How would YOU say it?

“Ayyup” “Hello, how are you?” “howz it goin blud”

What can you tell me about these three people?

Whether you realise it or not, when you meet someone new one of the first things you’ll notice is how they speak. How we speak is unique to every individual, yet judgements based on this are made throughout society, and it shouldn't be like this!

There is research to suggest that ‘non-standard’ forms of English are slowly becoming the norm. Standardised speech, like the Queen, many newsreaders and David Cameron, are becoming the minority! 

And it’s not just the youngest generation. When Jenny Cheshire et al researched multicultural English in Hackney and Essex, they found that adults were even more likely to speak the past tense non-standard English. They concluded that the elderly had had more time to develop these informal speech patterns. So it’s not always young people changing the language!

What can we learn from this? Don’t judge by speech! After all, we’re all just trying to get our idea out there.

By Jeremy Tang, ReachOut! Club Project Leader 2012-13

How would YOU say it?

• ·         alright, how ya doin'
• ·         wag1
• ·         Ayyup
• ·         hey, how's it goin'?
• ·         Hiyyah
• ·         howz it goin blud
• ·         Hey man, how are you?