Standard and nonstandard features
Consider the following:
● At the turn of the century, the form ain’t was prestigious among many upper middle class English speakers in southern England. Today, however, its use is considered non-standard or at best appropriate only for casual conversation.
● In the United States “dropped r’s” in words like car, father, and bark are perceived as features of nonstandard speech. In Britain, however, “dropped r’s” are characteristic of Received Pronunciation and are thus considered part of the prestige dialect.
What do these two examples tell us about standard and nonstandard features? Are they defined on linguistic or social grounds? Explain your answer.
The two examples you provide illustrate that the definition of standard and nonstandard features is not always clear-cut. What is considered standard or nonstandard can vary depending on time, place, and social context.
In the case of the word "ain't," it was once considered a prestigious form of English, but it is now considered nonstandard. This change in perception is likely due to a number of factors, including the increasing influence of American English, which does not use "ain't."
The case of "dropped r's" is also interesting. In the United States, "dropped r's" are often associated with nonstandard speech, but in Britain, they are characteristic of Received Pronunciation, which is considered the prestige dialect. This difference in perception is likely due to the different histories of the two dialects. In Britain, "dropped r's" have been a feature of Received Pronunciation for centuries, while in the United States, they have only become common in recent decades.
These two examples suggest that standard and nonstandard features are not always defined on linguistic grounds. They can also be defined on social grounds, depending on the norms of a particular community.
In general, standard features are those that are considered to be correct or proper by the majority of speakers in a particular community. Nonstandard features are those that are considered to be incorrect or improper. However, it is important to remember that these definitions can change over time and from place to place.
Here are some additional factors that can influence the definition of standard and nonstandard features:
- The level of education of speakers.
- The social class of speakers.
- The region where speakers live.
- The age of speakers.
- The gender of speakers.