Language as a badge of identity Essay

Language is used every day to run with one another only if beneath that conversation lies another message. The loud loudspeakers use of linguistic process gives listeners insight as to who they are, comparable a badge of identicalness on their chest. Australian inclines peculiar phonology and lexicon is recognised globally and distinguishes it from other accents, giving the speaker a clear subject identity element. Ethno-lects are spoken by a particularised group of good deal who reserve the same cultural background. These ethno-lects not altogether help express an individuals identity and separate themselves from the rest, but similarly assist in bringing together speakers from similar backgrounds ofttimes like a football jersey. Text speak is constantly evolving as lexemes are taking on new changes. Many teenagedrs and younger children look at begun to adopt this in an attempt to identify with others and fit in. Through language, we dirty dog get a glimpse of a pe rsons identity but they can use the same medium to change that identity as well.Australian English is unlike other Englishes in numerous different aspects, especially phonetically morphologically and semantically. Phonology plays a extensive 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 linguals that sets it apart from the rest of the world. Diphthongs in lexemes like high are more rounded, resulting in /ho/. Phonetic features such as these are good identified as Australian. Slang is another feature of Australian English that sets it apart from others. Replacing suffixes with vowels is a good poser of this. Afternoon becomes arvo, call like Barry becomes Bazza and by replacing the last element with an -o, the adjective povo has undergone a word class shift from the noun poverty. Popular culture has also influenced Australian English, wit h ABC television series Jamie, Private coach girl introducing a semantic and word class shift of quiche (a noun moment a savoury open-faced pastry) to an adjective to describe an attractive individual. Australias linguistic innovation displays individuality and opposes claims that slang is borrowed from America. Australian English shows both national pride and identity.Teenagers are at the age when they are starting to embed 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 shift the semantics and use to maintain a linguistic barrier. A good example of this is the well-k forthwithn acronym lol which stands for Laugh Out Loud. As more adults become sensible of this lexical item and start to include it in their daily texts, teenagers have brought it into speech as an exclamatory and discourse particle. The case of the lett ers now also alters the semantics when typed in lower-case, lol is sarcastic whilst LOL in capital letters shows neat amusement. It is evident that this constant changing of terms by teenagers is a augury of rebellion and an effort to keep a linguistic barrier among themselves and adults, thus 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 pursuit to separate themselves from children and adults, they are also pressured to conform to the teenage group. Acronyms such as idek (I dont even know) and tbh (to be honest) are now much used lexicon in a teenagers text lexicon due to connotations of cool and modern being associated with them. Similarly, whatever was once democratic amongst a teenagers discourse. In time, it was shorte ned to whatevs and this trend circulate quickly amongst them as a result of peer pressure and the take 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 higher on the social profit 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 separately other and share the same identity, giving them a smack of belong 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 distinct accent and, paired along with its unique slang, makes it specifiable across the globe. In order to separate themselves from adults and children, teenagers build a linguistic barrier by creating neologisms and maintaining that barrier by const antly altering lexicon to forefend adults becoming 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 disregarding of what that identity is.BibliographyDas, S, 2005. Struth Someones nicked me Strine. The Age, 29 January. 34.Seaton, M, 2001. Word Up. Guardian, 21 September. 46.