Language as Social Practice

1
Language as Social Practice

• EED112
• Assignment 1 Essay
• 1200-1500 words

2
Identify and describe some of the ways in which
language and literacy practices vary in homes and
communities. Briefly discuss the implications for
schooling.

• Introduction
• Language and literacy is a diverse and
  multifaceted meaning making system that has many
  influences. This essay will look at language
  variation in two socioeconomic groups and discuss
  why educational success can be linked to
  socioeconomic status.
• It will also discuss how the language and
  literacy practices we use are influenced by the
  cultures to which we belong.
• It will conclude by discussing some of the
  implications that such diversity bring to
  schooling.

3
The first consideration in this essay will be
socioeconomic language variation.

• We will be discussing
• Basil Bernsteins restricted and elaborated code
  and how and why he believes middle class and
  working class people use them.
• How Labov believes that all people use different
  registers for different contexts.
• What Early Childhood Australia believe is
  necessary for children to develop language
  normally.

4
The next area of consideration will be language
variation and culture.

• It will be discussed in this area
• Culture as it is being referred to in this essay.
• How socio-cultural differences are recognisable
  by the spoken language.
• How it is important to acknowledge that the
  language we learn as being based in our culture.
• How literacy events are interpreted through our
  cultural experiences.
• How the literacy events and practices valued by a
  culture determines the value children place upon
  them.

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Finally the implications of such diversity for
schooling will briefly be discussed.

• The main areas discussed will be
• That teachers need to be aware that the school
  discourse usually relies on the language
  practices practiced by the middle classes.
• How schools and teachers must cater for these
  differences and learn to bridge the gap between
  home and school.
• How schools and teachers should be accepting and
  encouraging of different cultures and
  socio-economic backgrounds and not deny students
  their language and customs.

6
Conclusion

• In conclusion it will be acknowledged that the
  language and literacy practices people use have
  many influences cultural and socio-economic are
  just two of these but there are many other
  factors that could also be considered.