Homework - Article

English Language Homework

Article - Linked to Gender

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jan/27/eight-words-sexism-heart-english-language

Overall views expressed: 

  The main viewpoints in this article are that there are certain words to describe a woman which carry highly negative connotations compared to that of men. This article is written by David Shariatmadari, with the title 'Eight words that reveal the sexism at the heart of the English Language'. This article is suggesting it is not the dictionaries which are sexist even though they provide definitions for the words, but it is actually the English Language itself which is sexist. This adds to the idea that sexist assumptions are implanted into our everyday speech and writing as a result of the society we live in. The language used to describe a women has gone through pejoration - originally had positive connotations but now are associated with negativity. The entire of this article focuses on the negative aspects of the English Language and how certain lexical choices are used to degrade women. FOR EXAMPLE, there is a list of 8 different words used as a way of describing women which had previously meant something positive but had changed in meaning. For example, this article shows the word 'tart' in saying it had previously meant ''sweetheart'' (associated with loveliness and kindness, a positive label' but now means '' a female of immoral character; a prostitute - (semantic derogation). The purpose of this article is to inform those reading it of the ways the English Language is seen to favour men and to persuade them that this is wrong - it is disrespectful to women.

Analysis (Quick overview of language levels)

• LEXIS - The lexical choice in this article consists of mainly monosyllabic lexis which is shown through the low register. This creates a flow to the article through the conversational style. 
• GRAMMAR - The syntax structure in this article is vastly complex and compound sentences, with little simple sentences. Use of parenthesis is to add additional information to a sentence. 
• DISCOURSE - This article begins with paragraphed information which then carries on when describing the 8 words - follows a structure. 

Occupational Lexis: Law enforcement

Law enforcement jargon:

Law enforcement jargon refers to the range of codes, abbreviations, acronyms etc used by law enforcers in order to provide quick and useful bits of information (regarding information about people, the situation, places, times etc.)

In the United Kingdom, law enforcers use a range of different initialisms in order to communicate in a concise way, including:

• DIP - Drunk in public
• B&E - Breaking and entering
• DIC - Drunk in charge
• RTC - Road traffic collision
• GBH - Grievous bodily harm

Acronyms:

• HOLMES - Home office large and major enquiry system
• ACPO - Association of chief police officers
• SOCO - Scenes of crime officer
• HOCR - Home officing counting rules
• ANPR - Automatic number plate recognition

Abbreviations:

• Code 99 - Tea break
• MISPER - Missing person
• WOFF: Write off
• WINQ - Warrant enquiry
• NOK - Next of kin

Other: 

Big red key - a type of battery ram

Paranoid woman syndrome - When an incident such as harrassment has been mistaken as a result of reading too much into the behaviour of other's. 

Such Jargon is used in police procedurals as well as some TV shows eg. CSI.