Abby Buckingham's English Language Blog

“Interaction with caregivers is the most important influence on a child’s language development” Evaluate this view of children’s language development. Question 4: https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/english/AQA-77021-SQP.PDF Interaction with caregivers is considered a very important part of Child Language Acquisition; however whether or not it is the most important is a question that divides linguists. Some believe that language is an innate ability, such as Chomsky. However others, like Skinner, believe children develop through their exposure to child-directed speech – the way in which adults speak to children. Joey, from Data Set 1, is clearly in the post-telegraphic stage due to his ability to use interrogatives, auxiliary verbs and negation. Bruner believed that child-directed speech was a contributor to a Language Acquisition Support System (LASS) which children use to acquire language. This means they rely on the words and actions of caregivers who provide them with ...

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2382134/Actress-Lake-Bell-insists-vocal-pandemic-adults-talking-baby-voices.html Not just analysing the text - analysing the ideology behind it- Women can't speak. If this wasn't the ideology, they would have started with the expert. ·                -Header – white woman, blue eyes, blonde – stereotypical and generalised ·         -  Pink text/display – stereotypical, clear target audience ·         -  ‘By Daily Mail Reporter’ – writer is not important ·          - Semantic field of disease - use of the view that language change/ misuse is a plague – descriptivist view o    ‘pandemic’ – in the headline o    ‘chronic’ o    ‘vocal virus’ ·         -  ‘pandemic’ and ‘baby’ are in quotation marks – suggests it is a view held only by Lake Bell · ...

A-level ENGLISH LANGUAGE Paper 2 Language diversity and change Exam Paper: https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/sample-papers-and-mark-schemes/2017/june/AQA-77022-QP-JUN17.PDF https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/sample-papers-and-mark-schemes/2017/june/AQA-77022-INS-MQP18A3-JUN17.PDF  - insert Text B Examiner's Report: https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/sample-papers-and-mark-schemes/2017/june/AQA-77022-WRE-JUN17.PDF Mark Scheme: https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/sample-papers-and-mark-schemes/2017/june/AQA-77022-W-MS-JUN17.PDF 2 hours 30 minutes Section A: 45 minutes Section B: Prep - 15 minutes, Question 3 - 45 minutes, Question 4 - 45 minutes 100 marks Section A: 30 marks for Question 1 or 2 Section B: 40 marks for Question 3, 30 marks for Question 4

Child Language Acquisition/Development  Joey Transcript - Question and Resources  Question 4: https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/english/AQA-77021-SQP.PDF Student responses with examiner commentary: https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/english/AQA-77021-CEX.PDF Mark Scheme: https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/english/AQA-77021-SMS.PDF “Interaction with caregivers is the most important influence on a child’s language development.” Referring to Data Set 1 in detail, and to relevant ideas from language study, evaluate this view of children’s language development. [30 marks] Introduction: ·          ‘Interaction with caregivers…’ ·          Divides language theorists ·          Mention both sides of argument briefly (e.g. ‘However, theorists on the other side, like Chomsky, believe language acquisition is an innate ability.’) · ...

Evaluate the idea that a person’s language use is completely determined by the social groups they belong to: (30 marks – 45 minutes) Key words: • Evaluate • Completely determined • Social groups GIVE ARGUMENTS ON BOTH SIDES!!! It can be said a person’s language is influenced by their social groups but not completely determined by them – good conclusion to use Introduction: A social group is a group of people share similar attributes or goals, for example gender, occupation, nationality etc. It can be argued that the social groups a person belongs to can determine how they use language as language and social groups are both key parts of someone’s identity. However, others believe that, even though social groups have a significant influence on language, there are other factors that need to be considered. Potentially Include (use a range!): • Gender theories – deficit, dominance, difference • Dr Judith Baxter – Karren Brady is an example of a woman who does not fit th...

Discuss the idea that language can affect people’s views of social groups Social groups: • Gender • Class • Occupation (e.g. women in business) • Education • Ethnicity • Age (teenagers – negative connotations) • Nationality (e.g. refugees) • Power/status • Urban (slang) • Accent (e.g. Martha’s Vineyard – the fisherman) Analysis: • ‘You’- direct address • ‘AWESOME’ – capital letters, different colours for emphasis • ‘YOU’ in capitals, ‘we’ is not – putting the reader over the writer • ‘Speak out’ – not write, interesting considering it is magazine, formal in an informal text • Picture of girl – target audience • ‘Believe’ – verb • Repetition – ‘you’, possessive • Online presence – ‘#’ and different colours • We’ll – contraption, informal • ‘We’ll be inspiring you’ – bold claim • ‘Girls’ –not women or ladies or mothers – age group (young, possibly teenagers) • ‘Stories’ – connotation of fiction • ‘Incredible, awesome, exciting’ – ex...

Investigation Guide: Word count – 2000 words, including data Include: • Thoughts • Preparation • Knowledge of linguistic terminology Intro – 250 words: • Reasons for choosing investigation • What investigation is • Why you are interested • Theories • Hypothesis – what you expect to find • Frameworks Methodology – 250 words: • What kind of data did I decide I needed to collect • How is it comparable, reliable and ethical? • Table Analysis – 1250 words: • Framework headings or key questions • Analysis and interpretation of findings, responding to aim of investigation • Critical consideration of concepts and issues surrounding the topic • Analysis of context Conclusion – 250 words: • Interpretation of findings linked to the aim/focus – were your hypotheses proven/ or disproven? • Explanation of why significant findings might be the case • Discuss how far the results can be generalised • What further research could be done? • How would ...

Meanings and Representations - Mock Feedback  Basic Issues: Black pen Clearly label answers as Q1, Q2 etc. Avoid ‘empty’ sentences Capitals for proper nouns Possessive apostrophes Use of semi-colons, especially to avoid comma splicing Write formally e.g. mothers not ‘mums’ Key Issues: No terminology, low, low marks (or none!)  Answer the question! Explore the representations or no/low marks Link the use of techniques (identified with terminology) to the GRAPE or no/low marks – why are those techniques used to make meanings/representations in that way for that specific GRAPE? GRAPE: Identify the GRAPE during planning and anything from Hudson’s dimensions that seems useful e.g. mode, interactivity, formality etc. Don’t comment on it by itself by doing a GRAPE intro (we will get to how to write an overview) – link right from the start to techniques  Planning: Plan to answer the question using a range of quotes that can be explored thro...

Lexis and Semantics ·          Nouns (abstract, concrete, proper) ·          Pronouns ·          Verbs (modal, imperative) ·          Prepositions ·          Conjunctions ·          Determiners ·          Articles (definite, indefinite) ·          Adjectives ·          Adverbs ·          Semantic field ·          Metaphor ·          Simile ·          Personification ·          Alliteration (sibilance, conson...