Terry, Ferdinand and language change

"When someone calls you a c***, that's fine," Ferdinand said. "When someone brings your colour into it, it takes it to another level."


From following the John Terry trial, you'll find, summed up in one sentence, a fantastic example of how language (and associated attitudes) change, often within a generation. I remember watching 'Only Fools and Horses' when I was a nipper, and being a little surprised to watch both Del and Rodney describing a shop (and its owner) as a "paki" shop. What is interesting to see is how societal offence at racial insults has shot up in the last twenty years, whilst offence at the dreaded C word seems to be reducing - among professional footballers at least. 


While considering this increased aversion to racism, it might be worthwhile looking at what contemporary society does find acceptable to have a pop at. We looked at people with lower social economic status (when we looked at the Urban Dictionary definition of 'Meff', which I can't link to here), and you can find a great discussion of the word 'Chav' here, along with a lot more links that I'd like you to read through.


Just so you can use your brains - start looking at the 'Gypsy' series of programs on Channel 4. What might some people find offensive about these programs? What counter arguments might be made?

Get going with Bragg - I'm not joshing, either...

Here you go kids - a quick update of things to be getting on with, plus a few useful links. 

First up, you'll need to watch and take notes on the documentaries from Melvyn Bragg about the history of the English language - they can get a little dry at times but it's really important that you understand the process of how English became English. Your homework for this week is to watch the first two (about and hour and a half all in) and take notes, which I'll ask to see on Tuesday 10th July.

Secondly, if you've got time, then have a look at this that I wrote a while back - it describes how a word starts off as edgy and cool and hip, and eventually works its way inwards (think of the circle model) until it is part of the mainstream, at which point young hipsters go off searching for other words that mark them out as being different from the uncool, un hip language of 'the man'. Man.  After you've done this, head over to the superior SFX blog and check out the article on development of the word 'Swag', which provides another model which we'll look at before the end of term.

As ever - any questions, comments etc etc, send them to the usual address.

General updates, nothing special...

Right then - to start at the start...
First up is a link that Lauren found, that neatly sums up a lot of the revision for ENGB3. Obviously, because it is helpful, it is quite securely behind the firewall, so you'll have to access it from home. You can find that beast here.
Also helpfully provided is an answer to your most recent homework; don't get me wrong, we could definitely wring a few more marks out of it (in all AOs), but it's a good place to start.

I want to go for a pint with David Crystal

What a legend. What a hero. Find a link here to the iplayer of him speaking on 'The Front Row', or, if you need that DC permanence in your life, get a podcast of it here. It's about 20 minutes in, after a discussion of Leonardo da Vinci, and some singing chap who waffles on a great deal.

 I'm also running a competition, where anyone who links to a useful YouTube video of DC nattering about anything relevant (put the links in the comments section below) automatically wins a delivered cup of tea and muffin next lesson. Guaranteed.

Y13 Model answer

Here you go kids - a model answer provided by the generous Steve Campsall (check out his englishbiz site listed on the right: it's gold). Make sure that anything you add to your existing plan is done in a different colour, so I can see what you originally thought. Happy reading!

Grammar help

You may have noticed me banging on about the IGE , (and prancing about with my iPad, desperately trying to convince people that I'm younger and hipper than I actually am). I've pushed it before, but if you don't have a swish idevice, than you might want to check out the older brother - a grammar guide (originally written for teachers, no less) by Dick Hudson. Extremely relevant and useful, given that I reckon a number of you have spent the last year trying to forget what you learned in Y12. Analysis at a grammatical level is rewarded well at A2 Language Change, so it won't do you any harm to revisit those happy grammar studying days of old. Word classes test on Friday. Enjoy!

Not everything is epic

I know it's been a while, and you're all busy remembering all of the stuff we covered at the end of last year, as well as finding the time to watch the next episode of 'The Adventure of English' (we're on to episode 4 now, which is useful, having swerved episode 3, which wasn't that essential).
Anyhow, I said I'd throw this link up, which illustrates quite neatly the life cycle of some words, in this case 'epic'. (Case in point - about 18months ago I made an unnamed rascal in your year recover his book, because he'd scrawled 'EPIC' on it, gritty-urban-street style; yesterday I heard it on an advert for insurance.)
I'm not convinced about his ideas about how words can't change their classes, but I do think the diagram near the bottom of the post makes sense - it's like English teaching, just with more swearing.
Stay tuned near the end of the week - I'll post everything we've done regarding slang, plus a few extra goods for any of you who have done all of the reading.