Lexical use and social class: A study on lexical richness, word length, and word class in spoken English

Denne artikel bygger på forskellige kvinders fortællinger om sig selv og deres forestillinger om hverdagen og dens sammenhæng. Den refererer til afhandlingen På jagt efter klasse, i hvilken ærindet har været at studere klasse på ”mikroniveau” og ved hjælp af interviews belyse, hvordan klasse, i processer der interagerer med køn og andre sociale differentieringer, præger kvinders erfaringer og oplevelser, deres opfattelse af dem selv og andre og de muligheder, der er tilgængelige for dem. I interviewene afvises sociale forskelle i udgangspunktet, eller de pakkes ind og underspilles for så alligevel at dukke op bl.a. i de skillelinjer, kvinderne selv fremdrager som vigtige og i måden, hvorpå de betragter og vurderer sig selv og andre. Klasse giver sig langt hen ad vejen til kende i form af grænser mellem os og dem. Afstandtagen til andre viser sig især i moralske distinktioner, og når kvinderne mere eller mindre direkte henviser til folk, der tænker, handler eller prioriterer anderledes og indimellem uforståeligt for dem. Søgeord: Klasse, køn, social differentiering, moralske distinktioner, Bourdieu, symbolsk grænsedragning. ENGELSK ABSTRACT: Stine Thidemann Faber: The Subjective Experience of Social Class This article is based on the dissertation “The Pursuit of Class”, a study of social class on a ”micro-level”. Through interviews with women, it explores how class – through processes that interact with gender and other social differentiations – leaves its mark on women’s experiences and perceptions of self and others as well as their perceptions of opportunities accessible to them. In the interviews social differences are initially rejected, muffled and underplayed. Yet, in very subtle ways the women do in fact discuss social differences, although the word class is never used. Above all, class is revealed through borders drawn between them and us. This distancing from others is communicated mainly as moral reservations and moral condemnation. In that sense the women indirectly refer to people who think, act or prioritize differently. Motherhood appears to be a particularly important factor when the women assess themselves and others. Key words: Class, gender, social differentiation, moral distinctions, Bourdieu, symbolic boundary drawing.

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Childhood Autism and Social Class: A Question of Selection?

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.137.5.410 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 137 (5) ◽

pp. 410-417 ◽

Cited By ~ 100

Author(s):

Lorna Wing

Keyword(s):

Social Class ◽

Children With Autism ◽

Early Years ◽

National Society ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Class Bias ◽

Class A ◽

The Social ◽

Autistic Behaviour ◽

Childhood Psychoses

SummaryChildren with typical autism, other early childhood psychoses and severe mental retardation without autistic behaviour were identified in an epidemiological study in an area of South East London. The social class distribution of their fathers was examined and no significant differences were found between the groups, nor in a comparison with the general population of the area. Fathers of children with autism and related conditions referred to an out-patient clinic with a special interest in autism, mostly at their own request, and fathers joining the National Society for Autistic Children, were of higher social class than both the average for England and Wales and the fathers of the study children. Joining the NSAC during its early years, and keeping up membership were also linked with higher social class. The findings supported the view that reports of a social class bias in autism may be explained by factors affecting referral and diagnosis.

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