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Non Standard English Handout

non standear english

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nivritireddyvaka.19cmis0424
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33 views2 pages

Non Standard English Handout

non standear english

Uploaded by

nivritireddyvaka.19cmis0424
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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NON STANDARD ENGLISH HANDOUT 2024- 25

Name : Date :
Grade : VIII & VII CAMB Sec : G/H
Subject : ENGLISH Topic: NON STANDARD ENGLISH

LANGUAGE REGISTER

TOPIC: | NON-STANDARD ENGLISH

Non-standard English in writing means a way of writing that's different from the usual grammar and

structure rules.

Why non-standard English is used sometimes in writing?

• To show someone is not a native English speaker.

• To show the educational level of someone.

• To add more realness to the writing, for in real life people do not strictly follow the conventions

of English grammar.

• To share a cultural identity.


• To set a certain mood.

Examples of Non-Standard English


1. Non-Standard spellings (Phonetic spelling): Words might be spelled phonetically, reflecting
the way they sound in informal speech. This means that we see words misspelled in the text and
written according to how they are pronounced.
Example: 'da' instead of 'the', 'cuz' instead of 'because'.
2. Mis-Used grammar: The grammar in non-standard English is not followed concisely. For
example, you can find missed pronouns, disagreement between the subject and verb, adjectives
used where adverbs are required, missing pronouns, wrong question structure...etc.
Example:
• He needs go to the store. (Missing infinitive 'to')
• The baby approached the jar quiet not to be heard. ('quiet' is misused as an adjective; it is
supposed to be 'quietly')
• He aren't coming to the part / They speaks fast. (No agreement between the subject and the
verb).
• Did nothing today; just went to the store. (Dropped pronouns 'I, he...")

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MIDDLE SCHOOL Prepared by: Ms. Gowry
• Bored and need to relax? (Missing helping verb and pronoun)
3. Use of fillers and discourse markers: fillers are non-words used to fill pause in the speech like
'em', 'er'. Discourse markers are words used to separate speech into sections like 'right', 'so'...etc.
Example:
"Well, you know, like, I was planning to go to the store, but, um, I forgot my wallet, so, yeah, I had to
come back home."
"well," "you know," "like," "um," "so," and "yeah" are fillers. "but" and "so" are discourse markers.
4. Elision (Omission): elision refers to the omission or contraction of sounds, syllables, or letters in
spoken or written language. In non-standard written English, elision is often used to replicate the
way words are pronounced in informal speech. This can result in a more relaxed and conversational
tone. Here are some examples:
Example:
I really don' care. (The 't' of don't is omitted) ⚫ I'm kinda tired. (omission of 'of')
"Gimme a hand with this, will ya?"
5. Use of colloquial vocabulary and idioms

Notice that, there is a difference between informal language and non- standard English,
although they are related concepts.
Informal language refers to the style of communication that is used in casual, everyday
conversations. It's the way people typically speak when they are relaxed and interacting with
friends, family, or colleagues in a comfortable setting. Informal language often includes contractions
(e.g., "don't" instead of "do not"), colloquialisms (casual or local expressions), slang (informal words
or phrases), and conversational shortcuts. It's less rigid and more flexible than formal language, and
it may include elements of humor, familiarity, and cultural references.
Non-standard English, on the other hand, refers to language usage that doesn't adhere to the
grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation norms considered standard in formal written and spoken
communication. Non-standard English might be influenced by regional dialects, socio-economic
factors, educational background, or other linguistic variations.
While non-standard English can sometimes be found in informal language, it's important to note that
not all informal language is non-standard.

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MIDDLE SCHOOL Prepared by: Ms. Gowry

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