Quote:
Originally Posted by TSteven
Are the decals similar to the national car stickers used in Europe?
Ironically, while trying to find a picture, I found this.
Did no one in your social group ever slip and used the "like" speech? If not, there must have been some interesting conversations. Makes me think of Winona Ryder trying to speak with a British accent. 
Personally, my "social group" does not actively use the "like" speech either. However, I am never shocked when I hear a peer (or myself) slip and use something from "like" speech. I simply attribute these slips of "like" speech to having been exposed to it. Because a "watered down" version seems to flow freely from many "locals". I only have to ride BART or MUNI to get a healthy dose of it. To be clear, I am in no way saying that everyone or even the majority of Northern Californians use "like" speech. But many of the little valspeak phrases do pop up in the general population. |
Exactly like those stickers.
We actually would use that manner of speech to mock others, such as those who claimed to be from the city but were actually from suburbs (I know I know, so mature to heckle to poseurs, but we were in high school). I heard it in class this morning, from a younger person, then an older student (non-traditional) spoke up and didn't use it. Maybe it is a result of the foreign and classical language training, or the peer pressure of speaking properly, who knows.
I also think a lot of "locals" are not locals. They weren't born there, and came from elsewhere. So the speech may be imported or some perceive that is the way we speak, so they do it to fit in, and then it is everywhere. LucyKKG is the linguist, I just have a passing relationship with it from my anthropology background.
geryon, the international students I know who receive funds are in the sciences and thrive off of grant money. Engineering and agriculture are the biggies, but that depends on the school and who is currently doing research.
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