Analysis of Gavin and Stacey Transcription Assignment

Question 1 (For Tom)

You should work on this assignment in your groups in class and then complete the tasks individually at home. A transcript is provided to help you. You can ask both Tom and Marion questions in class, and you can listen/watch the recording as often as you need at home. 

 

Your work should be word-processed, but you may include a hand-written transcription of the extract in Question 1, Part b). You should leave a gap of at least 1.5 between lines, and you should use a standard 12-point font (such as Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman).

 

You should make sure that you illustrate all your answers with SPECIFIC EXAMPLES from the recording, as appropriate. Please refer to the numbered lines when illustrating your answers. Examples from the text are included in your word count. 

 

Note that you do not need to refer to secondary sources in this assignment.

QUESTION 1 (FOR TOM)
Please answer all parts of Question 1 on the same sheet(s) of paper, and number your sheets, but do not staple them together. You should mark this section: QUESTION 1 (FOR TOM).

a) With the help of the recording and the transcript, identify the following:

(i) any non-standard features of speech (pronunciation, choice of words, grammar, syntax) in the recording which are characteristic of London English. Use phonemic script to illustrate pronunciation differences.
(You should focus here on the speech of Gavin, Smithy, Pam and Mick.) 

[Maximum number of words: 200 words; 10% of the total mark] 

(ii) any non-standard features of speech (pronunciation, choice of words, grammar, syntax) in the recording which are characteristic of South Wales English. Use phonemic script to illustrate pronunciation differences. (You should focus here on the speech of Nessa and Stacey.)  

[Maximum number of words: 200 words; 10% of the total mark] 

b) With the help of the recording, you should write out a transcription of the following extract in phonemic script based on what Nessa actually says (not in standard English). You should underline any words in your transcription which do not conform to Received Pronunciation. Remember: you do not use capital letters or apostrophes. Your transcription might begin: /i: da?d. fa?r?n skw?d./ 

He died. Firing squad. Terrible way to go, Stace and I wouldn't like to see it happen to you. Smugglers, we were. And if it weren't for my relationship with John Prescott, I'd still be in that jail right now. So yeah, in answer to your question, I'd say no, don't tell him.  

Question 1(a): Non-Standard Features of Speech in London English

[Maximum number of words: 200 words; 10% of the total mark]

c) Make a list of features in your own use of English (pronunciation, choice of words, grammar, syntax) which do not conform to the norms of standard (southern) English. Where you refer to pronunciation differences, you should use phonemic script to illustrate those differences. (If you find it hard to analyse your own use of language, ask a friend to comment on your use of English and/or record yourself, and play the recording back.) 

 

How would you describe your use of English? 
Are there any aspects of your use of English that you would wish to change? 

[Maximum number of words: 400 words; 20% of the total mark]

MAX: 800 WORDS FOR PARTS 1 A AND C TOGETHER (PLEASE STATE YOUR WORD COUNT)
QUESTION 2 (FOR MARION)
Please answer all parts of Question 2 on the same sheet(s) of paper, and number your sheets, but do not staple them together. You should mark this section: QUESTION 2 (FOR MARION). All of these questions carry equal weight
a) Give one example of where the speakers fail to adhere to Grice’s maxims, stating which maxim(s). Explain how the speakers flout or violate the maxim(s).  

[Maximum number of words: 200 words; 10% of the total mark]

b) Illustrate any similarities and differences between conversational behaviour in this recording and in everyday life. How might you account for the differences between this and authentic speech?  

[Maximum number of words: 200 words; 10% of the total mark]

c) Select an example of semantic categorisation/ lexical relations. Label this appropriately, explaining your selection. Where appropriate, draw diagrams to illustrate any hierarchies or other relationships, e.g. of hypernyms/ hyponyms. Note that part of the relationship may be out of the text (i.e. extra-textual). If this is the case, state what you would call the other part of the relationship. (Example: a lemon roulade is a type of dessert, so it’s a hyponym of desserts. There are no other co-hyponyms of dessert in the text.) 

[Maximum number of words: 200 words; 10% of the total mark]

d) Gavin and Stacey was first recorded in 2007 by a group of British actors. Why might it be difficult for non-native speakers of English, without the relevant cultural knowledge and experience, to fully appreciate all the references?  

[Maximum number of words: 200 words; 10% of the total mark]

e) Assuming that you have identified some verbal humour in the sketch, what makes it funny linguistically, and how is the verbal humour achieved? Do not repeat the points you have made in a) – d), above.  

[Maximum number of words: 200 words; 10% of the total mark]

MAX: 1,000 WORDS FOR PART 2 A, B, C, D AND E (PLEASE STATE YOUR WORD COUNT)