Representations of linguistic variation in children's books: register stylisation as a resource for (critical) language awareness

Abstract

By drawing upon the dialogic theory of Bakhtin, I consider how register variation is represented in the children's books by the popular Greek writer Dr. Eugene Trivizas, with the aim to explore whether, and in what terms, it could be exploited for the raising of (critical) language awareness. Most sociolinguistic studies which have used literature as data have focused on more or less ‘accurate’ representations of linguistic variation. The present study indicates that strategically deauthenticated depictions of register variation exploited for humour could still be used as a resource for raising children's (critical) language awareness. Register humour as a case of stylisation involves a reauthentic linguistic behaviour, since the reader should have recourse to shared scripts about what a specific register involves and under what circumstances it is employed, in order for him/her to resolve the script opposition, and hence, to appreciate humour. Stylisation is extensively employed by the cultural products of postmodernism. Moreover, it contributes to the adoption of a reflexive stance towards linguistic conventions, which is necessary for their critical use on the part of future citizens.

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