Theory of Language in Use

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4. Theory of Language in Use

According to Hymes 1964, language varies according to its uses as well as it users. It depends on where and to whom it is used, as well as who is using it. The addressees and the context affect our choice of code or variety. There are some features influenced the speech style in a range of context which vary in formality, looking at the interaction of the formality and status dimensions. The first is the relationship between the addressee and the addresser. The better you know someone, the more casual and relaxed the speech style you will use to them. People use considerably more standard forms to those they don’t know well and more vernacular forms to their friends. So, the speaker’s relationship to the addressee is crucial in determining the appropriate style of speaking and how well you know someone or how close you feel to them. Relative social distance solidarity is one important dimension of social relationship. The degree of social status or solidarity between people is decided by relative age, gender, social roles, whether people work together, or are part of the same family. Second is the age of addressee. People usually talk differently to children and to adults although some adjust their speech style or ‘accomodate’ more than others. The third is the social background of addressee. Accomodating addresse to addressee’s speech style is one way to signal addresser’s desire to get on well with them and make them comfortable. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 18

B. Theoretical Framework

Black English, which is in some way known as Creole, is not a Creole in other way because it is a developing language as people can see from its history. Based on its history, it is known as pidgin that had been developed by the need of American to develop a new language to communicate with their African slaves Stoller, 1975. In a real sense, this new language was a mixture of West African languages such as Ibo, Yoruba, and Hausa and English Smitherman, 1986. That is why Black English and Standard English in some way are the same but in some others are also different in their characteristics and usage. As in Labov’s