Upper Class bias language in English

17 Maio 2017, 14:00 • David Alan Prescott

Analysis of text outlining how certain vocabulary items and expression strings in English determine class. In some ways this class is the reverse side of the previous lesson. If a character in an English text refers to someone as a "cove", "chap" or "gent" it is clear to some native speakers that the person is of a certain class background. Demonstration that whenever we are translating a text in which a person speaks, such as a character in a novel, film, play or short story, the language that character uses -- including swearing, class biases and regionalisms -- is part and parcel of the building of the character. As far as possible this must be maintained in the translation. But it is not always possible.