schools may use different lexis compared to that of children who went to a private school. There's a connotation that children who experienced private education are more educated and their language mirrors this. They are seen as more mature, posh and from a high class background, meaning that may use less colloquial lexis and more sophisticated language that an adult may use, even though they are a child. In this particular circumstance age doesn't mean anything, it's the life experience that has helped shape a person's language and the people they are surrounded by also help as in this case it's a school environment.
3. What "life events" may influence your language?
- First love
- Marriage
- Divorce
- Having children
- Death and mourning
- Graduating from University or college
- Buying your first house
- Buying your first car
- Getting your first job
- Passing your driving test
- Retirement
Questions:
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
Although there are obviously times where people experience a life even too early in their life, most events happen at certain times in your life. and when you are a certain age. For example: having a child or children is a huge life event that some people will experience from the ages of 20-30. However there are some people who have children very early in life or later, but stereotypically women will have a child after the age of 20 and before the age of 40. The ages of 20-30 is the time when most people become more independent and more mature, especially if you have a child be be looking after. As an adult you are now expected to act a certain way and if you have children there will be come colloquial terms that you may drop as they're more of a teenage thing or they're not appropriate anymore. Retirement is also another example. Most people retire in their late 60's and because of this, most people of that age and older will have the similar language overall. I believe that as you get older you use less swear words and taboo language, as I feel that that type of language is more reserved to children, teenagers and young adults.
2. What is your opinion on the view that "life events" are more influential and more significant on your language than age?
I think life events can really shape you as a person but also can change your language. For example: having children makes you become more "responsible" and mature. A "normal" 16 year old would generally be using lots of slang and taboo lexis in their language as the people around them are of the same age, and teenagers/children are highly influenced by others. However, if a 16 year old were to have a child, which isn't that uncommon, they may speak slightly different compared to their friends and peers. This is because they now have so much responsibility having to look after this child. Although, they are still a child themselves, having to look after a baby could cause them to think differently and act more mature given the circumstance. So although they and their friends are the same age, in this case age is not a factor when it come to the change in a person's language, but more the life events that have occurred.
Children who went to public schools may use different lexis compared to that of children who went to a private school. There's a connotation that children who experienced private education are more educated and their language mirrors this. They are seen as more mature, posh and from a high class background, meaning that may use less colloquial lexis and more sophisticated language that an adult may use, even though they are a child. In this particular circumstance age doesn't mean anything, it's the life experience that has helped shape a person's language and the people they are surrounded by also help as in this case it's a school environment.
3. What "life events" may influence your language?
- First love
- Marriage
- Divorce
- Having children
- Death and mourning
- Graduating from University or college
- Buying your first house
- Buying your first car
- Getting your first job
- Passing your driving test
- Retirement
Comments
Post a Comment