Skip to main content

Spoken English and Broken English by George Bernard Summary in English

The essay "Spoken English and Broken English" by George Bernard Shaw is a written version of a radio interview that was broadcast in 1927. This essay seeks to discuss how to speak English to a foreign English language learner when we visit the British Commonwealth, the United States, or encounter a native speaker. It even claims that the native may even speak in a regional or cockney dialect that he is somewhat ashamed of and that this may even prevent him from obtaining some employment that is only available to those speaking correct English.

There are three sections in the essay. There is no single example of English speech that is considered to be correct, as is emphasised in the first section. Everyone, whether they are native speakers or visitors, needs to keep in mind that there is no perfect form of English. He claims that no two British people have the same speech pattern. Despite the fact that they all have different speaking styles, they are all understandable and thus acceptable as people of high social standing.

The second section discusses how everyone speaks differently in public and in private, regardless of education level. To make an impact and be understood, a person speaking in public needs to be careful and weigh each word before speaking. A man, however, is less concerned with his speech, grammar, articulation, etc. in private. Shaw uses himself as a test subject in this particularly funny section.

Shaw provides advice on how to communicate with locals in the final section, and here he offers yet another caution of a very different nature. The first thing a foreigner should do is speak with a strong foreign accent and use sloppy, illegible English. Then, every native with whom he communicates would be aware that he is a foreigner, make an effort to comprehend him and be prepared to assist him. He shouldn't anticipate that everyone will be courteous and speak in complex sentences. However, given that so many people now live in nations like America and Britain in addition to travelling to many other English-speaking nations, this advice is incorrect and out of date.

People are looking for the "correct" way to speak English as a result of globalisation taking over the world and the requirement to learn multiple world languages, of which English is at the very top.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Search

Popular posts from this blog

Sir Roger at Church by Joseph Addison - Essay Summary & Analysis

Introduction: "Sir Roger at Church" is an essay written by Joseph Addison, first published in "The Spectator" in 1711. In this essay, Addison reflects on the character of Sir Roger de Coverley, a fictional country gentleman, and his behavior and attitudes during church services. Background of the Essay: Joseph Addison, along with his friend Richard Steele, founded "The Spectator," a periodical publication that featured essays, social commentary, and satire. "Sir Roger at Church" is part of a series of essays that depict the life and adventures of Sir Roger de Coverley. Summary: Sir Roger's Character: Sir Roger de Coverley is depicted as a benevolent, traditional English country gentleman. He embodies virtues such as kindness, generosity, and a deep sense of duty to his community. Despite his old-fashioned ways, Sir Roger is well-respected and admired by those around him. Sir Roger's Religious Observance: In the essay, Addison observes Sir...
Post a Comment
Read more

Not Just Oranges by Isai Tobolsky Short Summary

 Isai Tobolsky is the author of the short story titled "Not Just Oranges." The narrative explores a range of human experiences, including love, innocence, arrogance, and repentance. A mother raises her young daughter all by herself in the narrative's fictional setting. She has a tremendous amount of love for her daughter. Her income is not very significant due to the fact that she is employed as a charwoman in a medical facility. On the other hand, she provides an exceptionally healthy diet for her daughter. At one point, the young girl makes a request to her mother to purchase a blue ball. She has a lot of fun with the ball that her mother buys for her when she plays with it. However, there comes a day when the ball hits the window of their next-door neighbours, the Malachovs. It shatters a pricey vase that was sitting on the window sill.  The elderly woman, Mrs. Malachov, gets worked up into a rage. The young girl and her mother pay a visit to the Malchakovs' home, ...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Glove and the Lion Poem by Leigh Hunt Summary, Notes & Explanation in English

The poem The Glove and the Lion has four stanzas. Six-line stanzas rhyme aa bb cc. 13 feet (?) per line. The poem's setting is far from Hunt's time. The poem's kings, noblemen, and ladies give it a pre-Renaissance feel. Hunt's poem describes an unusual experience. A royal court watches two beast kings battle. Courtiers watch the king's spectacle from comfortable seats. Many of Hunts' poems have a metaphorical secondary meaning, such as a battle between two powerful people. In the midst of the spectacle, the poet shows us Count de Lorge's love affair with a woman. The poet lists values held by his poem's people: pride, gallantry, valour, and love. The second stanza features vivid images. "Rampled and roared" is alliterative and paradoxical ("horrid laughing jaws"). The short verbs show how quickly the beasts moved: "They bit, glared, and gave beam blows." The repeated /w/ sound in "wind went with their paws" emphasi...
Post a Comment
Read more