Grannis and Grannis 1991

Grannis, Joseph C., and Alexandra Wharton Grannis. 1991. "Review of 'Class, codes and control, Volume l:Theoretical studies toward a sociology of language' by Bernstein 1972." In Minami and Kennedy 1991. (Reprint from Grannis and Grannis 1973.) Interest level: academic.

Theme portrays language as a social institution. Makes distinction between universal "frames of consistency" represented in language syntax and morphology, and distinctive linguistic forms or codes "which induce in their speakers different ways of relating to objects and persons." Focuses on a restricted and elaborated code associated with

• respective English lower-class speakers
• working-class speakers, and
• middle-class speakers.

Relates the use of these codes to students, teachers, and schooling problems and possibilities of success. Distinguishes between public and formal language. Characterizes public language as follows:

• Short, grammatically simple, often unfinished sentences, verb form stressing active mode
• Simple, repetitive use of conjunctions
• Frequent use of short commands and questions
• Limited use of adjectives and adverbs

Characterizes formal language as follows:

• Accurate grammatical order and syntax regulate what is said
• Logical modifications and stress are mediated through a grammatically complex sentence construction, especially through the use of a range of conjunctions and relative clauses
• Frequent use of prepositions that indicate logical relationships as well as prepositions that indicate temporal and spatial contiguity
• Frequent use of impersonal pronouns
• A discriminative selection from a range of adjectives and adverbs

• Bibliography module: Grannis and Grannis 1991
• In overview module: Bibliography (Literacy): G
• In modular book: Bibliography (Literacy), by Doris Gallemore, Trudi C. Hunt, Jeanne Swanson, and Stephen L. Walter
• In document collection: Reference materials
• In bookshelf: Literacy

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 4.0, published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 1999. [Ordering information.]

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