Pratica di Shadowing: Contemporary Topics 3 Unit 1 COMMUNICATION STUDIES Slang ang language change - Impara a parlare inglese con i video

Scegli una modalità di pratica

Ogni modalità apre una sala di pratica a schermo intero.

114 frasi
Se le frasi sono troppo corte o troppo lunghe, clicca su Edit per modificarle.
1
The first thing to say about language change is it's inevitable.
2
Language is a living thing, constantly expanding, evolving, and adapting to the humans who use it.
3
We see language change in all areas of language.
4
Syntax, phonology, orthography, and semantics.
5
For now, let's just focus on semantics and on one particular area of semantic change which always grabs people's attention.
6
Slang.
7
We all recognize slang, we all use slang, and we use it for a reason.
8
It gives our language a special feel and says something about us.
9
So, I'm going to talk a bit about what slang is, who uses it and why,
10
where it comes from, and how it is received. So, what is slang?
11
Here's a definition you might want to jot down.
12
Now, slang is informal language which tends to be associated with particular groups of people and therefore helps define their identity.
13
Slang often breeds among deprived groups or groups we think of as secretive or underground or non-conforming.
14
Today though, these associations are becoming much weaker and now everyone uses slang.
15
So let me home in on this idea of identity as it leads us into the question of why people use slang.
16
A lot of slang comes from people not wanting to be understood by those outside their group.
17
We typically think of using language in order to be understood, but another use of language is to prevent understanding.
18
use exclusive or private language to give their group a distinct identity.
19
With slang, people can tease one another, enjoy shared experiences, and keep everyone else at a distance.
20
All cultures have groups or subcultures who want to be separate,
21
and yet they want people to know who they are and what they stand for, and slang helps to construct that identity.
22
We can say then that slang reflects the experiences, beliefs, and values of its speakers.
23
By using the slang associated with a particular social group, you're staking a claim to membership of that group.
24
Being in group denotes inclusion or acceptance because you play by the group's rules.
25
Being out group is the opposite.
26
It's being excluded.
27
Ever notice how non-native speakers are so eager to learn slang even before they have a basic grasp of the language?
28
Well, that's because it's a signal of integration, of membership.
29
I speak this language.
30
I belong.
31
In a word, slang is cohesive.
32
Now, let's look at the personal benefits of using slang.
33
First, when you use slang well, you show that you're in tune with the times, that you know what is culturally in fashion, and you're part of it.
34
Using slang makes you desirable.
35
The second benefit of using slang that you demonstrate your mastery of the situation.
36
You become an expert.
37
This is because slang is only used in certain settings, and knowing how and when to use it, or when not to use it,
38
gives you a kind of status.
39
A third benefit of using slang is that it allows you to share social and emotional experiences, so it reinforces your relationships.
40
For example, if you say to your friend, My new sound system is really safe.
41
You're saying more than just, it's very good.
42
Your use of slang equates sharing an emotional experience.
43
And a fourth benefit of using slang is, it's fun.
44
It's often humorous and very creative, like poetry.
45
The semanticist S.I.
46
Hayakawa actually described slang as the poetry of everyday life.
47
In other words, slang is also a form of play or entertainment.
48
So, what are the major inspirations for slang?
49
Well, there are a few that never seem to go out of fashion.
50
I'm talking about love and romance.
51
It's also used for emotional expressions of like and dislike, and you can probably think of dozens of them.
52
These particular slang terms seem to have a pretty short life.
53
They're being replaced by newer words and phrases all the time.
54
And like I said, if you want to stay cool, you've got to keep up with the changes.
55
But there's another category of slang term that's really taken off recently.
56
And that's the slang of new technology.
57
Things like personal computers, the internet, email, and mobile technology.
58
These things have become one of the richest sources of slang, and there are tons of websites designed to celebrate or decode that slang.
59
Here we see certain, often youthful communities, using this to distance themselves from the technologically challenged older generations.
60
So, we've seen what slang is, who uses it and why, and what inspires it, but what about the present day attitudes towards it?
61
Well, slang may be widespread and no longer taboo in the way it once was, but that doesn't mean everybody likes it.
62
Some see it as decadent and insist on associating it with groups they see as undesirable or uneducated.
63
They see themselves as guardians of the language and view any kind of change as change for the worse.
64
In my opinion, this is absurd.
65
I personally think slang is a sign of life, vibrancy, and beauty in language.
66
As I said at the outset, language is a living thing and will always change.
67
Yet, it seems like people are programmed to view any language change negatively.
68
Okay, so I'd like to summarize now today's main points with a quotation from linguist Tony Thorne who says,
69
Slang often performs an important social function,
70
which is to include into or exclude from the intimate circle.
71
So, yes, it may still have negative connotations, but slang is here to stay.
72
It even has taken on an aura of respectability by becoming the subject of serious academic study.
73
And why not?
74
As I've tried to show, it's a fascinating social and linguistic phenomenon.
75
It was an interesting lecture, but I have to say, I found a couple of parts confusing.
76
Really?
77
Like what?
78
Well, he said that language change is inevitable, right?
79
Yeah, it's like a living thing.
80
I guess that means all living things develop, change, you know?
81
Okay, and that we can't stop change from happening.
82
Is that how everyone took it?
83
So far we're with you.
84
But later he seemed to say that groups choose to change language.
85
That is, they use slang because they want to make a statement or create their own identities.
86
Yeah, okay.
87
So what's the confusion?
88
Well, presumably, if they can choose to change language by using slang, that means they can also choose not to use it.
89
Right?
90
And if they can choose not to use it...
91
Ah, then they're not changing.
92
They're choosing not to change the language.
93
It's a choice, you're saying.
94
I see your point.
95
Thank you.
96
So, isn't that a contradiction?
97
No, I don't think so.
98
What he meant was that language change will happen generally.
99
That there will always be events, groups, or someone out there playing with the language, creating slang.
100
Right.
101
Maybe it's because communication requires us to adapt to new conditions.
102
So we change the language to adapt.
103
That's the inevitable part.
104
It's going to happen.
105
History shows us that.
106
Oh, okay.
107
But it isn't inevitable in any particular group or in any particular case.
108
You're right about that.
109
Individuals have a choice about how they speak.
110
Makes sense?
111
Yeah, yeah.
112
I think I get it now.
113
Hey, thanks guys.
114
That was a sweet explanation.

Scarica l'app

Tutto ciò che serve per parlare fluentemente

Pronuncia con IAVoto per ogni frase
Pratica IPAPadroneggia ogni suono
VocabolarioCostruisci il tuo lessico
Gioco di vocabolarioImpara giocando

Stesso Canale

FOR YOU

Video consigliato

Vocabolario e note di pronuncia per questa lezione

Questo video contiene 114 frasi e 1230 parole da ripetere con lo shadowing. Il parlato dura 9:04. Chi parla mantiene un ritmo costante di circa 136 parole al minuto, comodo per lo shadowing. Il 83% delle parole rientra nelle 3.000 più comuni dell’inglese; conviene studiare le altre prima di iniziare.

Vocaboli chiave di questo video

15 parole del video che vale la pena imparare, con pronuncia e significato:

ParolaPronunciaSignificato
inevitable aggettivo/ɪˈnɛvɪtəbəl/inevitabile
adapt verbo/əˈdæpt/adattare
membership sostantivoiscrizione, appartenenza
poetry sostantivo/ˈpoʊ.ə.tɹi/poesia
everyday aggettivo/ˈɛvɹiˌdeɪ/quotidiano, giornaliero
belief sostantivo/bɪˈliːf/credito, credenza
explanation sostantivo/ˌɛkspləˈneɪʃən/spiegazione, esplicazione
inspiration sostantivo/ˌɪn.spɪˈɹeɪ.ʃən/inspirazione, inalazione
reflect verbo/ɹɪˈflɛkt/riflettere
expand verbo/ɪkˈspænd/estendere, espandere
romance sostantivo/roʊˈmæn(t)s/storia d'amore
underground aggettivo/ˌʌn.dəɹˈɡɹaʊnd/sotterraneo
define verbo/dɪˈfaɪn/definire, determinare
phrase sostantivo/ˈfɹeɪ̯z/espressione, polirematica
distinct aggettivo/dɪˈstɪŋkt/chiaro

I phrasal verb che sentirai

ParolaSignificato
keep up with verbotenere dietro a
take off verbotogliere

La grammatica di questo video

Le strutture che chi parla usa di più, con le parole esatte del video:

StrutturaNel video
Forma passiva be + participio passato — conta ciò che accade, non chi lo fais received · be associated · be understood
Present perfect have/has + participio passato — un’azione passata che conta ancora adessohave become · we've seen · has taken

Pronuncia a cui fare attenzione

Chi parla usa 21 contrazioni e forme ridotte, come you're, they're, I'm. Pronunciale nella forma breve, così come le senti.

  • I suoni “th”: youthful /ˈjuθfəl/, orthography /ɔɹˈθɑɡɹəfi/
  • I suoni “sh” e “zh”: associate /əˈsoʊʃi.ət/, explanation /ˌɛkspləˈneɪʃən/, inspiration /ˌɪn.spɪˈɹeɪ.ʃən/, integration /ˌɪn.tɪˈɡɹeɪ.ʃən/, confusion /kənˈfjuːʒən/
  • Parole lunghe — attenzione all’accento: inevitable /ɪˈnɛvɪtəbəl/, associate /əˈsoʊʃi.ət/, explanation /ˌɛkspləˈneɪʃən/, inspiration /ˌɪn.spɪˈɹeɪ.ʃən/, integration /ˌɪn.tɪˈɡɹeɪ.ʃən/

Come esercitarsi con questo video

  1. Ascolta tutto il video una volta senza parlare e annota le parole che non conosci.
  2. Fai shadowing frase per frase a velocità normale, ripetendo ognuna finché il tuo ritmo coincide con quello di chi parla.
  3. Registrati e confronta con l’originale, facendo attenzione a parole come inevitable, adapt, membership.

Cos'è la tecnica dello Shadowing?

Shadowing è una tecnica di apprendimento delle lingue supportata da studi scientifici, originariamente sviluppata per la formazione dei traduttori professionisti e resa popolare dal poliglotta Dr. Alexander Arguelles. Il metodo è semplice ma potente: ascolti un audio in inglese di madrelingua e lo ripeti immediatamente ad alta voce — come un'ombra che segue il parlante con un ritardo di solo 1–2 secondi. A differenza dell'ascolto passivo o degli esercizi di grammatica, lo shadowing costringe il tuo cervello e i muscoli della bocca a elaborare e riprodurre simultaneamente i modelli di discorso reale. La ricerca dimostra che migliora significativamente la precisione della pronuncia, l'intonazione, il ritmo, il discorso connesso, la comprensione dell'ascolto e la fluidità del parlato — rendendolo uno dei metodi più efficaci per la preparazione alla prova di speaking dell'IELTS e per la comunicazione reale in inglese.

Tecnica dello shadowing: leggi la guida completa passo dopo passo →