A critical social semiotic study of the word chav in British written public discourse, 2004-8
This thesis explores the use of the word chav in written discourse in Britain published between 2004 and 2008. Taking a critical social semiotic approach, it discusses how chav as a semiotic resource contributes to particular ways of using language to represent the world â Discourses â and to particular ways of using language to act on the world â Genres â suggesting that, though the word is far from homogenous in its use, it is consistently used to identify the public differences of Britain as a class society in terms of personal dispositions and choices, and in taking an ironic, stereotyped stance towards such differences. It is suggested that these tendencies can be viewed as ideological, as contributing to social domination and inequality. Chav is also found to be subject to a great deal of metalinguistic discussion, some of which serves to critique the above tendencies, but much of which does not.
Bennett, Joe
P Philology. Linguistics ; PE English
A critical social semiotic study of the word chav in British written public discourse, 2004-8. This thesis explores the use of the word chav in written discourse in Britain published between 2004 and 2008. Taking a critical social semiotic approach, it discusses how chav as a semiotic resource contributes to particular ways of using language to represent the world â Discourses â and to particular ways of using language to act on the world â Genres â suggesting that, though the word is far from homogenous in its use, it is consistently used to identify the public differences of Britain as a class society in terms of personal dispositions and choices, and in taking an ironic, stereotyped stance towards such differences. It is suggested that these tendencies can be viewed as ideological, as contributing to social domination and inequality. Chav is also found to be subject to a great deal of metalinguistic discussion, some of which serves to critique the above tendencies, but much of which does not.
critical social_semiotic study word british write public_discourse explores use_word write_discourse britain publish taking critical social_semiotic discuss semiotic resource contributes particular_way use language represent_world discourses particular_way use language act world genres though word far homogenous use consistently use_identify public difference britain class society term personal disposition choice take ironic stereotype stance towards difference suggest tendency view ideological contribute social domination inequality also_find subject great_deal metalinguistic discussion serve critique tendency much