Unit I Title: ​World Englishes and Global Communication

Lesson 2: ​Standard and Nonstandard English

Duration: ​1.5 Hours

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Introduction: 
 
“Proficiency in English Language is the key to academic success”
​– San Diego State University

Grammar basically operates in phrases, in clauses, and in sentences, and a phrase or a sentence
to operate needs series of items called words. You cannot speak nor write well unless you choose
every word carefully. Your choice and use of words and the way you put them on paper reveal your
values, education, family and social standing.

To be a good writer, you must be familiar with the commonly recognized levels of usage: The
Standard English and the Substandard (or nonstandard) English. The level of usage you choose
gets its vigor and effect from certain considerations: your targeted audience, your purpose, and the
occasion.

Objectives: 

● Compare standard and nonstandard English.

● Describe the different characteristics of standard and nonstandard English.
● Explain the common features of formal and Informal language.
● Describe communication situations which call for formal language and which call for informal
language.

Pretest: 

publicdomainpictures.net
Identify the meaning of the italicized word, or phrase as standard usage or substandard usage. Write
your answer on the blank provided before each number​. 
_______________1. Don’t you think that’s the ​baddest​ outfit you’ve ever worn?
_______________2. Carol is ​a full-pledged​ certified public accountant.
_______________3. I ​can’t hardly understand why Ferdie would cut class when he admires the
professor.
_______________4. Her red scarf ​complemented​ her outfit.
 _______________5. She felt ​good​ about the project, but she did not feel ​well​ enough to go to work.
_______________6. They ​haven’t finished​ building those apartment yet.
_______________7​. Irregardless​ of what he said, that law has done been repeated.
_______________8. I hope you did not ​lose​ my computer files again!
_______________9. Myla expects to win ​easily​.
​10. My brother, ​hisself​, did the research well.

Lesson Proper 

 
charlietalks.tech.blog 
 
ACTIVITY 

Exercise involving mobile learning / online discussion, an inter-class texting/chatting session.

Students are requested to text or to chat someone about something that is relevant to what they are
doing in class. This encourages the students to synthesize and to make interconnection of the information
they gained during a class discussion. For example “What was the most challenging point/lecture in today/
last session’s class?” or “What questions do you still have about today/ last session’s lecture?”

ANALYSIS 

 
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Standard English 

Standard English is the most highly polished form of spoken and written English used by educated
people. It has prestige and status and is considered as the most desirable form of language. Writers and
speakers who use standard English have a much better choice of understanding and being understood,
and of getting what they want. Moreover, no matter what kind of job you prepare yourself after college, you
need to know standard English to keep abreast with this ‘age of information’. Otherwise, you are likely to be
left behind, confined to hard manual labor which offers few challenges and less financial rewards (Langan,
2003).

Language specialists maintain that Standard English has the following identifying characteristics: 
1. The working language in the academe, in the government, in business, and in media
2. A variety of English held by many to be “correct” in the sense that it shows none of the regional or other
variations that are considered by some to be ungrammatical or nonstandard.
3. The language most widely used, understood, accepted, and valued in any English speaking countries.
4. The language that is especially important in written English. It contains uniform spelling, standard usage,
conventional sentence and paragraph structure, and consistent punctuations.
5. The language easiest to recognize in print because written conventions are common world-wide
6. It is used by educated people whose language conventions are respected and who carry on the
important affairs in the world
 
Examples: 
My part-time job limits my study time. Liza failed her grammar test yesterday.
Cats and dogs are sometimes the best of friends. He is the taller of the two.

Nonstandard (or substandard) English is a variety of English that is mark ‘incorrect’ because it does not

follow rules and guidelines of Standard English. Uses of nonstandard English in formal or scholarly settings
can damage your credibility, discredit the value of your message, and alienate your audience.

Language specialists identify nonstandard English in the following characteristics: 

1​. The language of the uneducated. It is loaded with grammatical errors, misspellings, misused
punctuations, slang and clichés. 
2. A variety of English characterized by grammatical features and vocabulary which are typical of a
particular geographical area.
3. A language that uses expressions and grammatical constructions not normally used by educated
people.
4. A variety of English that differs greatly from the standard.
5. A language that contains expressions usually taken as a sign of inferior social and academic
background.

Examples: 
Me and my friend drink milk.
You done it, did you?
Double dead meat are sold in small markets.

The following are among the principal types of nonstandard usage:

1. Errors in agreement, case, and tense
Examples:
I doesn’t understand the lesson.
Me and my classmates were late.

2. Double or multiple negatives.

Examples:
I can’t hardly understand the letter. We ain’t done nothing.
3. Double comparatives or superlatives
Example:
Mother is the most kindest woman I know.
Athletes walk more faster than the students.

4. Errors in the formation of reflexive pronouns Examples:

He hisself did it.
They submit the letter theirselves.

5. Cliches or overused expressions. Examples:

She is head over heels in love with you.
Every dark cloud has a silver lining.

6. Redundancy
Examples:
Don’t repeat it again.
This is unexpected surprise.

Some expressions considered substandard which are frequently heard in the speech and seen in the
writings of even educated people are off of, irregardless, not unless, can’t hardly., attached herewith, kind
consideration, entering into.
Substandard English (mostly spoken) is commonly used in playful conversations of many people in their
work and personal affairs, dialogues in plays, stories, skits, and comic strips.

It should be noted, however, that standard and substandard levels of usage have significant roles in
communication as long as they fit your audience, serve your purpose, and match the occasion. Moreover, it
is possible that some expressions or meanings labeled substandard today may become standard in the
future, just as what are labeled standard today may become nonstandard.

ABSTRACTION 

 
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Each of the following sentences contains an error in usage. Using standard English write each sentence
correctly.

1. Both runner-ups complained about the winner’s behavior.

_________________________________________________________________

2. Me and my friend like dancing.

_________________________________________________________________
3. The price has already been lowered down.
_________________________________________________________________

4. Stand here besides me.

_________________________________________________________________

5. Between Baguio and Palawan, Baguio is most popular.

_________________________________________________________________

6. My brother, hisself, do the research well.

_____________________________________________________________

7. I don’t like no vegetables.

_________________________________________________________________

8. Everybody are thinking he has something to proud of.

_________________________________________________________________

9. We repeat again our assignment.

_________________________________________________________________

10. The train left the station at 8 p.m. in the evening.

______________________________________________________________

APPLICATION 
Anti-Bullying Activity: Social Situations
This teaches students to help themselves in the face of bullies and encourages problem-
solving and positive social interactions.
The following bully-type situations are posted. Ask students to select one of the situations
and explain how they might deal with the problem.
1. Someone repeatedly calls you “names”.
2. Someone makes fun of the way you are dressed.
3. Someone threatens to physically hurt you.
4. Someone repeatedly pushes you in line.
5. Someone makes fun of your skin color.
6. Someone repeatedly excludes from the group.
7. Someone keeps hiding your belongings and thinks it’s funny.
Reflection 

 
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What does it mean to say you should use language appropriately in your speeches and in your writing?
 
 
 
 
Suggested Readings 
 
James D. Williams, ​The Teacher's Grammar Book​, 2nd ed. Routledge, 2005 
https://www.theschoolrun.com/what-is-standard-english 
https://www.grammar.com/standard_and_non-standard_english 
https://www.thoughtco.com/world-englishes-1692509 
https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-nonstandard-english-1691438