Attitudes to English Varieties in Australia

Language attitudes reflect how society perceives and interacts with different varieties and their speakers. In Australia, these attitudes are deeply intertwined with notions of social status, cultural identity, and national norms.

1. Prescriptivism vs. Descriptivism

In the study of Australian English, two primary frameworks are used to categorize attitudes toward language variation.

Prescriptivism

Prescriptivism is the belief that there is a “correct” or “superior” way to use language. Prescriptivists establish rigid rules and standards, often based on historical norms or the features of the Standard variety.

• Viewpoint: Language change is often seen as “degradation,” “corruption,” or “laziness.”
• Goal: To maintain the “purity” of the language.
• Focus: How language should be used.

Descriptivism

Descriptivism is an approach that focuses on how language is actually used by speakers in real-world contexts without making moral or aesthetic judgments.

• Viewpoint: All varieties are linguistically valid, rule-governed, and complex.
• Goal: To observe and record language variation and change objectively.
• Focus: How language is used.

Comparison Table: Prescriptivist vs. Descriptivist Attitudes

KEY TAKEAWAY: Prescriptivism is about judgment and control, while descriptivism is about observation and analysis. In VCE English Language, you must remain descriptive in your analysis while being able to identify and discuss the prescriptivist attitudes held by others in society.

2. Attitudes to Standard Australian English (SAE)

Standard Australian English is the variety afforded the most prestige in contemporary society. It is the language of “public institutions,” including the legal system, government, education, and mainstream media.

• Prestige: SAE is associated with education, authority, and high social status.
• Social Mobility: Proficiency in SAE is often viewed as a prerequisite for professional success.
• Prescriptivist View: Often upheld as the only “proper” form of Australian English. Deviations from SAE grammar or syntax are frequently stigmatized in formal contexts.
• Descriptivist View: Recognized as a “prestige variety” not because it is linguistically better, but because it is the variety used by those in positions of power.

VCAA FOCUS: VCAA often asks how SAE is used to “gatekeep” or provide access to social power. Consider how using SAE can build expert power or legitimate power in formal settings.

3. Attitudes to Aboriginal Australian Englishes (AAEs)

Aboriginal Australian Englishes refer to a range of varieties used by Indigenous Australians. These varieties are often misunderstood by the wider public.

• Prescriptivist Stigma: AAEs are frequently mislabeled as “broken English” or “bad English.” This stems from a lack of understanding of AAE’s unique phonological, morphological, and semantic rules.
• Linguistic Reality: AAEs are complex, rule-governed varieties that incorporate elements of traditional Indigenous languages. They are vital markers of cultural identity and belonging.
• Social Impact: Negative attitudes toward AAEs can lead to discrimination in the education and legal systems, where speakers may be unfairly judged as less capable or less intelligent.

COMMON MISTAKE: Students often describe AAE as “slang.” AAE is a dialect (or a group of dialects), not just a collection of informal words. It has its own distinct grammatical structures (e.g., the use of “null copula” or specific pronoun systems).

4. Attitudes to Migrant Ethnolects

Migrant ethnolects (e.g., Greek Ethnolect, Lebanese Ethnolect, Vietnamese Ethnolect) emerge when speakers combine features of their heritage languages with English.

• Prescriptivist View: Often viewed as “corrupted” English or a failure to assimilate. Prescriptivists may focus on “correcting” the accent or syntax to align with SAE.
• Descriptivist View: Ethnolects are seen as rich expressions of dual identity. They allow speakers to signal their connection to their ethnic heritage while participating in Australian society.
• Functions:
  • In-group Solidarity: Using ethnolect features reinforces a sense of belonging within a migrant community.
  • Resistance: Can be used to challenge mainstream norms and assert a unique cultural space.

APPLICATION: Think of contemporary Australian comedians or writers (e.g., Alice Pung or Michael Mohammed Ahmad) who use ethnolects to authentically represent the migrant experience and challenge the “Standard-only” narrative of Australian identity.

5. Attitudes to Australian Accents

Attitudes toward the three main accents—Broad, General, and Cultivated—have evolved significantly over the last century.

1. Broad Australian Accent:
   • Stereotype: Associated with the “Aussie battler,” working-class identity, and rural life.
   • Attitude: Can be viewed as “authentic” and “friendly” (positive covert prestige) or “uneducated” and “uncouth” (negative overt prestige).
2. General Australian Accent:
   • Status: The most common accent, used by the majority of the population.
   • Attitude: Generally perceived as neutral and “standard.” It avoids the perceived “snobbery” of Cultivated and the “roughness” of Broad.
3. Cultivated Australian Accent:
   • Status: Historically associated with high social class and British standards (RP).
   • Attitude: Once the height of prestige, it is now often viewed as “pretentious,” “snobbish,” or “affected” in modern egalitarian Australia. Its usage has declined sharply.

EXAM TIP: When discussing accents, use the term Covert Prestige. A speaker might use a Broad accent or an ethnolect to gain “street cred” or show loyalty to a group, even if that variety is not “prestigious” in the mainstream sense.

6. The Impact of Language Attitudes on Identity

Language attitudes are not just academic; they have real-world consequences for how individuals construct and negotiate their identities.

• Social Inclusion/Exclusion: Positive attitudes toward a variety foster inclusion, while stigmatization leads to social marginalization.
• National Identity: The “contested national identity” mentioned in the Study Design refers to the tension between the traditional Anglo-Celtic “Standard” and the diverse reality of modern multilingual Australia.
• Stereotyping: Language features are often used to create or reinforce stereotypes (e.g., the “bogan” or the “fresh off the boat” migrant). These stereotypes can be adopted subconsciously or used deliberately to challenge social expectations.

STUDY HINT: Collect recent media examples (opinion pieces, letters to the editor, or social media debates) regarding “proper” English or the use of slang. These provide excellent contemporary evidence for your essays on language attitudes.