In this term paper, the main question that arises is “What are the forms and functions of the verb system in Aboriginal English and Australian English?”. Thus, studies about verb usages of both varieties of English will be analysed, providing an illustration of differences in both systems.
Before dealing with these data in detail, one theory concerning World Englishes and their emergence will be presented in chapter 2.1. One of the theoretical approaches was made by Edgar W. Schneider. His theory is called “The Dynamic Model of New Englishes.” References of this theory that are utilized in this term paper are “The dynamics of New Englishes; From identity construction to dialect birth” (2003) and “Postcolonial English. Varieties around the World” (2007). An explanation of historical, sociolinguistic and linguistic processes leading towards the emergence of New Englishes will thus be given.
Secondly, the Verb system will be illustrated in 2.2., giving an overview of how certain verb structures are used by speakers of English. Before dealing with the analysis of examples of both varieties, the sociolinguistic background of both Australian English and Aboriginal English will be taken into account in chapter 3.1. In this part, the question arises where these varieties are spoken and who acquired and speaks them. Moreover, the history of Aboriginal English and Australian English will be explained. The data analysis in chapter 3.2. shows studies and examples of both varieties. Examples made by Ian G. Malcolm, Peter Collins and Pam Peters are mostly significant. Last but not least, a discussion at the end of the term paper will be added. This shall give readers a conclusion of certain data findings of the verb system of Australian English and Aboriginal English and how data findings apply to Schneider´s Dynamic Model and to the research question.
Table of Contents
1.Introduction
2. Theoretical Background
2.1.Varieties of English
2.2. The Verb System
3. Data
3.1. Sociolinguistic Background
3.2. Data analysis
4. Discussion
5. Conclusion
6. Bibliography
Research Objectives and Key Topics
The primary objective of this paper is to examine and compare the forms and functions of the verb systems in Australian English and Aboriginal English. By analyzing existing sociolinguistic research and grammatical data, the study aims to illustrate the distinct linguistic features of both varieties and assess how they align with Edgar W. Schneider’s Dynamic Model of New Englishes.
- Theoretical exploration of the emergence of New Englishes based on Schneider’s model.
- Sociolinguistic analysis of the historical development of Australian and Aboriginal English.
- Comparative examination of verb structures, including tense, aspect, and subject-verb agreement.
- Evaluation of the influence of pidgin and creole languages on the Aboriginal English verb system.
- Discussion on the application of Schneider’s model to the observed data findings.
Excerpt from the Book
The Verb System
In the following, the English verb system will be presented. Verb tense and aspects, the future, the verb be and the passive will be considered.
In terms of tense, the past, present and future are considered. Aspect is basically referred to as a feature that shows whether a certain action is completed in the present or in the past, or if it still continuous and therefore indicates progressive. Another feature of the verb system is called active/passive voice. If the subject acts, the sentence is written in active voice. Passive voice refers to the subject that becomes an object (Tulloch 1990: 6f). In modals, sentences consist of a modal auxiliary like “could”. Auxiliaries might precede an ordinary verb in a verb phrase and in cases of the omission of the auxiliary, the verb is either in the form of present simple or of the past simple. Aspect is basically referred to as the perfect, and voice considers passives and actives in sentences (Eastwood 1994: 77)
It is known that verbs have different forms used in different cases. These are the base form, the s-form, the past form, the ing-form and the past participle or the passive participle. These forms are not only present for regular verbs, but also for irregular verbs. The base form appears in imperatives (“Play tennis with me.”), in the present tense (“You play very well.”) and the infinitive (“I´d like to play.”). The S-form is considered in sentences in utterances in present tense, where the 3rd person singular needs to be indicated. An example for the S-form is “Simon plays very well.” Furthermore, “They played back the film” is an instance for the past tense, whereas ing-forms are known to be the gerund (“playing tennis is fun.” and the active participle (“You´re playing very well.”). “They´ve played back the film” is an example for the past participle and “The film was played back.” is a passive participle (ibid: 76). In passives, the object becomes the subject. An example is “The flat wasn´t advertised.” (ibid:79).
Summary of Chapters
1.Introduction: This chapter introduces the research question regarding the forms and functions of the verb system in Aboriginal and Australian English and outlines the theoretical approach used in the paper.
2. Theoretical Background: This section details Edgar W. Schneider’s Dynamic Model of New Englishes and provides an overview of the standard English verb system, including tense, aspect, and voice.
3. Data: This chapter provides the sociolinguistic context of both English varieties and presents a detailed analysis of specific grammatical features found in the verb systems of Aboriginal and Australian English.
4. Discussion: This section analyzes how the observed data reflects the theoretical phases of Schneider’s model, specifically discussing the influence of structural heritage and contact situations on grammatical emergence.
5. Conclusion: This chapter summarizes the findings, confirming that while both varieties share a history of British settlement, Aboriginal English exhibits distinct features influenced by creole and indigenous language contact.
6. Bibliography: This chapter lists all scholarly references and sources utilized throughout the term paper.
Keywords
Aboriginal English, Australian English, Verb system, Schneider’s Dynamic Model, New Englishes, Sociolinguistics, Tense, Aspect, Subject-verb agreement, Creoles, Pidgins, Colonization, Grammatical patterns, Language evolution, Postcolonial English.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper primarily investigates the grammatical forms and functional usages of the verb systems within Aboriginal English and Australian English.
Which theoretical framework is applied in this study?
The study utilizes Edgar W. Schneider’s "Dynamic Model of New Englishes" to explain the historical and linguistic evolution of these varieties.
What is the primary research question?
The central question is: "What are the forms and functions of the verb system in Aboriginal English and Australian English?"
What methodology is employed?
The author uses a qualitative analysis of sociolinguistic literature and existing data sets to compare verb structures and grammatical patterns across both varieties.
What is covered in the main body of the work?
The main body examines the historical background of both dialects, analyzes specific verb phenomena like tense and aspect, and discusses these findings in relation to established postcolonial linguistic theories.
Which keywords best describe this research?
The work is characterized by terms such as Aboriginal English, Australian English, New Englishes, verb system, Schneider’s Dynamic Model, and sociolinguistic evolution.
How does Aboriginal English differ from Australian English regarding the auxiliary verb 'be'?
In certain contexts, particularly in Aboriginal English, the auxiliary 'be' is frequently omitted—for instance, before 'gonna' or in progressive constructions—whereas Australian English tends to align more closely with standard English rules.
What influence do creole languages have on Aboriginal English?
The study suggests that many grammatical structures in Aboriginal English, specifically concerning tense and aspect, show significant similarities to creoles, indicating influence from indigenous languages rather than solely the superstrate language.
- Citar trabajo
- Ayse Uslu (Autor), 2018, The Verb System in Australian English and Aboriginal English, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/495284
