Self Evaluation

We completed a timed essay in class about the status of English Language. This essay involved different theorists that mentioned about different accents and dialects and some even mentioned about gender. I mentioned about my past primary research to do with my questionnaire that was completed a while a go showing peoples thoughts on the language we use and how language has changed. In order for me to improve for future essays I need to make sure I am going into detail with what I am writing and not just describing. I also need to learn theories better in order to be able to link them in essays.  For the future I need to look at the mark scheme and make sure that I am adding more A01 to my essay because I seem to only focus of A02. In addition I need to add my own opinion on the points that I make throughout my essay as I don't really mention what I believe about certain theories or about peoples attitudes.
However there were positives to my essay. I did mention theorists and tried to link the ones that say similar things, also I used a lot of A02throughout which was good, it was better than past essays but there are still clear improvements to still be made.

Ochs & Taylor 1992

Ochs and Taylors theory states that the first time that families sit down and talk about their day all together. The theory also states that mothers have the most utterances or they do the most introducing. This means that mothers are the ones who usually begin the conversation and direct it at someone. This theory examines how the family is a political institution through conversational interactions. Members of the family tend to review other members and make judgements, making them a problematizer, how some member formulate codes of conduct, make decisions and impose sanctions showing their thoughts and feelings.


Our class had to try and find our own primary research to attempt to support this theory or to see if there is any change in these ideas since 1992. The task was to record a conversation over a family dinner to see who creates judgments and who started the conversation etc. I found problems trying to complete this because during the week my family don't sit down and have dinner together as there are many things that prevent that happening. This goes against the theory because we will see one another later on or at different times in the day when we will discuss what has been recently or currently going on because we don't sit down and have dinner together all of the time. The only time that the whole family really have the ability to sit down together would be at the weekend. However this would usually be at breakfast and we would talk about our week. In addition this goes against the theory because we all sit together at a time before dinner showing that things have changed.
Furthermore the theory also states that Mothers do the introducing in conversations and have the most utterances usually. I found differently. In my family when we do sit down and have dinner it is my sister that would talk the most or me instead of my mum which also goes against Ochs and Taylors theory.

Etymological, semantic and orthographic change

Spinster: 

There is a lot of information, the earliest recorded was the 13th century when its original meaning was related to spinning and the occupation of spinning. A spinster was someone, stereotypically a women, who would spin yarn. In the examples and screenshots it shows evidence of the word changing as the spelling has changed. This could also mean that the pronunciation could have been different. The term spinster has changed from being a term to describe occupation to describing an unmarried women.

Then from the 17th century, it came to denote a legal term for women who were still unmarried beyond the age that was considered unusual and was considered an old maid. The male equivalent of an unmarried man is a bachelor.

A spinster is seen as female, rarely a male, who spins. Someone who practices spinning as a regular occupation. However a spinster is also seen as a spider or another insect that spins. Or a spinster is seen as and currently a women who is unmarried past a certain age.

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/spinster

Whore:

Origin- Late Old English hōre, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch hoer and German Hure, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin carus 'dear'.

A whore is stereotypically a women but according to some definitions can also be seen as a male. The word is currently described as someone who sells themselves and is used for prostitution. However there are also many different meaning such as if you commit adultery you are seen as a whore. A male prostitute would also come under the name of a whore. The meanings haven’t really changed over time just people have created a stereotype of a whore being a women, that is the only major change or difference. A whore is either seen as a women who prostitutes herself for hire. OR to play the whore of a women, to commit adultery. Or in some respects a male prostitute: any promiscuous or unprincipled person.

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/whore

Witch:

Origin- Old English wicca (masculine), wicce (feminine), wiccian (verb); current senses of the verb are probably a shortening of bewitch.

A man who practises witchcraft or magic; a magician, sorcerer, wizard. See also white witch female magician, sorceress; in later use esp. a woman supposed to have dealings with the devil or evil spirits and to be able by their co-operation to perform supernatural acts. See also white witch n. A young woman or girl of bewitching aspect or manners.

When the word which occurs you automatically think of supernatural events or magic. The word witch is also stereotypically seen as a women and wizard would be seen as a male. The word has always been linked with magic the devil and that sort of subject with bewitching powers these thoughts are what you instantly think when the word witch is said or brought up. Witches are often associated with powers, black cloaks and hats and flying on a broomstick.

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/witch

Bachelor:

Origin- Middle English: from Old French bacheler; of uncertain origin.

A bachelor is man who is not and has never been married. This relates to the female equivalent being a spinster. However a bachelor has other meanings. The current most agreed to definition of the word is a man of a legal age who is unmarried. Another definition would be a person who has completed an undergraduate curriculum at a university and holds a bachelor degree. Another definition of the word would be a male animal that does not mate during the breeding season. And a final definition would be a young knight in the service of another knight in feudal times. This shows that the word has several meanings that relate to completely different things.

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/bachelor