Covert Converge Of Love Between National Identity And Overt Prestiges

What we have here is a constant tug-of-love between the overt prestiges of the [language of] high status groups, symbolically the wider community, versus the covert prestige of the [language of] local, non-prestige groups” (Kate Burridge). Discuss in relation to language us in contemporary Australian society.

Language is not monochromatic, and is comprised of many distinctive varieties. Some are ‘associated with power, education and wealth’, while other varieties may demonstrate ‘a prestige of its own, a covert or hidden prestige’ (Kate Burridge, 2003). In every form of communication there is a conflict of choice, to choose either one or the other. At times, the use of overt prestige is preferred for the expression of identity. Other times,

Covert prestige covers the linguistic features that are unique to different social groups, and act as markers of membership. In addition, these features only carry prestige in their own groups, outside, they hold no unique semantic value. For many groups, covert prestige can be represented by Jargon or slang. Teenage language, for example, will exhibit a range of lexemes that identify those who belong in the age group and exclude those outside of the social group. The implementation of neologisms and acronyms (eg. ‘YOLO’ or ‘swag’) is pivotal in the maintenance of teenage identity and group membership. Furthermore, Speakers of ethnolects will also employ covert prestige to establish their own ethnical identity by adopting some features of their mother tongue into their English. The prosodic features of breaking up poly-syllabic utterances into mono-syllabic phonemes in spoken discourse is common in Chinese ethnolect speakers. This prosodic features acts as an in-group marker, allowing for rapport to be established with members of the same group whilst proclaiming their ethnic identity to the wider population. Covert prestige in Aboriginal English is a means for members to communicate and assert their cultural heritage and identity. The use of unique lexemes that carry different semantic connotations is evident in the lexis of Aboriginal Australian English. The exposure of lexemes associated to kinship and family (eg. ‘auntie’ and ‘budda’), reflects a culture that values an extended family, can be contrasted deeply with the western values of a nuclear family. Covert prestige is key in the establishment of group and individual