Languages are in many ways what sets human apart from other animals. However, it divides people among one another as well. Not merely through geography, but social status also creates innumerable variation within a single language. Variations that, in relation to content, seem subtle, but in actuality widens the gaps between people of differing class, education, region etc. Though they understand each other, different variations hold differing amounts of prestige, creating a need to weigh ones words so as to fit in with contextual company. The excerpt from Billy Elliot is a classic example of a clash between classes where language predictably plays its part. Right from the start, it is clearly underlined how Billy is not from a very prestigious …show more content…
This difference in class, and also geographical upbringing, seems to be what sets the characters apart from one another. Though still speaking the same language, they say slightly different things. However, this minor variance makes all the difference to Billy. He judges these strangers instantaneously, and after he has heard them speak, he lets all of his prejudice flow, escalating into striking a kid, who is merely trying to comfort him. All seemingly because Billy is not as well off as they are. He, however, also have less blatant ways of defying the opposing sociolect that he might be utilising more unconsciously. During the interview, his father’s speech seems very close to the interviewers’ in what most likely is a conscious attempt to adapt his language to the situation. Calling it bootlicking is exaggeration; he is simply in a situation where the interviewers set the terms. Billy, however, does not change his speech patterns and talks quite conversationally in an arguably subtle rebellious manner. He is proud sociolect and does not want to try to butter up someone he outright despises. He perceives his own non-standard English as superior, giving it covert prestigious traits (Yule, 2014). The sociolect used by the middle class people around him might be widely considered overtly prestigious, yet for Billy it is nothing but
His ability to identify and accept his situation are the first stages of Billy's transition.
Billy proves throughout the book that he is not mentally stable, yet somehow, he is persuasive in his interpretation of the truth.
Billy constantly feels bad about the choices he makes. While Billy is in the ward, he is surrounded by many strong women who are all in charge. The main nurse, Nurse Ratched, is constantly watching over him due to her relationship with his mother, who doesn’t want him to grow up. With these expectations from his mother and Nurse Ratched, Billy conforms into a thirty year old man who is afraid to think for himself. Billy is still a virgin when he enters the ward, due to his mother not letting him think for himself. This causes Billy to constantly feel guilty and unhappy when he makes choices for himself, because those around him made him believe that he does not deserve to make his own choices. When Billy finally did something for himself
Most people who grow up with a foreign language spoken in there house grow up with an advantage in society. This advantage can only occur once the individual learning that foreign language also learns the dominant language spoken in that country. Once both of these languages are learned and mastered, the individual has now placed them se...
“The third bullet was for the filthy flamingo, who stopped dead center in the road when the lethal bee buzzed past his ear. Billy stood there politely, giving the marksman another chance.” This clearly illustrated the child-like person Billy is. Instead of duck and cover, Billy stands there as if he were playing a board game he didn’t want to play and in protest did not move his player. He doesn’t truly grasp the distraught situation he is in and he most certainly doesn’t comprehend it. By not looking out for his own interest he becomes an infantile creature depending on the civil duties of others.
Something similar about the Germans and the Tralfamadorian Aliens is they both made Billy strip when he arrived, the Germans refuse to answer why they beat one prisoner and not another, Tralfamadorian aliens refuse to answer why they took Billy, the Germans confine Billy to a slaughterhouse, the Tralfamadorians confine him to a zoo. So obviously there are parallels between his past and fantasy life. But in his fantasy land, Billy can change these painful events, right?
Billy appeared joyful and kind, while Claggart seemed serious and hateful. For some unknown reason, this man hated Billy, and constantly sought out ways to make his life more difficult. One day, a wise old sailor came to the naïve Billy, telling him of Claggart’s hatred towards him, and warning him to act cautiously around the master at arms. Claggart’s disdain
This is something Billy doesn’t understand in his younger years; hence he is constantly angry at himself. Billy’s self-directed anger ultimately causes him to never stick in the MLB, get divorced and use his anger as a reminder to never overlook players. Billy played for a couple years in the majors bouncing around from team to team, each one trying to see if they could
Billy’s relationship with girls cause him stress as it never last and doesn’t go well, Billy lost his mother Dorothy she suffered from breast cancer and she was seriously ill, the families grief was very deep Ronald found it hard to move on. Billy doesn’t have any contacts with his brother Crieg because he decided to lead his own life away from his family members. The only relationship Billy had been with his sister Rosemary, Ronald went back to where he grew up Gippsland. Going through these entire issues made Billy strong throughout his development. The usual sign of changes show in Billy’s connections all through Billy’s life.
In the film, Billy is a brave, adventurous and even charming. This coincides with the real Billy. According to David S. Turk, Billy the Kid was characterized as ambitious, charismatic, but then like a flick of a switch he can be angry, and evil. But the differences between the film Billy and the legacy Billy has to deal with other personality traits. In the movie, Billy became loyal to Bill and Ted very quickly, during the film Billy even saved Bill and Ted. This is not how we imagine Billy the Kid’s legacy is or how he behaved. From several articles, they talk about him constantly being on the run, also with all of the events he went through as a child, he would not have trusted two people he just met. Instead the film made Billy a caring partner to Bill and
Another difficulty cultures deal with is language and the way people speak. In some cases, people struggle to belong by making changes in the way they speak the English language just to be assimilated. They attempt to use words and letters, as well as body language that fit in the norm; all in an attempt to denounce their original intonation and style of pronunciation. One ...
Language also changes easy whenever speakers come into contact with each other. No two individuals speak identically: people from different geographical places clearly speak differently, but even within the same small community there are variations according to a speaker’s age, gender, social and educational background. Through our interactions with these different
This shows that Billy didn't know what he was doing when he was looking for a
Billy’s family is broken. Jud, mum and Billy constantly bicker and bully each other. Billy realises that most of his problems come from home and the fact that no one supports him, everything started to go wrong for Billy when his dad left and all we hear about him is that “ He ere a wrong en ”.
he said ‘Why?’ said the girl. ‘I always like to know the names of the girls I sleep with.” Lurie’s use of a colloquial language and inappropriate language such as ‘honey’ and ‘sleep with’ during Billy’s dialogue with a waitress show his desire to control a situation and to please his father; “‘Easy, son’ said Mathews, but his face was beaming with pride. Billy’s self-confident and commanding swagger, “He [Billy... ... middle of paper ... ...