Unit I Title: World Englishes and Global Communication

Lesson 2: Standard and Nonstandard English

Duration: 1.5 Hours

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Introductio
n:
“Proficiency in the English Language is the key to academic success”
– San Diego State
University

Grammar operates in phrases, in clausesnd in tences, and a phrase or a

sentence to operate needs a series of items called words. You cannot speak or
write well unless you choose every word carefully. Your choice and use of words
and the way you put them on paper reveal your values, education, family , and
social standing.

To be a good writer, you must be familiar with the commonly recognized levels of
usage: Standard English and Substandard (or nonstandard) English. The level of
usage you choose gets its vigor and effect from certain considerations: your
targeted audience, your purpose, and the occasion.

Objectives:

● Compare standard and nonstandard English.

● Describe the different characteristics of standard and nonstandard English.
● Explain the common features of formal and Informal language.
● Describe communication situations that call for formal language and which
call for informal language.

Pretest:
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Identify the meaning of the italicized word or phrase as standard usage or

substandard usage. Write your answer in the blank provided before each number.

Substandard usage 1. Don’t you think that’s the baddest outfit you’ve ever worn?
Substandard usage 2. Carol is a full-pledged certified public accountant.
Substandard usage 3. I can hardly understand why Ferdie would cut class when he
admires the professor.
Standard usage 4. Her red scarf complemented her outfit.
Standard usage 5. She felt good about the project, but she did not feel well enough to
go to work.
Standard usage 6. They haven’t finished building that apartment yet.
Substandard usage 7. Irregardless of what he said, that law has done been repeated.
Standard usage 8. I hope you did not lose my computer files again!
Standard usage 9. Myla expects to win easily .
Substandard usage 10. My brother, hisself, did the research well.

Lesson Proper

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ACTIVITY

Exercise involving mobile learning / online discussion, an inter-class texting/chatting

session.

Students are requested to text or to chat someone about something that is relevant to
what they are doing in class. This encourages the students to synthesize and to make
interconnection of the information they gained during a class discussion. For example
“What was the most challenging point/lecture in today/ last session’s class?” or “What
questions do you still have about today/ last session’s lecture?”
ANALYSIS

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Standard English

Standard English is the most highly polished form of spoken and written English used
by educated people. It has prestige and status and is considered as the most desirable
form of language. Writers and speakers who use standard English have a much better
choice of understanding and being understood, and of getting what they want.
Moreover, no matter what kind of job you prepare yourself after college, you need to
know standard English to keep abreast with this ‘age of information’. Otherwise, you are
likely to be left behind, confined to hard manual labor which offers few challenges and
less financial rewards (Langan, 2003).

Language specialists maintain that Standard English has the following identifying
characteristics:
1. The working language in the academe, in the government, in business, and in media
2. A variety of English held by many to be “correct” in the sense that it shows none of
the regional or other variations that are considered by some to be ungrammatical or
nonstandard.
3. The language most widely used, understood, accepted, and valued in any English
speaking countries.
4. The language that is especially important in written English. It contains uniform
spelling, standard usage, conventional sentence and paragraph structure, and
consistent punctuations.
5. The language easiest to recognize in print because written conventions are common
world-wide
6. It is used by educated people whose language conventions are respected and who
carry on the important affairs in the world

Examples:
My part-time job limits my study time. Liza failed her grammar test
yesterday. Cats and dogs are sometimes the best of friends. He is
the taller of the two.

Nonstandard (or substandard) English is a variety of English that is mark ‘incorrect’

because it does not follow rules and guidelines of Standard English. Uses of
nonstandard English in formal or scholarly settings can damage your credibility,
discredit the value of your message, and alienate your audience.
Language specialists identify nonstandard English in the following
characteristics:

1. The language of the uneducated. It is loaded with grammatical errors, misspellings,

misused punctuations, slang and clichés.
2. A variety of English characterized by grammatical features and vocabulary which are
typical of a particular geographical area.
3. A language that uses expressions and grammatical constructions not normally used
by educated people.
4. A variety of English that differs greatly from the standard.
5. A language that contains expressions usually taken as a sign of inferior social and
academic background.

Examples:
Me and my friend drink milk.
You done it, did you?
Double dead meat are sold in small markets.

The following are among the principal types of

nonstandard usage:
1. Errors in agreement, case, and tense
Examples:
I doesn’t understand the lesson.
Me and my classmates were late.

2. Double or multiple negatives.

Examples:
I can’t hardly understand the letter. We ain’t done nothing.

3. Double comparatives or superlatives

Example:
Mother is the most kindest woman I know.
Athletes walk more faster than the students.

4. Errors in the formation of reflexive

pronouns Examples:
He hisself did it.
They submit the letter theirselves.
5. Cliches or overused expressions.
Examples: She is head over heels in
love with you.
Every dark cloud has a silver lining.

6. Redundancy Examples:
Don’t repeat it again.
This is unexpected surprise.

Some expressions considered substandard which are frequently heard in the speech
and seen in the writings of even educated people are off of, irregardless, not unless,
can’t hardly., attached herewith, kind consideration, entering into.
Substandard English (mostly spoken) is commonly used in playful conversations
of many people in their work and personal affairs, dialogues in plays, stories, skits, and
comic strips.

It should be noted, however, that standard and substandard levels of usage have
significant roles in communication as long as they fit your audience, serve your purpose,
and match the occasion. Moreover, it is possible that some expressions or meanings
labeled substandard today may become standard in the future, just as what are labeled
standard today may become nonstandard.

ABSTRACTION

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Each of the following sentences contains an error in usage. Using standard English
write each sentence correctly.

1. Both runner-ups complained about the winner’s behavior.

-Both runners-up complained about the winner’s behavior.

2. Me and my friend like dancing.

-My friend and I like dancing.

3. The price has already been lowered down.

-The price has already been lowered.

4. Stand here besides me.

-Stand here beside me.
5. Between Baguio and Palawan, Baguio is most popular.
-Between Baguio and Palawan, Baguio is the most popular.

6. My brother, hisself, do the research well.

-My Brother, himself, does the research well.

7. I don’t like no vegetables.

-I don’t like vegetables

8. Everybody are thinking he has something to proud of.

-Everybody is thinking he has something to be proud of.

9. We repeat again our assignment.

-We repeat our assignment.

10. The train left the station at 8 p.m. in the evening.

-The train left the station at 8 p.m.

APPLICATION
Anti-Bullying Activity: Social Situations
This teaches students to help themselves in the face of bullies and encourages
problem-solving and positive social interactions.
The following bully-type situations are posted. Ask students to select one of
the situations and explain how they might deal with the problem.
1. Someone repeatedly calls you “names”.
2. Someone makes fun of the way you are dressed.
3. Someone threatens to physically hurt you.
4. Someone repeatedly pushes you in line.
5. Someone makes fun of your skin color.
6. Someone repeatedly excludes from the group.
7. Someone keeps hiding your belongings and thinks it’s funny.
“Someone makes fun of the way you dressed”
-The first thing I’m going to do is to remain calm and ignore them or maybe address
them and ask them politely to stop making fun of my clothes. If they continue teasing
me, I will tell somebody whether it’s a friend, teacher or a family to solve the issue and
get right punishment for them.
Reflection

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What does it mean to say you should use language appropriately in your speeches and
in your writing?

-It means that I need to be aware of what kind of language I use in my daily life
conversations. For example, when I’m talking with my friends, classmates, or family I
don’t need to worry about what words should I use compared to when I’m working or
talking to people whose educated.

Suggested Readings

James D. Williams, The Teacher's Grammar Book, 2nd ed. Routledge, 2005
https://www.theschoolrun.com/what-is-standard-english
https://www.grammar.com/standard_and_non-standard_english
https://www.thoughtco.com/world-englishes-1692509
https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-nonstandard-english-1691438