Rita used these words to express her enthusiasm for Macbeth:
"I thought it was gonna be dead borin'...
But listen, it wasn't borin' , it was bleedin' great honest, ogh, it done me in, it was fantastic. I'm gonna do an essay on it".
Of course, her language is not acceptable to do an essay. In the past, in England class was determined by the way people spoke but even more important was their accent. For example, people with strong accent like Rita's were assumed to be working class while people with RP accent was assumed to be upper or upper-middle class. However, then it was acceptable to speak standard British English in public speaking, radio, TV, books, newspapers, at school and university. That is why she is supposed to learn standard English. She must learn British language and how to use it in certain circumstances, that is in context.
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Hi Lili!
let me tell you something...at first i cuold not understand Rita's speaking and it was too difficult.
But I also think that she could say what she really wants or thinks using (maybe) the proper words, for example, when she says "I want to learn everything". She is determine to succeed and I feel she will do it!
big hug!
Hi Giyo!
Of course she will do it, but she will have to learn more like us. Both of us who have studied Language I as one of the most important subjects of our career, know that it is not easy because it involves studying very hard, but with a lot of effort and perseverance I could do it and you will be able too.
Kisses,
Lili
The question is, Lili, to be aware of who is ruling under these circumstances. You write: "Of course, her language is not acceptable in an essay." Says who, I wonder? As Giyo has pointed out so clearly, Rita is perfeclty able to get through, so who is to decide her language is inappropriate at college? It helps to remember "Standard English" is not neutral at all, it's somebody's English, you know, and that group is dominating the situation by setting "the rules of the game". You may think it right or wrong, but what you cannot do is ignore someone is "pulling the strings"!
One last thing: class is still today marked by accent (among many other factors), and not just in England! Just think of the way characters in Argentinean soap operas today talk depending on the social class they want to represent !
Now, on what side of the fence will you choose to stand? ;-)
Warmly,
Gladys
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