Progress Diary

 As I have now changed my language investigation, I have made changes towards both my methodology and my introduction. Instead of looking at language and gender, I am now looking at language change over time. This is clear by my new hypothesis: 'How has language changed and adapted from the Brothers Grimm version of the fairytale Snow White compared to the Disney version?'. I have decided to focus on this type of investigation as I feel my investigation before was perhaps too broad plus the differences between these two stories will be significant and interesting to investigate. 

 Regarding the change in my investigation, I have now looked up Grimm's fairy tales to give me a wider understanding of what type of stories they write and to see the differences between the Disney story and the original. I have chosen to go with Snow White as there are evident differences between the two version's of the story, especially towards the end yet I may have to change this story if it is not appropriate to use within my study. Within my methodology, which I have also completed this week, I have included what design I will take on as well as any ethical issues and concerns regarding my data. 

Methodology

 For my language investigation, I will collect data from a set of case studies (two stories – one will be a Grimm fairy tale while the other will be a recent Disney story). As my investigation also involves gathering data from a set of different time periods, the design of my study may also be longitudinal. I will use the Brothers Grimm’s version of Rapunzel as well as Disney’s version to compare the differences and to see how language has changed and adapted over time. As language change can be proven from the set of data I collect, I will be taken on a positivist approach for my investigation.

 I am aware of experimenter-expectancy effects as I may look for and expect certain aspects and changes in my data from my own assumptions which can affect my results. My assumption is that in my results and framework analysis I will find examples of lexical change through the processes of compounding, blending and perhaps borrowing. I also assume there will be evidence showing semantic and grammatical change throughout these two pieces of text. In terms of grammar, meaning the structure of language, I will look for significant changes in word order and syntax between the two stories. Regarding semantics which involves the meaning of words, I will look for how the meanings of particular words may have become more positive or negative over time.

 As I will be collecting data in the public domain, I will make references to the material I select. I will also make sure the material I use for my study will not be leading or biased in any way. Furthermore the type of method I use to carry out my investigation will be part of a framework analysis. I will aim to focus on the use of the frameworks: lexis, semantic and grammar when analysing the differences between the two texts in order to portray the changes of language over time. In terms of gathering the data, I will find the appropriate material I need for this study on the internet.

Language of the 2000s

Progress Diary

 This week, I have been focusing more on the specifics of my investigation. As my first hypothesis/ question was quite broad, I have decided to focus on more specific characters from Disney Films. I have now decided to look at the main male and female characters such as the hero and the heroine. As well as narrowing down the types of characters I will investigate, I have also started to consider what films I will use. Initially, I thought about what films were appropriate to use – for example, what films included a main male and female character who take part in many interactions within the movies. Taking this into consideration, I have decided to look at the films ‘Hercules’, ‘Frozen’ and ‘Pocahontas’ as they all have prime and important male and female characters. I may decide to look at more films later on however I will focus on these 3 to begin with.

 I have also written a draft version of my introduction. This included many important aspects of my investigation such as the background and context, if my research provides a means of classification or exemplification and key researchers and linguistics within the field of language I will be investigating. As I am focusing on language and gender I included linguistics relevant to this field of language. Writing my introduction also helped me think about the next steps I will be taking in my investigation…

 As I will be analysing different discourse structures within spoken transcripts, I will go over the common features of spoken features as well as researching more relevant researchers. I will also start to look for transcripts from the films I have mentioned and focus on parts of the transcripts that will be appropriate to use later on in my investigation. 

Introduction

 For my language investigation I am going to explore the differences between male and female language in Disney Films. This is clear by my hypothesis: ‘what are the differences between the language used by the main Disney male and female character (for example the hero and the heroine)?’

 I will mainly focus on transcripts from animated Disney films during the past 20 years therefore I will analysis the discourse within these spoken transcripts. I will gather data from the main male and female character from each film during similar scenarios. For example, an important scenario to consider will be when both characters have to work together in order to overcome/defeat the villain. Some of the films and characters I will discuss in my investigation will be Hercules and Meg from ‘Hercules’, Anna and Kristoff from ‘Frozen’ and Pocahontas and John from ‘Pocahontas’. I have chosen these particular characters as I think they represent the typical male and female characters Disney Films normally include plus these are all films from various time periods over the past 20 years.

 Whilst studying English Language at AS I became interested in the way both genders differ in the way they talk. As I am also interested in Disney Films, I thought this type of language investigation was appropriate for both my interests and the relevance it has towards the English language today. Some of the theorists I will include in my investigation will be the ones I learnt about during AS. These include Robin Lakoff, Deborah Tannen and Zimmerman and West. Within my investigation, I will be looking to prove and support existing theories such as the dominance model. This suggests that men interrupt more during male-female conversations.  I will also be looking more closely into the type of issues and contrasts Tannen brought up towards male and female language such as status vs. support and information vs. feelings. Therefore the main purpose of my investigation is exemplification as I plan to give additional examples of language used by both genders to see whether these theories work in a different context such as a Disney film.

 My investigation will be part of empirical research as the data I gather will be from direct observation.  My investigation will also be objective as the results I collect will not be from my own opinion. Furthermore, it will be synchronic as I will focus on the context and the variation of language between both genders.