Dear Ms Morgan: in grammar there isn't always one right answer

This article on the guardian written my Michael Rosen speaks about the decisions of the 2016 sample test for key stage 2 English grammar. I quickly realised that some of the questions included in the exam are completely ridiculous and contradict the requirements from exam boards, but see for yourself.

 

http://www.theguardian.com/education/2015/nov/03/morgan-grammar-test-right-answer-spag-english-spelling-punctuation-grammar

 

'Though this test’s apparent purpose is to examine children’s knowledge of language, I think its main purpose is to grade children. That’s why some of the questions are based on stacked-up levels of abstraction and some are trick questions.' This gives off the impression that they don't really care about children learning properly and gaining something out of tests. This is further supported when the article says a lot of teachers use the “If you are in doubt about an answer, tick any box – you have a one in four chance of being right." This just proves that they are not interested in what you know about the subject, just tactics on how to pass the exam.

 

He finishes off the article with 'but are the people who devised this test really interested in writing? I doubt it.'

'Femvertising'

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/oct/12/femvertising-branded-feminism

This article written by Nosheen Iqbal highlights the issue of feminism and how marketing campaigns are focusing on empowering women, not degrading them.

The first point made is that '1 in 7' stem based careers are taken up by women. Is this because the stereotypes we put on people are stopping women for working at more science based jobs? Or because we are bringing them up to like more girly, creative subjects? If so, this is causing them to be plainly not interested in the highly academic and theoretical jobs.

As our world is rapidly changing, it is clear that feminism is becoming a rising issue in our modern society. Twitter trends and hashtags such as '#GirlsCan' by the cosmetic brand 'CoverGirl' are attracting a lot of attention and aiming to empower women. One quote which I really love is

 'Your personality needs layers, your face doesn't.'

However, the winner of 'femvertising' still remains as Always, with their video about being '#LikeAGirl'. They 'recruited women, men, boys and pre-pubescent girls and asked them to show what it physically meant to run like a girl or throw like a girl'. The result of this being that the young girls threw hard and fast, in comparison to the adults who were weak and embarrassed. The aim of this was to force viewers to see females as strong, not pathetic.

I think that this is the whole purpose of 'femvertising' in the first place. To change our perception of women in a positive way, and seek for equality between men and women. 

Is technology changing the way we talk? Replacing conversation with emojis

http://www.ignitemr.com/is-technology-changing-the-way-we-talk-replacing-conversation-with-emojis/

This article written by Emma Kavanagh speaks about the rising popularity of 'emojis' and how the little icons are changing the way we communicate with each other.

She talks about how emojis are being included in business emails in order to put across a certain emotion through the image. We may think it adds friendliness or fun to our life, however, the article argues that it is ruining the way we talk. 'People don’t talk to each other anymore' is an important issue surrounding the topic, fighting against emojis because they're causing us to lack in basic human communication towards each other.

Stephen Fry

'Language and accent shape and define our identity'

 

~ Stephen Fry

Text speak designed to keep parents in the dark

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3063455/English-language-changing-fast-words-majority-not-understand.html

This Daily Mail article written by Ben Spencer highlights the fact that our language is changing fast, and there's nothing we can do about it. The article very much speaks about how words such as 'gr8' and 'm8' are words which are practically extinct from text language, being replaced with emoticons.

The idea of the older generations not understanding the language of youths today has been explored. 'Surveying 2,000 families, he found that 86 per cent of parents do not understand the majority of terms their children use in mobile or social media communication.' The article describes the situation as parents being a part of a locked out class, who can't get in. This is signifies the fact that parents are really struggling to keep up with the ever changing language that our younger generation is partly responsible.

Key Terminology relevant to spoken language

Standard English - The dialect of English used in the education system and formal written texts which is seen as the language of power. Expected to be used in a professional environment - signifies status and sometimes depends on social class.

Slang - Words and phrases that are informal - often used by young people

Dialect - Lexical features or variations in grammar specific to area

Taboo - Lexis that can be seen as offensive - swearing/inapropriate language

Technology Influenced words/phrases - Certain social groups using words/phrases which are usually associated with written technology forms e.g. tweets, texts

Neologisms - New words constantly entering the English Language. Coinage - influenced by social groups e.g. bestie, selfie

Occupational register - Jargon largely based on shared understanding between certain groups/individuals

Recieved pronunciation - Viewed as the most 'correct' way of speaking. Used to teach English as a foreign language. Seen as the language of power.

Regional Accent - The way you pronounce certain words depending on where you live.

Joanna Thornborrow

'One of the most fundamental ways we have of establishing our identity, and of shaping other people's views of who we are, is through our use of language'

 

~ Joanna Thornborrow (2004)