This paper discusses the positive and negative effects nationwide American television has (had) on the language's regional and social varieties.
Table of Contents
1. Television: Transporting language all over the country
2. News: The standard language
3. Portraying the real world
4. For the means of comedy
5. Creating new standards
6. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Key Topics
This paper explores the multifaceted influence of television on American language varieties, investigating whether mass media serves as a unifying force or a catalyst for language alteration and the potential disappearance of regional dialects.
- The role of television in the diffusion and standardization of American English.
- The tension between portraying realistic character dialects and maintaining neutral, mass-audience-accessible language.
- The impact of situational comedy and pop culture icons on linguistic innovation and vocabulary shifts.
- The global implications of American media production on the spread of English as a lingua franca.
Excerpt from the Book
Portraying the real world
Aside from news casts, however, television programs do not only use standard language. In fact, it is quite common for TV shows to use and portray a whole array of different regional and social varieties of the American language. By doing so, the producers add to the credibility of their work. The popular situation comedy Roseanne, which ran nine overwhelmingly successful seasons, might be a good example to illustrate this point.
The creators of Roseanne have kept the caustic dialogue of its stand-up comic stars but moved them back from the footlights and into the representational structure of the proscenium stage. There the easy improvisational style of Roseanne Barr and John Goodman, played within realistic sets in front of fluidly choreographed cameras, creates situations within family and friendships that the audience recognizes as similar to their own. (Mayerle 72)
It is obvious that a realistic atmosphere cannot be created by scenery only. The audience has to believe the portrayed characters, and therefore the language must fit them. The Conners, around whom the show centers, are a typical American middle class family. Therefore, in his role as Dan Conner, John Goodman—who works in several temporary jobs during the nine seasons—may not sound like a news anchorman or a professor. His language must be the one of his character in the show, thus having to be a typical social variety.
Chapter Summaries
Television: Transporting language all over the country: This chapter introduces the historical context of American language varieties and explores how television fundamentally changed the landscape of regional and social dialect preservation.
News: The standard language: This section examines the linguistic requirements of news broadcasting, highlighting the push toward a neutral, non-vernacular "General American" standard for mass consumption.
Portraying the real world: This chapter analyzes how scripted television shows, specifically sitcoms like Roseanne, utilize distinct social and regional varieties to establish character authenticity and audience rapport.
For the means of comedy: This part investigates the intersection of humor and linguistics, showing how comedians leverage non-standard accents and dialects to satirize social structures and identity.
Creating new standards: This chapter discusses how television actively influences linguistic change by introducing new intensifiers and phrases into the popular vocabulary of younger generations.
Conclusion: This final section synthesizes the evidence, noting that while television aids the spread of language, it also contributes to the potential erosion of traditional dialects in favor of a "television standard."
Keywords
American English, Language Varieties, Television, Mass Media, General American, Dialects, Sociohistorical Factors, Sitcoms, Linguistic Innovation, Language Standardization, Pop Culture, Media Influence, Intensifiers, Language Learning, Satire
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this paper?
The paper examines the dual influence of television on American English, specifically how it acts as both a vehicle for language spread and an agent of linguistic change and standardization.
What are the primary thematic fields covered?
The study covers the use of standard vs. non-standard language in different TV genres, the relationship between character authenticity and dialect, and how media shapes the vocabulary of viewers.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to determine if the influence of television on American language varieties is ultimately positive or negative regarding the maintenance of regional linguistic diversity.
Which scientific method is utilized?
The author employs a qualitative analysis of existing media studies, linguistic research, and specific examples from television programs to support his arguments.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body covers the neutrality of news language, the use of dialect in sitcoms to enhance realism, the role of comedy in articulating social identity, and the adoption of new linguistic trends like intensifiers.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include American English, Language Varieties, Television, General American, and Language Standardization.
How does television contribute to the formation of "new standards"?
Television introduces trendy linguistic features, such as specific intensifiers used by popular characters, which viewers then adopt into their own everyday vocabulary.
What role do sitcoms play in the portrayal of language?
Sitcoms often prioritize character credibility by using specific social and regional dialects that match the background of the characters, making them more relatable to the audience.
How does the author explain the difference between news and fictional programs?
News programs aim for neutrality and intelligibility across the entire country, whereas fictional shows utilize diverse dialects to build character depth and satirize social structures.
- Quote paper
- Jano Rohleder (Author), 2007, Nationwide Television, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/141286
