Language as a badge of identity Essay Example for Free

phraseology as a badge of identity EssayLanguage is used every day to tell with one another but beneath that conversation lies another message. The speakers use of lyric poem gives listeners insight as to who they are, like a badge of identity on their chest. Australian faces unique phonology and lexicon is recognised globally and distinguishes it from other accents, giving the speaker a clear depicted object identity. Ethno-lects are spoken by a specific group of people who guard the identical heathenish background. These ethno-lects not only help express an individuals identity and separate themselves from the rest, but similarly assist in bringing together speakers from similar backgrounds much like a football jersey. textbook speak is constantly evolving as lexemes are taking on new spays. Many teenagers and younger children have begun to adopt this in an attempt to identify with others and fit in. Through language, we can get a coup doeil of a persons identity b ut they can use the same medium to change that identity as well.Australian English is unlike other Englishes in many different aspects, peculiarly phonetically morphologically and semantically. Phonology plays a great role in national identity as it is what creates different accents. The broad, ocker Australian accent with its trademark nasal, flattened vowels is one of the key elements of Australian linguistics that sets it unconnected from the rest of the world. Diphthongs in lexemes like high are more rounded, resulting in /ho/. Phonetic features such as these are easily identified as Australian. Slang is another feature of Australian English that sets it apart from others. Replacing suffixes with vowels is a good example of this. Afternoon becomes arvo, names like Barry becomes Bazza and by refilling the last element with an -o, the adjective povo has undergone a word class shift from the noun poverty. Popular enculturation has as well influenced Australian English, with A BC television series Jamie, Private School girl introducing a semantic and word class shift of quiche (a noun meaning a savoury open-faced pastry) to an adjective to describe an pleasing individual. Australias linguistic innovation displays individuality and opposes claims that slang is borrowed from America.Australian English shows both national self-respect and identity.Teenagers are at the age when they are starting to establish their identity. Neologisms are created by teenagers to claim a different identity from that of children or adults. As adults become more familiar with these lexemes and their use, teenagers abandon them or alter the semantics and use to maintain a linguistic obstruction. A good example of this is the well-k straight offn acronym lol which stands for Laugh go forth Loud. As more adults become aware of this lexical item and start to include it in their routine texts, teenagers have brought it into speech as an exclamatory and discourse particle. The c ase of the letters now also alters the semantics when typed in lower-case, lol is sarcastic whilst LOL in capital letters shows true amusement. It is evident that this constant changing of terms by teenagers is a sign of rebellion and an effort to keep a linguistic barrier between themselves and adults, olibanum maintaining a separate identity. The malleability of the lexicon is taken advantage of by teenagers to form a linguistic barrier between themselves and unwanted people such as adults and other teenagers who dont belong in their group. Thus, a unique identity is maintained.While teenagers are constantly seeking to separate themselves from children and adults, they are also pressured to line up to the teenage group. Acronyms such as idek (I dont even know) and tbh (to be honest) are now frequently used lexicon in a teenagers text vocabulary due to connotations of smooth and modern being associated with them. Similarly, whatever was once popular amongst a teenagers discourse . In time, it was cut back to whatevs and this trend spread quickly amongst them as a result of peer pressure and the need to be fashionable. Professor Steven Pinker suggests the reason for this is because the coolest kids decide to talk that way and it spreads like wildfire. Individuals who wish to associate with others who sit high on the social pyramid will pick up their speech habits and wear it as a new badge of identity. Having their own exclusive vocabulary allows teenagers to relate to each other and share the same identity, giving them a superstar of belonging to a group.Language can be worn as a badge of identity, giving speakers national,interpersonal and intrapersonal identity. The phonology of Australian English gives the speaker a trenchant accent and, paired along with its unique slang, makes it identifiable across the globe. In order to separate themselves from adults and children, teenagers skeletal system a linguistic barrier by creating neologisms and maintai ning that barrier by constantly altering lexicon to avoid adults sightly too familiar with them. On the other hand, inside the teenage group is a drive to conform and use similar language in an attempt to fit in with peers and to have a sense of belonging. Language is used as a badge of identity regardless of what that identity is.BibliographyDas, S, 2005. Struth Someones nicked me Strine. The Age, 29 January. 34.Seaton, M, 2001. news program Up. Guardian, 21 September. 46.