Abby Buckingham's English Language Blog

http://therepresentationproject.org/film/miss-representation/  - Miss Representation Website and link to watch the trailer Miss Representation is an American documentary centered around a mother's fear of her daughter growing up in a world ruled by the media and its derogatory treatment of women. Topics like the objectification of women, the first female news readers, the difficulties women in leadership roles face and sexual violence are discussed. Experts, powerful women and young girls who are currently growing up with this misogyny all give their opinion and state how they think we should work to change society and make it more exclusive. This is powerful and effective as it shows a range of perspectives and tells and range of different stories and proves that the misogyny ingrained in the media doesn't just affect a few select people; it affects everyone. It also helps encourage young girls to speak up as they see that there are a load of other women like them who also w...

Word of the Year Documentary - Summary Word of the Year - Youthquake, a significant social change caused by young people The documentary showed that the years influences of language change this year were race, world politics, gender, current events, people in power, identities, social media and romance. The way these things affect us therefore often dictate the direction the change goes in and how this happens. For example, 2017 was a bad year for UK politics so most of the new words created were insults and negative portrayals. Theresa May's constant repetition of the lexis 'strong and stable' led to her being referred to as the 'Maybot' - a combination of the lexis 'May' and 'robot'. New lexis is also used to challenge issues in society, e.g. 'white privilege' puts a name to the invisible advantages white people are automatically born with because they are the dominant race. This calls out anyone who benefits from being white and stops ...

Gender and Data – Exam Question Guardian Article - https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/jun/19/women-language-boardroom-study - Women told to speak their minds to get on in boardrooms – June 2011: ·          L     -Linguistics expert Dr Judith Baxter - undertook an 18-month study into the speaking patterns of men and women at meetings in seven major well-known companies, including two in the FTSE-100 ·         -  Women were four times more likely than men to be self-deprecating, use humour and speak indirectly or apologetically when broaching difficult subjects with board members in order to avoid conflict ·          - These traits are all in aid of avoiding conflict – can use example of Deborah Tannen as she agrees women aim to cooperate/compromise ·          - ‘Baxter said such language, which the study describes as "double voice discourse" ...

To what extent is the British education system inclusive of LGBT+ students? – Abby Buckingham Education is a human right that every child, regardless of background, race, gender or sexuality, should have access to. In England it is the law that you must receive one and, until you reach university, it is free and easy to access. However, that does not mean it is perfect. Being accepting of the diversity in Britain is a crucial part of life and something that children, and a few adults, need to be properly educated on. If they grow up rejecting certain minorities then the society they create as a future workforce will be the same. Equally, if they are not educated on these minorities then they will not have the knowledge they need to treat people respectfully. For example, it should be common knowledge that you should not walk in front of a worshipper who is praying as it disrupts the path to their god. However, the exclusion of all religions barring Christianity in Britain’s educatio...

A Comparison between two blogs: Lucy Robinson - I may be a knob but I ain't stupid  http://lucy-robinson.co.uk/i-may-be-a-knob-but-i-aint-stupid/ Charlie Brooker - The Voice: not just a talent contest – you can watch it while waiting to die https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/mar/31/voice-not-just-talent-contest                                                         Charlie Brooker                          Lucy Robinson What is the PURPOSE of the blog? Debate? Offering comment or opinion? Persuasion? Reflecting on a personal experience? Etc. Brooker is offering his opinion on the TV show ‘The Voice’ and he how he believes there is no point watching it. Robinson is telling a story and reflecting on how it made her ...