Varieties of English(es) Varieties of English(es) and Academic and Academic Literacy(ies): Literacy(ies):

Finding a ‘voice’Finding a ‘voice’

English Language Centre, English Language Centre,

King’s College LondonKing’s College London

www.kcl.ac.uk/elcwww.kcl.ac.uk/elc

University/Academic English as a University/Academic English as a variety of Englishvariety of English

1.1. Look at many languages in the worldLook at many languages in the world

2.2. Many varieties within one ‘language’Many varieties within one ‘language’

3.3. What makes the difference between varieties?What makes the difference between varieties?

4.4. What happens when you use the ‘wrong’ one?What happens when you use the ‘wrong’ one?

5.5. What happens when you use the ‘right’ one?What happens when you use the ‘right’ one?

6.6. How can we learn new varieties?How can we learn new varieties?

7.7. What is ‘university English’ like?What is ‘university English’ like?

1. Many ways to say “hello”:1. Many ways to say “hello”:

KaixoKaixo HolaHola As-Salāmu `AlaykumAs-Salāmu `Alaykum ShalomShalom BonjourBonjour CiaoCiao PrevietPreviet E kú isé OlaOla LabasLabas

HejHej KonichiwaKonichiwa Ni HaoNi Hao SawatdiSawatdi MerhabaMerhaba SziaSzia BokBok Guten MorganGuten Morgan Iska waranIska waran ____________________

Words from other languages in Words from other languages in EnglishEnglish

ColaCola

AlcoholAlcohol AssasinAssasin KetchupKetchup TabooTaboo WikiWiki

West Africa (Temne/West Africa (Temne/Mandinka)Mandinka)

ArabicArabic ArabicArabic ChineseChinese HawaiianHawaiian HawaiianHawaiian

Words from other languages in Words from other languages in EnglishEnglish

ShampooShampoo ThugThug CashCash MagicMagic Yo-yoYo-yo Elephant and CastleElephant and Castle VampireVampire

IndianIndian IndianIndian PersianPersian PersianPersian TagalogTagalog SpanishSpanish TurkishTurkish

How else could you say these How else could you say these expressions expressions from India/Pakistan?

2. Eve-teasing

4. Opticals

6. Himalayan blunder

8. Bearer

10. Freeship

WaiterWaiter

ScholarshipScholarship

GlassesGlasses

Female harassmentFemale harassment

Big mistakeBig mistake

What about these expressions from What about these expressions from Jamaica/Nigeria/GhanaJamaica/Nigeria/Ghana?

1. Sweet mouth

3. Fathers

5. Cry waters

7. Go-slow

9. Bush meat

TearsTears

GameGame

Traffic jamTraffic jam

RelativesRelatives

FlatterFlatter

2. “Hello” in Yoruba2. “Hello” in Yoruba [morning, honorific]

E kú àárò [afternoon, honorific]

E kú òsán [evening, honorific]

E kú ìròle [night/before midnight]

E kú alé [night/after midnight]

E kú áísún [to a person at home]

E kú alé [to a person at work]

E kú isé [to a person returning]

E kú àbò

[to a person sitting] E kú ìjokòó

[after long absence] E kú àmójúbà

[morning non-honorific] O kú àárò

[afternoon, non-honor.] O kú òsán

[evening non-honorific] O kú ìròle

[night/before midnight] O kú alé

[night/after midnight] O kú áísún

One meaning, many wordsOne meaning, many words

HelloHello HiHi HiyaHiya Good morningGood morning MorningMorning Good afternoonGood afternoon Good eveningGood evening GreetingsGreetings HeyHey

Howzitgoing? Howzitgoing? How do you do?How do you do? Wassup?Wassup? Others:_______Others:_______ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________ __________________________

One word many meaningsOne word many meanings

Argument:Argument: I had an I had an argumentargument with my wife last night. with my wife last night. My My argumentargument is that more money should be spent on is that more money should be spent on

encouraging young people to go to university.encouraging young people to go to university.

Field:Field: You often see cows and sheep in the You often see cows and sheep in the fieldsfields in the in the

countryside.countryside. The scanner works by producing a strong magnetic The scanner works by producing a strong magnetic fieldfield.. In my In my fieldfield, languages and linguistics, culture is seen as very , languages and linguistics, culture is seen as very

important.important.

3. What makes the difference 3. What makes the difference between varieties?between varieties?

Who is using them?Who is using them? BackgroundBackground AgeAge PersonalityPersonality FeelingsFeelings

Who they are speaking to?Who they are speaking to? RelationshipRelationship PowerPower

What is the context?What is the context?

4. What happens when you use the 4. What happens when you use the ‘wrong’ variety?‘wrong’ variety?

No such thing as ‘wrong’ variety, only different No such thing as ‘wrong’ variety, only different than the group or expectationthan the group or expectation

(It might be on purpose as a joke)(It might be on purpose as a joke) You may not be understoodYou may not be understood You may be misunderstoodYou may be misunderstood You will (always) be judgedYou will (always) be judged

Often negative (dismiss, make fun)Often negative (dismiss, make fun) Your ideas (arguments) may not be heard or noticed, Your ideas (arguments) may not be heard or noticed,

only your ‘style’only your ‘style’

5. What happens when you use the 5. What happens when you use the right variety?right variety?

You are ‘accepted’ and ‘understood’You are ‘accepted’ and ‘understood’ Your ‘voice’ is ‘heard’Your ‘voice’ is ‘heard’ Your idea, message or argument is heard, rather than your Your idea, message or argument is heard, rather than your

language varietylanguage variety You become one of the groupYou become one of the group

Gain status and confidenceGain status and confidence Able to control some aspects of the groupAble to control some aspects of the group Eventually you can even decide who is ‘in’ or ‘out’Eventually you can even decide who is ‘in’ or ‘out’

Just like wearing the ‘right’ clothes / listening to the Just like wearing the ‘right’ clothes / listening to the ‘right’ music‘right’ music

6. How can you learn new varieties?6. How can you learn new varieties?

Start by listeningStart by listening Spoken words and phrases, accents, pronunciationSpoken words and phrases, accents, pronunciation Link to the situationLink to the situation Copy what you have heard Copy what you have heard

(the majority, cool people)(the majority, cool people)

Make it yours, find your ‘voice’Make it yours, find your ‘voice’ The new words/phrases ‘disappear’ into your The new words/phrases ‘disappear’ into your

vocabularyvocabulary

Move on to readingMove on to reading

Reading for ideasReading for ideas Pick up vocabulary and grammarPick up vocabulary and grammar Try to writeTry to write

Copy what you have seenCopy what you have seen Make it yoursMake it yours Get feedbackGet feedback Find your ‘voice’Find your ‘voice’

7. What is ‘university English’ like?7. What is ‘university English’ like?

Varies by:Varies by: SubjectSubject GenreGenre Context Context Personal preferencePersonal preference

Formal style (long words, ‘posh’ or political sounding)Formal style (long words, ‘posh’ or political sounding) Repetitive structure (intro/background, for/against, Repetitive structure (intro/background, for/against,

conclusion)conclusion) Evidence based (rather than opinion?)Evidence based (rather than opinion?) CriticalCritical

Some examplesSome examples

I met this guy who was messed right up with fever. He I met this guy who was messed right up with fever. He went down the docs and got these nang pills which went down the docs and got these nang pills which sorted him right out.sorted him right out.

One patient made a complete recovery after receiving a One patient made a complete recovery after receiving a prescription for the fever reducing tablets from his GP.prescription for the fever reducing tablets from his GP.

No way they should’ve gone into Iraq. Everyone can No way they should’ve gone into Iraq. Everyone can see it was all lies what Bush and Blair were saying.see it was all lies what Bush and Blair were saying.

It is widely agreed that the reasons given by Bush and It is widely agreed that the reasons given by Bush and Blair for invading Iraq have turned out to be at best Blair for invading Iraq have turned out to be at best inaccurate and at worst deliberately misleading, with the inaccurate and at worst deliberately misleading, with the result that the policy now appears to have been a result that the policy now appears to have been a complete mistake.complete mistake.

ConclusionConclusion

Bad newsBad news Lots of words to learnLots of words to learn Need to read and listen to stuff until the style Need to read and listen to stuff until the style

‘disappears’‘disappears’ Must practice speaking/writing and get feedbackMust practice speaking/writing and get feedback Need to learn the big names/ideas in your subjectNeed to learn the big names/ideas in your subject Variation even within your subjectVariation even within your subject Never finish learning the variety(ies)Never finish learning the variety(ies)

Good NewsGood News

You are already experts at learning new stylesYou are already experts at learning new styles Principles are the same:Principles are the same:

Communicate ideas best when your voice is heardCommunicate ideas best when your voice is heard Share the style of the groupShare the style of the group Use support, base your ideas (arguments) on evidence (big Use support, base your ideas (arguments) on evidence (big

names)names) Find your voice so you can communicate your ideas without Find your voice so you can communicate your ideas without

worrying about the language (so much)worrying about the language (so much)

Hopefully there will be some interest as you go deeper Hopefully there will be some interest as you go deeper into a subject you chooseinto a subject you choose

SummarySummary

1.1. Look at many languages in the worldLook at many languages in the world

2.2. Many varieties within one ‘language’Many varieties within one ‘language’

3.3. What makes the difference between varieties?What makes the difference between varieties?

4.4. What happens when you use the ‘wrong’ one?What happens when you use the ‘wrong’ one?

5.5. What happens when you use the ‘right’ one?What happens when you use the ‘right’ one?

6.6. How can we learn new varieties? How can we learn new varieties?

7.7. What is ‘university English’ like?What is ‘university English’ like?

Varieties of English(es) Varieties of English(es) and Academic and Academic Literacy(ies): Literacy(ies):

Finding a ‘voice’Finding a ‘voice’

English Language Centre, English Language Centre,

King’s College LondonKing’s College London

www.kcl.ac.uk/elcwww.kcl.ac.uk/elc

The question is: (How much) do you The question is: (How much) do you want to join the group?want to join the group?

How to say “hello” in many languages:How to say “hello” in many languages:http://www.elite.net/~runner/jennifers/hello.htmhttp://www.elite.net/~runner/jennifers/hello.htm

Words from India/Pakistan:Words from India/Pakistan:http://www.learnenglish.org.uk/words/activities/indian_english01.htmlhttp://www.learnenglish.org.uk/words/activities/indian_english01.html Words form Jamaica/Nigeria/Ghana:Words form Jamaica/Nigeria/Ghana:http://www.learnenglish.org.uk/words/activities/jam_wa_english01.htmlhttp://www.learnenglish.org.uk/words/activities/jam_wa_english01.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Lists_of_English_words_of_foreign_originhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Lists_of_English_words_of_foreign_origin

For a copy of this presentation email Andy at:For a copy of this presentation email Andy at:andy.otaqui@kcl.ac.ukandy.otaqui@kcl.ac.uk

Agur (“goodbye” Agur (“goodbye” in Basque)in Basque)