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Post by hubertus on Aug 1, 2013 5:57:16 GMT
So you imply that children will also use standard grammatical conventions and avoid slang and perhaps dialectical words when they learn to apply the concept of register?
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Post by Dave Miller on Aug 1, 2013 7:37:39 GMT
> So you imply that children will also use standard grammatical conventions and avoid slang and perhaps dialectical words when they learn to apply the concept of register?
Well, grammatic style and the extent of slang and dialect are constituents of register. Children need to learn more than the "concept of" register, though: they need to learn what is involved in each register. And once they do that, they'll (sometimes) apply the registers in appropriate places.
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Post by hubertus on Aug 1, 2013 8:38:34 GMT
> So you imply that children will also use standard grammatical conventions and avoid slang and perhaps dialectical words when they learn to apply the concept of register? Well, grammatic style and the extent of slang and dialect are constituents of register. Children need to learn more than the "concept of" register, though: they need to learn what is involved in each register. And once they do that, they'll (sometimes) apply the registers in appropriate places. Yes, Dave Miller, I was just asking Alan, in effect, to clarify that he was referring to all the aspects of register rather than just the pronunciation bit of it.
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Post by Dave Miller on Aug 1, 2013 9:57:52 GMT
Ah, I see, hub. (I was myself a bit confused by the use of "RP" to include grammar.)
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Post by Alan Palmer on Aug 1, 2013 18:10:09 GMT
To clarify, learning the concept of register is of no use on its own; children would need to learn the way RP, or standard American or whatever is the formal dialect, uses language, and when to switch registers. They should use the local dialect at home or with their friends, and get as close as they can to RP or whatever when reading and writing at school, for instance.
I used RP as shorthand for the "educated" dialect spoken in England. What used to be known as "BBC English". Like any other dialect it has its own grammar. For example, "I am" instead of "I be", "I am not" for "I ain't" and so on.
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Post by Saumya on Feb 24, 2024 12:58:36 GMT
I think my objection to an English is that it hints that there might be two or more Englishes. Which I suppose is your point, Dave Miller. If one considered there to be only one possible English, this would then contrast with the possibility of multiple cakes or talks. A denotes here more "the language that he speaks" and not specifically "English". "He speaks a good English" is a valid construction and is often used - but it is a more literary/classic usage and not popular in colloquial English.
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Post by Little Jack Horner on Feb 24, 2024 17:40:51 GMT
Apart from the previous quote from Hubertus, the new post from Saumya has no text. It would be interesting to know what was intended.
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Post by Dave Miller on Feb 24, 2024 18:29:48 GMT
Apart from the previous quote from Hubertus, the new post from Saumya has no text. It would be interesting to know what was intended. The first two lines (“I think …. cakes or talks”) is the quotation from Hubertus. The next two two lines are from Saumya (but have been caught within the quotation box).
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