Languages are in many ways what sets human apart from other animals. However, it divides people among one another as well. Not merely through geography, but social status also creates innumerable variation within a single language. Variations that, in relation to content, seem subtle, but in actuality widens the gaps between people of differing class, education, region etc. Though they understand each other, different variations hold differing amounts of prestige, creating a need to weigh ones words so as to fit in with contextual company. The excerpt from Billy Elliot is a classic example of a clash between classes where language predictably plays its part. Right from the start, it is clearly underlined how Billy is not from a very prestigious …show more content…
This difference in class, and also geographical upbringing, seems to be what sets the characters apart from one another. Though still speaking the same language, they say slightly different things. However, this minor variance makes all the difference to Billy. He judges these strangers instantaneously, and after he has heard them speak, he lets all of his prejudice flow, escalating into striking a kid, who is merely trying to comfort him. All seemingly because Billy is not as well off as they are. He, however, also have less blatant ways of defying the opposing sociolect that he might be utilising more unconsciously. During the interview, his father’s speech seems very close to the interviewers’ in what most likely is a conscious attempt to adapt his language to the situation. Calling it bootlicking is exaggeration; he is simply in a situation where the interviewers set the terms. Billy, however, does not change his speech patterns and talks quite conversationally in an arguably subtle rebellious manner. He is proud sociolect and does not want to try to butter up someone he outright despises. He perceives his own non-standard English as superior, giving it covert prestigious traits (Yule, 2014). The sociolect used by the middle class people around him might be widely considered overtly prestigious, yet for Billy it is nothing but
His ability to identify and accept his situation are the first stages of Billy's transition.
...erson & by not doing everything that his parents said he was able to find out the truth which I think, in the end would have made his relationship with his parents much stronger. Billy was very restricted & confined by the expectations placed on him by his family & as well as society & because of this was not able to express himself or find his own personal happiness but through dance he was able to discover who he really is & what he loves & by pursuing it he became a much stronger person, it even enabled him to stand up to his father in showing him how much he loves dance & in doing so also stood up to society & gender stereotypes, this made Billy a much stronger person, throughout the movie it also shows how Billy is able to make a better personal relationship with his father & his brother Tony who he grows closer to as he becomes his own person through dance.
Billy proves throughout the book that he is not mentally stable, yet somehow, he is persuasive in his interpretation of the truth.
Most people who grow up with a foreign language spoken in there house grow up with an advantage in society. This advantage can only occur once the individual learning that foreign language also learns the dominant language spoken in that country. Once both of these languages are learned and mastered, the individual has now placed them se...
“The third bullet was for the filthy flamingo, who stopped dead center in the road when the lethal bee buzzed past his ear. Billy stood there politely, giving the marksman another chance.” This clearly illustrated the child-like person Billy is. Instead of duck and cover, Billy stands there as if he were playing a board game he didn’t want to play and in protest did not move his player. He doesn’t truly grasp the distraught situation he is in and he most certainly doesn’t comprehend it. By not looking out for his own interest he becomes an infantile creature depending on the civil duties of others.
Another difficulty cultures deal with is language and the way people speak. In some cases, people struggle to belong by making changes in the way they speak the English language just to be assimilated. They attempt to use words and letters, as well as body language that fit in the norm; all in an attempt to denounce their original intonation and style of pronunciation. One ...
Something else to note is Billy's diminished responsiveness. One of the most prevalent quotes in the book is, “So it goes.” This is repeated after every
This way of passively resisting the present serves as a way for Billy to assert certain control over his life, although in a chaotic and unpredictable way. His lack of control over his time-traveling experiences highlights the lack of agency he faced during the war. Despite his attempts at resisting his past trauma, Billy is still under the restrictions due to forces beyond his control. Similarly, Bartleby resists the nature of Wall Street. When the lawyer invites Bartleby to join him for dinner, Bartleby responds indifferently to him, saying, “I would prefer not to dine today.
Billy appeared joyful and kind, while Claggart seemed serious and hateful. For some unknown reason, this man hated Billy, and constantly sought out ways to make his life more difficult. One day, a wise old sailor came to the naïve Billy, telling him of Claggart’s hatred towards him, and warning him to act cautiously around the master at arms. Claggart’s disdain
This is something Billy doesn’t understand in his younger years; hence he is constantly angry at himself. Billy’s self-directed anger ultimately causes him to never stick in the MLB, get divorced and use his anger as a reminder to never overlook players. Billy played for a couple years in the majors bouncing around from team to team, each one trying to see if they could
Language also changes easy whenever speakers come into contact with each other. No two individuals speak identically: people from different geographical places clearly speak differently, but even within the same small community there are variations according to a speaker’s age, gender, social and educational background. Through our interactions with these different
Billy’s relationship with girls cause him stress as it never last and doesn’t go well, Billy lost his mother Dorothy she suffered from breast cancer and she was seriously ill, the families grief was very deep Ronald found it hard to move on. Billy doesn’t have any contacts with his brother Crieg because he decided to lead his own life away from his family members. The only relationship Billy had been with his sister Rosemary, Ronald went back to where he grew up Gippsland. Going through these entire issues made Billy strong throughout his development. The usual sign of changes show in Billy’s connections all through Billy’s life.
In the film, Billy is a brave, adventurous and even charming. This coincides with the real Billy. According to David S. Turk, Billy the Kid was characterized as ambitious, charismatic, but then like a flick of a switch he can be angry, and evil. But the differences between the film Billy and the legacy Billy has to deal with other personality traits. In the movie, Billy became loyal to Bill and Ted very quickly, during the film Billy even saved Bill and Ted. This is not how we imagine Billy the Kid’s legacy is or how he behaved. From several articles, they talk about him constantly being on the run, also with all of the events he went through as a child, he would not have trusted two people he just met. Instead the film made Billy a caring partner to Bill and
This shows that Billy didn't know what he was doing when he was looking for a
he said ‘Why?’ said the girl. ‘I always like to know the names of the girls I sleep with.” Lurie’s use of a colloquial language and inappropriate language such as ‘honey’ and ‘sleep with’ during Billy’s dialogue with a waitress show his desire to control a situation and to please his father; “‘Easy, son’ said Mathews, but his face was beaming with pride. Billy’s self-confident and commanding swagger, “He [Billy... ... middle of paper ... ...