The role of Standard Australian English (SAL) is constantly changing and is no longer necessary for all contexts within contemporary Australian society. In particular contexts, the use of variants, such as Aboriginal English, are valued higher as they create a sense of individuality and camaraderie. In contexts such as these, an understanding of Standard Australian English is not needed. Although, it is important to acknowledge that in certain situations, it is fundamental that Standard Australian English is used to demonstration formality and authority.
In certain contexts, an understanding of Standard …show more content…
The Standard variety of Australian English adheres to prescriptivist linguistic rules and is considered the most appropriate on formal occasions. In formal settings, Standard Australian English is used to portray authority and respect and is primarily spoken by those of a higher status, such as members of government, universities and news reporters. Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s speech to the stolen generations is an example of the formality associated with Standard Australian English. Grammatically correct sentences such as ‘A future we can all look forward to’ create a sense of authority as opposed to a non-standardised sentence, for instance, ‘A future all of us can look forward to’. Similarly, the use of euphemistic titles seen in Standard Australian English, including ‘indigenous Australians’ and ‘Torres Strait Islander people’, were required over non-standard slang such as ‘Abos,’ as such slang can be perceived as disrespectful and offensive to listeners. In this context, and similar formal contexts, an understanding of Standard Australian English is needed as it shows authority, respect and