SOCIAL AND CULTURAL BASES FOR LANGUAGE IDEOLOGIES (on the example of English language)

Abstract

Language is a basic manifestation of human being and his/her place in society. The form of language existence and trajectory of its development are influenced (among other things) by the nature of socio-political relations among its native speakers. The article discusses social and linguistic features of the English language functioning on the territory of two major centers of English – USA and Great Britain (compared). It shows that perception of the speech Norm and the degree of deviation from it differ in these countries. This fact is the result of cultural and historical events which underlie the formation of socio-political attitudes and influence the language. The difference is not only in linguistic characteristics of the language Norm/Standard in these countries but also in the character of its social markedness. In Britain language hierarchy is based on class division of British society where Standard English is characteristic of High class. In USA it is based on national or racial prejudice and is the result of long-standing discriminating language policy which is aimed at strengthening the role of Standard English as the language of Caucasian majority. Political, historical and cultural factors along with autonomy of language development in these countries underlie language ideologies and socio-political attitudes that divide people on the basis of race (USA) or class (Great Britain). Covert prestige of language standard gave rise to resistance of Standard English to the influence from the outside.