Academic English - Prof. David Crystal on standard vs. non-standard English

In this short extract Prof. David Crystal sets the background to the discussion about standard and non-standard English. Watch the full lecture and practise your lecture skills at www.cambridge.org/elt/lectureC1.

Пікірлер: 88

  • @CambridgeUPELT
    @CambridgeUPELT2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for watching this video! From 25th April 2022, we won’t be sharing any new content on this channel. We’d love for you to join us over at kzread.info for lots more English teaching and learning content.

  • @carolyncross9950
    @carolyncross99504 жыл бұрын

    I could listen to this man speaking all day long.

  • @juliusbernotas
    @juliusbernotas8 жыл бұрын

    I've been taught English in school for 11 years, have been watching English TV, cartoons and movies, and when I visited England (North, who are famous for being hard to understand), I found out , that I can barely understand anything they say. Because my non-native English teachers had an accent of their own (Lithuania), and all I heard on TV was either RP, or a clean American variety. I still have to struggle to understand native English speakers. Of course, standard English may be not the most used, but it is the nicest sounding. This man's language is wonderful, for example.

  • @LaraCantos

    @LaraCantos

    8 жыл бұрын

    +Julius Bernotas What he is trying to say here is exactly the fact that you consider it to be the nicest sounding, that is most people's attitude towards Standard Englishes. However, for a linguist, especially a sociolinguist, standard versions of English, as well as non-standard version are the same and just as nice sounding. What he is considering here is that we are conditioned to consider this Variety as the most "beautifully sounding" one, but without any specific reasoning behind our taste, completely arbitrary.

  • @shaun1293

    @shaun1293

    6 жыл бұрын

    Julius Bernotas how North did you go?

  • @mohammedali-bw1yw

    @mohammedali-bw1yw

    6 жыл бұрын

    When I have taught English language for the first time that it was available for me to compared between American accent and England accent in order to choice the easier and simply one really what I have founded that American accent it's so easy than the other one and after this reference I have started to be with American accent that mean firstly we should choice one and focusing in it .

  • @NOWADAYSENGLISHPARE

    @NOWADAYSENGLISHPARE

    6 жыл бұрын

    it may sounds good because their accent is the first sound we know since the first we learn it. so if it will not be fair because the English we use so far seems as a language imperialism. and we have to consider much in its implication towards its teaching in non English country...

  • @katephilbin5923

    @katephilbin5923

    5 жыл бұрын

    According to Wikipedia Prof David Crystal is originally from Northern Ireland and as an infant moved with his family to the North of England - his accent is definitely Northern English. Some of us are understandable, clearly. 😂

  • @zhabbah
    @zhabbah11 жыл бұрын

    He truly is an outstanding lecturer.

  • @-optimist-2697
    @-optimist-26978 жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much, I teach ESL and I'd love to show this video to my students. They would have a more realistic point of view when learning English.

  • @charleswilson4639
    @charleswilson463910 жыл бұрын

    @Susie Crawfish To a certain extent. But David Crystal is also a "native" speaker of 'Standard' English, insofar as one may be "native" to 'Standard' English. And as much as he argues that 'non-standard' English has a right to exist, he is not saying that 'Standard' English does not. He is arguing the point that all varieties of English have a right to exist, and is trying to challenge and undermine language prejudice. After all, it's a form of discrimination that is often overlooked. We would never tolerate discrimination of gender, race, religion, or sexual identity, so how is language, another aspect of human identity, any different, really? When you look at David Crystal's work more carefully, and don't just make assumptions by watching this short clip, which in no way reflect his entire life's work, you understand that he argues that 'Standard' English is required for communication, but having a 'communication variety' of English does not mean that other varieties are illegitimate, or that the speakers of other varieties are somewhat devoid of intelligence, and should therefore be excluded from society, business, and indeed academic research. Further, one does have to play the game a little to get one's message across. Language prejudice still exists. And for David Crystal to make his arguments, he needs to elicit trust and respect from the academic community. So, his use of 'Standard' English is manifold. And like all fields of study connected with the understanding of human behaviour, the decisions - conscious and subconscious - to perform in certain manners is neither binary nor explained simply.

  • @sgt7
    @sgt73 жыл бұрын

    I think standard English is understood more widely than other dialects. In this specific way, I think it has real superiority. If one speaks with a strong local accent they will not be understood well in other regions whereas someone using standard English can be understood anywhere in the English speaking world.

  • @87JuliR
    @87JuliR9 жыл бұрын

    As a non-native speaker of English, I couldn't agree more. We get out of college thinking we have to use books vocabulary, and then we feel lost when it comes to facing the English of the real world. It happened to me. I made an effort to speak correctly and I sounded like an idiot.

  • @susiecrawfish5363
    @susiecrawfish536310 жыл бұрын

    Prof. Crystal uses Standard English for his lectures. I assume this is because he wants as many people as possible to actually understand what he is saying.

  • @NightDoge

    @NightDoge

    5 жыл бұрын

    Poppy Moppet -- Well of course, but that does not contradict or undermine his message. By analogy the language of law and science for most of European history was Latin, but that didn't undermine or contradict the beauty or uniqueness of Italian or French.

  • @MarcoCastilloVideos
    @MarcoCastilloVideos2 ай бұрын

    Great talk, thank you professor 👏🏽

  • @ehaabalmadany3699
    @ehaabalmadany36997 жыл бұрын

    it is very important to use standard form of english if you want to e understood by others it is like key feature which bring all people on the common ground

  • @AG-rb9hh
    @AG-rb9hh5 жыл бұрын

    I don't know much about what Standard English means for,but in my own opinion English is a language which has been a global language for communication in today's world.So I think We should know atleast one variety of English accent that suffices us to communicate with all English speaking world no matter the stardard is average but our ultimate goal is to communicate.

  • @spiderjump
    @spiderjump6 жыл бұрын

    A: " lunch you eat what?" The above is an example of singaporean style English or Singlish. Locals will use it among themselves in informal settings. Lunch you eat what is a direct transcription from mandarin " 午餐你吃什么? Singaporeans will use " proper" English at work esp when they deal with clients and foreigners.

  • @MishuleZ

    @MishuleZ

    3 жыл бұрын

    Oh yeah, you're right! I used to be so confused when someone speaking Singlish had approached me... I remember Singaporeans saying okay-la all the time! :)

  • @BB8enjoyer
    @BB8enjoyer6 жыл бұрын

    This guy makes me feel like we speak a different language

  • @user-xt9jq4kc2k
    @user-xt9jq4kc2k8 жыл бұрын

    In Standard English , two negative are understood to resolve to a positive. This rule was observed as early as 1762, when Bishop Robert Lowth wrote "A Short Introduction to English Grammar with Critical Notes". For instance, I do not disgree." means "I certainly agree." Most people know that there is Standard English in the world from then until now, but the Standard English is also a minority dialect now. Actually, I have read a book about Kachru's opinion toward Standard English and I agree with his statement against Standard English and the ownership because I think that the importance of languages is used to communicate well. In other words, speaking fluently is more important than speaking accurately. Moreover, there is a variety of people from different cultures live in the world, speaking English with different accent or ways. However, I think that no matter people from all over the world speak what kind of English, they can communicate well is the most important thing. Therefore, I also agree with the opinion of professor David Crystal. Furthermore, I think English can be International Language because it is Lingua franca in today's world.

  • @lucias1276
    @lucias1276 Жыл бұрын

    Is there a full version?

  • @user-db7cq9eo4r
    @user-db7cq9eo4r8 жыл бұрын

    I think standard English is just a language that we can see in English book or what teachers teach to us. It’s the language we use only about academic. Non-Standard English is what most of us use and is all about the place we grew up in. It’s about our culture. Most of the people in the world still use non-standard English.

  • @TheSlytherinspy1960
    @TheSlytherinspy196011 жыл бұрын

    i like the way you talk

  • @alanpachecoosuna3277
    @alanpachecoosuna32775 жыл бұрын

    This information might be very helpful for my dissertation.

  • @lucias1276

    @lucias1276

    Жыл бұрын

    What was your dissertation about?

  • @jiahuang2524
    @jiahuang25248 жыл бұрын

    StID:10316015 I felt that if I talk with other in non-standard, some people may not understand what I say. But if I use standard language to speak to everyone, it may be knew by more people. So, I think that sometimes we have to learn some standard.

  • @bigfatpig840812
    @bigfatpig8408128 жыл бұрын

    STID : 10218236 The professor said, standard English is the minority dialect. On normal occasion, we have to use standard English . However, we can use spoken language on other plance. By the way, written English is also a minorrity. In my opinion, most people seldom use written English except for student about academic or English. Nowaday, many people use different kinds of English. They maybe cultures and languages of different country. Therefore, I think they can creat a common English. Besides, they are able to preserve their original English.

  • @JesseBlackAllen
    @JesseBlackAllen10 жыл бұрын

    Please fix the typo in the brief description that accompanies the video. dilects --> dialects Thank you for sharing this video!

  • @user-iw6pw6vl3z
    @user-iw6pw6vl3z8 жыл бұрын

    STID:10316051 Reading English for the first time absolutely standard work and this is what he say. Prof. Crystal uses Standard English for his lectures and I agree with this opinions.

  • @manaraction814
    @manaraction8146 жыл бұрын

    Thanks

  • @bluntintro6435
    @bluntintro64359 жыл бұрын

    There will always be sociolects... non-standard English. And standard English within a white-collar environment. And both varieties will expand and change over time.

  • @user-ts6pt6is5e
    @user-ts6pt6is5e8 жыл бұрын

    STID:10316026 I will choose Non Standard English. It seems that I can use the vocabularies in the text books, but I actually don't use them often.

  • @MrDen-lv5uj
    @MrDen-lv5uj Жыл бұрын

    Dialects are fine and can be found in all languages. But...when one hears someone speaking non-standard English and its dialects, there is a feeling that it's a different language, which is quite difficult to understand.

  • @Nao-ct3gm
    @Nao-ct3gm8 жыл бұрын

    我認同professor David Crystal的說法"Standard English is the minority dialect",在語言方面本來就沒有單一標準,舉例來說:學生的發音或是文法方面若是不符合主流標準,也不是不好的現象。但是在教學方面為了方便老師評分,我認為導師可以適時的糾正學生的錯誤。(STID:10216005)

  • @jcpmac1
    @jcpmac19 жыл бұрын

    The subject of standard English seems to be one that particularly vexes the the British only. We tie ourselves in knots over it. English speakers elsewhere in the world seem quite happy - perhaps even relieved - that a universal standard exists. Some have told me they regard it as Classical English, though of course that is a perception. For the British, though, standard English represents, and cannot be separated from, class devision: it is exclusive, the perceived speech of the ruling class, the privileged. Those who speak English as a second language, though, are not tainted by this prejudice, and can take the dispassionate view that without a standard, comprehension would perhaps be close to impossible and conversation limiting. Arabic speakers, to take one example, appear to have no such similar problem. They rely on standard Egyptian Arabic in order that they can be understood anywhere in the Arabic-speaking world. Even this discussion would puzzle most of the world, I'll bet.

  • @marleenbosma5620

    @marleenbosma5620

    9 жыл бұрын

    It is not standard for the British, within Britain are also varieties. Not even William speaks standard English, he speaks some kind of street-variety from London.

  • @sgt7

    @sgt7

    3 жыл бұрын

    I agree that standard English travels much better and is understood better. This must be acknowledged. It is the prestige that we should attach to those who speak that is the issue I think. Also, the fact that it is considered correct. However, it is quite right to state facts about it such as the fact that it is understood more widely.

  • @yutzuliu691
    @yutzuliu6918 жыл бұрын

    STID: 10216053 Standard English most used in the articles or papers now. I prefer non-standard English. Nowadays, most people use non-standard English more than Standard English. We use non-standard English in spoken language. Some people think Standard English is too formal and not applicable to use in general life.

  • @alikobair4685
    @alikobair46853 жыл бұрын

    Standard English makes me feel relax,because it is the original

  • @manaraction814
    @manaraction8146 жыл бұрын

    Yes

  • @user-oy6jr3kn3b
    @user-oy6jr3kn3b8 жыл бұрын

    STID: 10216011 I always speak or writing double negative. When the teacher says some foreigner student and Prof. David says some people still speaking double negative in the world. I think I don't need to worry speak English to foreigner. Maybe now my article have double negatives. Because English is not my mother tongue, I will talk direct English, and not think about grammar. But our English education use standard English, so I think I still need to change my English grammar.

  • @alaasukar5396
    @alaasukar53964 жыл бұрын

    Interesting

  • @user-vv6vu2xp9o
    @user-vv6vu2xp9o8 жыл бұрын

    STID 10316024 Standard English is an official language to everyone, but in my opinion I thought that weather standard or non-standard English isn't too important to normal citizen. Communication is the final purpose of language. Don't over correct peoples' non-standard English, but u can tell them they way you speak standard English.

  • @user-br5xc7vj9j

    @user-br5xc7vj9j

    2 жыл бұрын

    You are right.

  • @user-oh8py9mt6j
    @user-oh8py9mt6j8 жыл бұрын

    STID10316014 English has different kind of type, such us American English, UK English, Canada English and Singapore English. Each country has their own standard on language. I think Non standard English can let people not afraid to communication. No matter standard or not standard are not important to everyone now.

  • @respectfulcritique3684
    @respectfulcritique3684 Жыл бұрын

    English is standardized for a reason. Communication.

  • @shu-sianliao4881
    @shu-sianliao48818 жыл бұрын

    STID: 10216020 In my opinion, English teacher can correct students who use non-standard English in English class hardly because people use language to communicate, and it's not so important to use standard English. Maybe most people has stereotype that standard English is mainstream, but just about only one percent people use it. Prof. David Crystal's speech break my myth that other dialects are non-mainstream.

  • @RonnDon
    @RonnDon11 жыл бұрын

    Also if I speak in Standard English I will lose my mates, :C.

  • @RonnDon
    @RonnDon11 жыл бұрын

    I choose Non Standard English, makes me feel good.

  • @markenlightenment7101
    @markenlightenment71016 жыл бұрын

    The issue with not having a standard is, 'what' should we learn? Should I as an Arab teacher, teach all different varieties of English e.g. Engrish, Arabglish, cockney etc.? I believe as a solution we should accept that some -actually most- speakers (Whether native or not) will not be able to acquire a full standard accent, but a large percentage could acquire near standard accents specially for formal uses, even Prince Harry does not have a standard accent but he 'standardises' as much as he could in formal uses, this is also the current use of modern English so it is not prescription, even professor Crystal has a Wales flavoured RP accent which he -and quite perfectly- standardises as much as he could in his beautiful interviews. In Arabic, our dialects are quite chaotic and the dialect we move change to (MLA) when someone does not understand us is at the lowest possible prestige imaginable, people at least will believe it is odd that you use it, laugh at you or at the very extreme believe you are 'retarded', I do not see standard English as having such a low prestige as MLA does. Some may argue -and they are right- that there is no connection between accent/dialect and social status, but the social view is not and not having something accepted socially is as bad as not having one My view: While considering full RP/GA from everyone is a little 'too much', Near-RP/GA should have a greater acceptance, many English accents are very chaotic and widespread to be accepted.

  • @user-hh1hk8sf9y
    @user-hh1hk8sf9y8 жыл бұрын

    STID 111040 (10316010) According to Prof. David Crystal, "perhaps one percent of the English speaker of the world use standard English." I think whether I say standard English or not, I can talk to English speaker, even I say the wrong English grammar, native English speaker can understand what I mean.

  • @yiwenchang4072
    @yiwenchang40728 жыл бұрын

    Double negatives are two negative words used in the same sentence. And double negatives are not encouraged in English because they are poor grammar and they can be confusing. But people know that what are talking about that is find. STID 10316036

  • @eunicekuo9963
    @eunicekuo99638 жыл бұрын

    STID10316042 I will choose Non Standard English. because if we have conversation with other people it will be easier to understand what people talk about.

  • @user-me8uz1wo1t
    @user-me8uz1wo1t8 жыл бұрын

    STID: 10116040 According to Prof. David Crystal, standard English is a wrong cognition, and I agree with this opinions. Because people who live different places have their own lifestyles, and these may make them to produce different way of speaking. Therefore, world Englishes have been produced.

  • @mehali384
    @mehali38410 жыл бұрын

    Subtitle or Transcription

  • @user-hu4vp1te5x
    @user-hu4vp1te5x8 жыл бұрын

    STID:10316004 We should learn standard English to improve our non standard English. We should change the way for our speaking and writing. If we have to understand, we should identify the using between non standard English and standard English that is important.

  • @sreejithsreejith9813

    @sreejithsreejith9813

    6 жыл бұрын

    its rather important to speak standard English, but first, be fluent then think about which I speak whether standard or nonstandard then keep practicing for standard. in my view , should always think about our improvement. thanks a lot

  • @user-cb3wr7iz8v
    @user-cb3wr7iz8v8 жыл бұрын

    STID 10316049 When children learn English, most of them have a problem that is double negative.In my opinion, I support standard English. But non-standard English still necessity to exist.

  • @clivegoodman16

    @clivegoodman16

    3 жыл бұрын

    In many languages the double negative is the standard - for example in Russian and Spanish.

  • @sahulhameed9898
    @sahulhameed98984 жыл бұрын

    He speaks some words, swallows many.

  • @susanbenson6658
    @susanbenson66584 жыл бұрын

    I find the numerous errors in the captions/transcript very off-putting

  • @CambridgeUPELT

    @CambridgeUPELT

    4 жыл бұрын

    Hi Susan, Thank you for the feedback, we are working to include transcripts in our new videos but haven't yet managed to complete them for the older videos in our back catalogue. We hope to amend this soon.

  • @vankieunguyen5337

    @vankieunguyen5337

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@CambridgeUPELT Could you give me full video and transcripts ? . So I want to study it

  • @vankieunguyen5337

    @vankieunguyen5337

    4 жыл бұрын

    My e-mail: kieunv2995@gmail.com

  • @user-xu8nd4gd9d
    @user-xu8nd4gd9d8 жыл бұрын

    standard English is whatever form of the English is accepted as a national norm in any English-speaking country. it concludes grammar, vocabulary and spelling. in English speaking countries, England and Wales are received pronunciation and United Kingdom standard English , which refers to grammar and vocabulary. Scotland called Scottish Standard English; United States called General American;Australia called General Australian. however, on the contrary, non standard English refers to any dialect of English other than standard English and can be bad or incorrect English. for example, in British English, we was in place of we were and if i was you in place of if i were you. in American English, some slangs are appeared in movies and songs or conversations such as kinda( kind of)and wanna( want to). in conclusion, standard English can be accepted by nationality and people could interact precisely. as for non standard English, we may hope there's some improvements to change some day.

  • @chrisflowers1601
    @chrisflowers160122 күн бұрын

    real world henry higgins

  • @Huhuula
    @Huhuula8 жыл бұрын

    STID: 111040 (10116005) I think we should communicate with non-standard English instead of standard English. The idea is more important than language. We can communicate with many languages, such as finger language. We don't restrict to standard English. The language was influenced by other languages. It could be changed, it could never stand forever. On the other hand, teacher are also teach us standard English because we should read book , newspaper or news on TV. In my opinion, non-standard English apply to communicate and standard English apply to learn, write and read.

  • @evangelistacesariotocomere6993
    @evangelistacesariotocomere69934 жыл бұрын

    GOOD EVERNING ITS ME YOUR FRIEND

  • @juniorsr197

    @juniorsr197

    3 жыл бұрын

    HI

  • @perplex7838
    @perplex78384 жыл бұрын

    West Bridgford School wya

  • @whosminou

    @whosminou

    3 жыл бұрын

    hey-

  • @sahulhameed9898
    @sahulhameed98984 жыл бұрын

    Most boring lecture. May God save the audience!

  • @basavanyappat2754
    @basavanyappat27547 жыл бұрын

    I don't agree with Mr. David. Everyone can't learn to speak standard English and it is not so easy to learn. Just for their inability to learn to speak standard English, many, specially Indians argue 'We are Indians, so proud of to speak Indian English', where actually there is no Indian English as such at the international level. Whatever English is spoken by Indians is Indian English. It is blind pride to praise ourselves to hide our weakness David visits I can show him tens of Englishes here.

  • @ice9tom

    @ice9tom

    7 жыл бұрын

    Interesting point of view.

  • @BluetonicUK28

    @BluetonicUK28

    7 жыл бұрын

    Erm, he isn't saying everyone should learn to speak standard English. I think you have misunderstood this video.

  • @infinitafenix3153

    @infinitafenix3153

    6 жыл бұрын

    I'm afraid you completely missed his point. He is stating that all kinds of varieties of English are equally important, however, the so-called Standard English has always been the 'reference' due to social, historical and political prejudices. Fortunately, nowadays we are witnessing a more democratic approach to language on the linguists' side.

  • @EUGIEism
    @EUGIEism3 жыл бұрын

    So boring