What are the distinctive features of informal talk that can be gleaned from the conversation between Pip and Phyllis, a married couple from southeast England in Audiocassette 3, Band 5?
UZS210 THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE - BLOCK 3: ENGLISH IN USE TMA03 Option (b) What are the distinctive features of informal talk that can be gleaned from the conversation between Pip and Phyllis, a married couple from southeast England in Audiocassette 3, Band 5? How do these features compare with those of formal talk elsewhere in Block 3? Introduction 'Conversation is without doubt the foundation stone of the social world - human beings learn to talk in it, find a mate with it, are socialised through it, rise in social hierarchy as a result of it, and, it is suggested, may even develop mental illness because of it.' (Beattie, 1983) In this essay, we are to highlight the distinctive features of informal talk with regards to the conversation between Pip and Phyllis and how do these features compare with those of formal talk. Before we proceed any further, let us understand what is meant by informal and formal talk. It has everything to do in what we do in everyday conversation. 'Conversation' is defined by some linguists as informal talk between two persons, but as in the above quotation from Geoffrey Beattie (1983) the term is used more loosely and draws on a wide range of examples from different contexts to try and give some sense of the diversity of ways in which English is used in everyday talk. Informal talk is viewed as rather disorderly,
How does Dickens tell the story in Chapter 27 of Great Expectations?
How does Dickens tell the story in Chapter 27 of "Great Expectations"? "I'm wrong in these clothes, Pip" is the unashamedly tactful realisation that Joe imparts upon Pip towards the close of Chapter 27 of "Great Expectations", and echoes the train of theme of the chapter and indeed the novel of what identity truly means, and how for Joe at least, true identity will rise above the divisions between "the blacksmith" and "the goldsmith". Dickens narration of the chapter, and indeed the entire novel also carries the weight of realisation through its structure, as Pip's past experiences are narrated to present omniscience in their factual content but to the subjectively negative, ironic tone of the latent reflector that is Pip himself- "I had begun to be decorating the chambers in some quite unnecessary and inappropriate way". This allows the realisation on Joe's part to carry even more understated emotional gravity, his false, yet entirely gentlemanly "if there's any fault today, it's mine" carries intense personal and universal depth- it challenges his perceptions of himself as "old Joe" for leaving his own surroundings, and also challenges the theme of gentlemanliness and its meaning as a whole, but his character does not require an ironically knowledgeable secondary perspective to reach this simple false, yet hugely important fact. This contrast in intelligence and perceived
The Theme of Industrialization in Carlyle and Dickens
The Theme of Industrialization in Carlyle and Dickens The invention of the steam engine and the development of the railways brought England a profound change by proliferating the Industrial Revolution, which created deep economic and social changes by the beginning of the Victorian age. "Hundreds of thousands of workers had migrated to industrial towns, where they lived in horribly crowded, unsanitary housing and worked very long hours -fourteen a day or even more- at very low wages. Employers often preferred to hire women and children, who worked for even less than men."1 Victorians debated the good and mostly bad sides of industrialism due to its great effect on the society and economy. Many philosophers and thinkers suggested a number of solutions for the problems of harsh working conditions, the unemployed poors and child labour. One of the most debated theories on the poor was "Utilitarianism" based on Jeremy Bentham's idea that pleasures, in so far as they are pleasures, are capable of being compared with each other as regards their quantity: a calculus of pleasures and pains is possible. The end pursued by morals and legislation is the greatest happiness of the greatest number, or . . . the identification of the interest of all with the interest of each. . . . 2 He argued that pain and pleasure was universal and they could be calculated as concrete objects. As he
What appeared to you to be Dickens' major concern in 'Hard Times?' How does he present these to the reader?
What appeared to you to be Dickens' major concern in 'Hard Times?' How does he present these to the reader? 'Hard Times' is an example of Dickens' concern for social issues, but also his feelings in regard to the soul of the nation and how it was being affected by the industrial age at the time. In the social theory of utilitarianism, Dickens felt that a purely realistic view of human relations robbed humanity of its soul and we learn that utilitarianism has its place with material things, but it is not appropriate in dealing with emotions; utilitarianism which is emphasised in the form of "Facts." Furthermore, the way Dickens presents character in 'Hard Times' is an essential aspect in dealing with the major concerns of the novel. Dickens has a surprisingly complex character foundation - he deliberately presents both the simplistic characteristics of a character developed for symbolic purposes, as well as the intricate qualities of 'real' people. 'Hard Times' is a one-sided attack on the utilitarian value system for the period based upon emotional proletarian appeals for labour sympathy that are not uncommon in today's corporate environment. Dickens gives us a close-up look into what appears to be the ivory tower of the bourgeoisie of his day; yet these middle-class characters are viewed from a singular perspective, the perspective of those at the bottom of the social
Select ONE or TWO brief passages (2 or 3 pages each at most) from Dickens's fiction - Analyse the use of dialogue OR the presentation of the narrative voice.
P3/T3 CHARLES DICKENS Reading Semester I 2001/2002: Module 326 and 380 Select ONE or TWO brief passages (2 or 3 pages each at most) from Dickens's fiction. Analyse the use of dialogue OR the presentation of the narrative voice.1 'Shrinking back' as 'she rose up' Florence put 'out her hands to keep her off'. This may sound like the beginning of a gothic thriller, but it is in fact an opening line from the reunion between Edith and Florence in Charles Dickens's Dombey and Son. The dialogue that proceeds is highly melodramatic and intensely passionate. In many ways the choice of diction, syntactical arrangement, content, gesture and tone not only illuminates the two heroines at the heart of the novel, but the encroaching world, symbolised in Cousin Feenix, that contains them. In this climatic confrontation, almost a contribution to the contemporary debate of what constitutes womanhood,2 we meet the two distinct females 'looking at [each] other over the gulf of the irrevocable past'. Florence's panic-stricken 'shrinking back' from Edith suggests she has entered the depths of hell and illustrates the polarisation between the virtuous and the fallen. The anthesis of her scream 'No, no! Mama!' in which she both shuns Edith and calls for her suggests an almost attraction-repulsion dilemma for Florence. This figure of grace is being made to confront the darker-side of the social
The Meaning of Symbolism and Imagery in the Writings of Zora Neale Hurston.
The Meaning of Symbolism and Imagery in the Writings of Zora Neale Hurston Zora Neale Hurston uses symbolism and imagery to capture emotions and guide the reader through the story through the eyes of the characters. In her short fiction story, The Gilded Six-Bits, Hurston entertains the emotional and visual senses of the reader by using several symbols and images to give light to the story and character settings. Hurston starts out the story by portraying a couples' relationship and giving it a sense of security, love and trust. However, as the story develops it is clear that know matter how true love is - greed can falter love. Symbolism is shown strongly through colors in Hurston's story. White is used as a symbol of purity. It portrays the relationship between Joe and Missie May as a clean and untouched relationship as described by Hurston, "The fence and house were whitewashed. The porch and steps scrubbed white." (252) Joe thinks of the image of his white house on the way home from work right before he discovers Missie May and Slemmons together. Gold is used frequently throughout the short story as a symbol of social status and greed. Otis D. Slemmons is respected by Joe in the beginning of the story and depicted as being of great importance because of his gold teeth, a five-dollar gold piece for a stickpin and a ten-dollar gold piece on his watch chain. Slemmons
A literary and linguistic comparative study of three treatments
A literary and linguistic comparative study of three treatments of the theme of the dichotomy that exists between country and city life, especially with regards relationships. Texts used for this study: Charles Dickens's Great Expectations T.S. Eliot's The Waste Land Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City Word Count 3601 INTRODUCTION The dichotomy that exists between city and country life is a theme that many writers have been drawn towards across the centuries, not least since the Industrial Revolution. Typically, the country is associated with idyllic life, a place with a strong sense of community, where relationships are wholesome and meaningful and life ambles past at a leisurely pace, uncomplicated and relatively trouble free. In contrast, city life is most often portrayed as being full of complexities, where individuals work hard and play hard, and where life is self-orientated and relationships are often futile. Through a literary and linguistic comparative study of their works, Great Expectations, The Waste Land, and Tales of the City, respectively, I will attempt to show how Charles Dickens, T.S. Eliot, and Armistead Maupin deal with this theme, showing to what extent the depiction of city and country life within these texts corresponds or contrasts with the stereotype. In so doing, I will concentrate most fully on the relationships hat exist between the
All American Hero!
Samit Patel Professor Nancy Bates February 18, 2003 All American Hero! Large wars were a normal occurrence in my home. Men would fight the forces of evil using their plastic weapons and toy tanks. My G.I. Joes and I would combat the evil C.O.B.R.A. for hours making me forget everyday hassles like my chores and homework. I never thought about why I played with my action figures, but I was hooked by G.I. Joe's concept of honor and pride. My obsessive play with these toys revealed much about myself as a child. As a child G.I. Joe was my life. School provided me a chance to show off my G.I. Joe lunch box before I would run in my G.I. Joe sneakers at recess. After school my best grade for the day would be posted on the refrigerator with my special G.I. Joe magnet, which I sent away for in the mail. Weekends provided me with chores that, upon their completion, allowed me to finance a new G.I. Joe figure. There was no time when G.I. Joe was not in some way involved in my life. I still remember seeing my first G.I Joe on the shelf in the store. These figurines were often sold in packaging that had comics on the back recounting heroic stories of G.I. Joe victory. The first time I saw a G.I Joe, I went over to the shelf and pulled it off the peg, flipped the package over and read the cartoon on the back. Everytime I read the comic for a different character, it made me want that
In conclusion one of Dickens' purposes of writing 'Hard Times' was to make a social comment about the idea of utilitarianism in the teaching system
Charles Dickens was a Victorian, sardonic writer who wrote social criticisms about Victorian England. In the first few chapters of 'Hard Times' Charles Dickens is criticizing in particular the education system. Charles Dickens is showing what the curriculum is like through the eyes of Mr. Gradgrind and how the children would react through the eyes of Sissy Jupe and Bitzer. Charles Dickens also uses narrative and speech in different ways in these chapters. Charles Dickens was born in Portsmouth on the 7th of February 1812. Dickens didn't have an easy life. He was the 2nd of eight children and his father was imprisoned for debt. At the age of 12 Dickens was sent to work in a blacking factory. Shortly after the rest of Dickens' family were imprisoned except from Dickens himself. Dickens received very little formal education and taught himself shorthand. Dickens became a reporter of parliamentary debate for the Morning Chronicle. Dickens then began to publish periodicals in the paper. He started writing for the Pipwick Papers which soon became popular. Dickens then started to write novels such as 'Oliver Twist', 'Nicholas Nickleby' and 'The Old Curiosity Shop'. Dickens had his first setback when 'Martin Chuzzlewit' turned out to be unpopular. He then wrote 'A Christmas Carol' to re-establish his popularity. Dickens describes the teaching of facts and the importance of facts
"The female characters in Great Expectations have the greatest influence on Pip's development" - discuss.
Influence on Development male dominated and lead by Joe "The female characters in Great Expectations have the greatest influence on Pip's development." Part one Great Expectations While it may be true to argue that the female characters of Great Expectations have the most detrimental effect on Pip, it would certainly not be accurate to portray them as having had the greatest influence on his development. Although, the tyrannical Mrs Joe, the embittered Miss Havisham and Pip's 'beloved' Estella have a large hand in shaping Pip's moral decline, it is without doubt Magwitch and of course, the moral cornerstone of the book, Joe who have the most profound effect on him. As well as this there are the minor male characters of the book such as Wemmick (in his Walworth capacity) and to a lesser extent Jaggers, and their part in restoring Pip to decency. Having said this, it must be acknowledged that in his childhood years it is in fact Mrs Joe who has the most immense influence on Pip's development. Her highly unfavourable "bring him up by hand," regime destroys his self-worth, forcing him to develop a real sense of self-resentment. "Hear that, be grateful to those who brought you up by hand," is a deeply ironic statement, for it is Mrs Joe he owes least gratitude to, considering the negative impact she has on Pip's young life. The physical and verbal abuse she expels on him leads