Hi from Toronto Dear Steemit community,
Today I am not talking about any museum, any park, any part of the city, building etc. The topic in this post would be different not a specific destination but one of the reasons why I am here in Toronto.
To combine English language, working also on translations, and obviously visit as much as possible North America.
To learn to this language required hard works, time and fortunately travel but I am still not happy with that. Yes, we never stopped to learn. But why here if I lived already two years in Australia? Of course simple-minded answer: because North America is not Australia. What do I mean?
Let's go deeply through the topic and focus on the language. Many Stemmians are English native speakers here and they travelled much more than me. I am sure they know what I mean when I simply say: the English spoken in Canada is not exactly the same spoken in Australia or in India, or in Ireland or in Britain or any other English countries. It is a global language, of course (everybody knows about that). "There is some difference but still the same language". ( This is a short part of a conversation occurred between me an English teacher here in Toronto).
The standardised one is the same I agree. Well, what I mean for standardised one? A codified form of a language accepted by and serving as a model to a larger speech community. I would say also neutral speech.
In other words, a standard form which standard form of a language is that dialect which is most often associated with specific groups (usually educated people or people having high status and authority within the society). The power of a standard variety derives from historical accident and convention.
Different cultures with different spoken form of a language are not uniform entities but may vary according to (respectively) the area any people have his origin. Language varies systematically is one of the central concerns of sociolinguistics. According to the context time an individual.
Toronto like probably the rest of Canada (which I have not visited yet) and Australia are just some an example of this theory which is not mine but from who more than me studied Sociolinguistics. A subject which I discovered through my studies at my university. One of the reasons why I am here
Sociolinguistics is nothing but a combination of sociology and linguistics. Sociology which basically studies the society in terms of class, ethnicity or regional or economic characteristics and linguistics. The “community” intended as shared knowledge, possession and behaviours. Linguistics draw attention to another dimension of social organization by using the term speech community That language practices may be equally diagnostic of the social coherence of a group and maybe a more natural boundary for sociolinguistic study than, say geographical cohesion alone.
My learning experience from my studies of this language and living in English countries is not only from the theory to the practice but consists of have different ears and have different eyes.
I should share this story occurred in my hometown before my stay in any English countries(I think is funny and unforgettable) I met two people in a pub having a hard discussion about the pronunciation of the word “Herb” for at least 5 minutes and about the H pronunciation. (Me and a friend of mine we were in two tables between them). Until one of them asked me how I pronounce that word. Once I pronounced it One of them said listen to him I was right. The other one got from the pocket a British dictionary. Me: Ok now could I just ask you where are you from? One was from North Carolina USA and one from Australia. Through this situation I realize that there are some evident differences in speech.
After such a short time it is too early for any comparison. We should take for granted that the climate is completely different. But surprisingly Toronto has the same latitude as northern Italy but it has also lower average temperature and some brutal snowstorms during the January and February. I am here also to experience that I do not mind. We travel also to see differences I never stop to say that.
If anything is clear please feel free to ask or also if you have any opinion, or idea or further information about it feel free to comment.
Thanks for your attention
Best Regards
Sources
Introduction Sociolinguistic Rajend Mesthrie, Joan Swann