Communication Studies

My Fair Lady
Reggina Williams, Kayona Campbell, Giselle Byfield, Nathaniel Medley

Language Element Assertion/ Point Example/ Evidence Reasons for

linguistic features
observed

Communicative Proxemics between Henry’s “refrain from He does not approve

Behaviour Henry and Eliza touching her” of the way she speaks

Henry’s vocalics “Why can't a woman Shows his contempt

be more like a man?” towards women and
his appreciation for
the qualities of men

Eliza’s artefacts “Dark coloured These reflect her

clothing” lower class in society
“Basket with flowers” and her poverty
stricken life

Language Register Formal Register “Mr. Higgins” Shows her respect for
between Ms. Pierce “sir” him as her employer
and Henry

Intimate Register “Bruzie” Shows how close he

between Pickering is with the person he
and his friend is speaking to

Casual Register “No you’re not..come Shows how relaxed

between Higgins and along with me; we’ll they are in each
Pickering have a little jaw over other’s company
supper.”

Dialectal Variation Henry’s use of the “Why can’t the Shows his level of
standard english English teach their education and status
children how to in society
speak?”

Alfred’s use of creole “What's 'alf a crown Shows that he is

english after all I've give 'er?” uneducated and has a
lower class in society

Henry’s use of “I'll make a duchess Shows Henry’s

profane english of this draggle-tailed disdain for Eliza’s use
guttersnipe.” of the english
Communication Studies
My Fair Lady
Reggina Williams, Kayona Campbell, Giselle Byfield, Nathaniel Medley
Attitudes to Language Henry’s attitude of “See this creature Shows Henry’s
disgust with her curbstone disgust, disdain and
english” contempt for the
creole

Eliza’s admiration for “I'm come to 'ave Shows that she

the standard english lessons” admires standard
english and willing to
learn it as she sees it
as a way out of her
current situation

Henry’s pride “
towards standard
english
Communication Studies
My Fair Lady
Reggina Williams, Kayona Campbell, Giselle Byfield, Nathaniel Medley

The movie, “My Fair Lady”, starring Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn as Henry

Higgins and Eliza Doolittle, respectively, is based on Higgins, the phonetics professor who

decides to transform the speech of a cockney working class girl, Eliza Doolittle into someone

who can pass for a member of high society. Through Communicative Behaviour, Language

Registers, Attitudes to Language, and Dialectal Variation, the writer displays the difference in

language between classes in society.

Firstly, Communicative Behaviour is used to highlight the feelings and attitude displayed

by the main characters in their manner and regard for each other. Proxemics is evident between

Henry and Eliza at the beginning of the text with the distance that Henry maintains between

himself and Eliza as a result of the language she uses. This distance is manifested in his

“aloofness” and his “refrain from touching her”. However, when Eliza suddenly begins to

enunciate her words , “The rain in Spain…plain”, Henry is overjoyed and shows his approval by

dancing with his “arms around her”. Her ability to use the Standard English shows she is now

peers with Henry. Additionally, the writer uses artefacts, namely Eliza’s clothing and accessories

to show the difference in her behaviour when interacting with different social classes. Prior to

her lessons with Henry, Eliza wore “dark coloured”, “dirty clothing” and carried a “basket with

flowers” that she sold. These artefacts represent her “poverty stricken” life and her “lower class”

in society. However, during and after her lessons, her artefacts consist of “bright clothing” and a

“parasol”, representing the change in social class due to her adoption of the Standard English

language. Furthermore, vocalics is used to display the feelings the characters hold towards each

other. Henry sings, “Women are irrational, that’s all there is to that!” His exclamation of these

words display his contempt towards women. In contrast, his tone changes when he asks Colonel
Communication Studies
My Fair Lady
Reggina Williams, Kayona Campbell, Giselle Byfield, Nathaniel Medley
Pickering, “Why can’t a woman be more like a man?” The transition of his tone from hostile to

gentle, shows his appreciation for the qualities of men. Thus, these aspects of communicative

behaviour emphasise the feelings the characters have for each other.

Additionally Language Registers are used to highlight the nature of the relationships that

exist between characters. Formal register is evident between Ms. Pierce and Henry when she

addresses him as “Mr. Higgins” and ends her sentences with “sir”. Her use of the formal

language to address Mr. Higgins shows the level of respect she has for him as her employer.

Casual register is evident between Pickering and Higgins when Pickering says he is staying “at

the Carlton”. Higgins replies “no you’re not..come along with me; we’ll have a little jaw over

supper.” The presence of a casual register shows that they are both relaxed in each other’s

company. Intimate register is evident in the manner in which Pickering addresses his friend as

“Bruzie”. This register shows the close relationship or bond present between Pickering and

“Bruzie”. Thus, the different types of registers display the nature of characters' relationships.

Furthermore, the character’s attitudes towards language show how individuals believe

they are superior or inferior to others based on the language they use. Henry shows his disdain

for Creole English when he refers to Eliza’s language as "curbstone english.” His choice of word

being "curbstone" shows his disgust towards creole english. Similarly Eliza's shame towards

creole english can be seen when she says “I'm come to 'ave lessons,”. Because of her shame for

creole english, she requests speaking lessons in order to get rid of her habit of speaking creole.

Moreover, Dialectal Variation highlights the difeernece in social classes of characters.

Higgins uses acrolect when he says ““Why can’t the English teach their children how to speak?”

His natural use of acrolect displays his high level of education and upper class status in society.

On the other hand, Alfred uses basilect before he is given money by the rich man, “What's 'alf a
Communication Studies
My Fair Lady
Reggina Williams, Kayona Campbell, Giselle Byfield, Nathaniel Medley
crown… give 'er?” This shows his "lower class" background and lack of a formal education.

Henry also uses profane english, “I'll make a duchess of this draggle-tailed guttersnipe.” This

shows his disdain for Eliza’s use of the creole english as he can find no word in english to

accurately describe how little he thinks of her.

Thus, it is evident that the difference in language among classes in society is displayed in

the text with the assistance of language elements, namely Communicative Behaviour, Language

Registers, Attitudes to Language, and Dialectal Variation.