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VICEnglish LanguageQuick questions
Unit 4: Language variation and identity
Quick questions on Standard and non-standard Australian English in VCE English Language Unit 4
2short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is overt prestige?Show answer
Overt prestige is the openly recognised social status attached to the standard variety. Speaking Standard Australian English in formal contexts signals education, competence and authority, and it is rewarded in job interviews, courts and classrooms. The overt prestige of the standard is real and consequential, which is why access to it matters for opportunity, even though it is socially rather than linguistically grounded.
What is covert prestige?Show answer
Covert prestige is the hidden social value attached to non-standard varieties within their communities. Sounding authentic, local and loyal to the group can be valued more than sounding correct, especially among peers. A speaker who used hyper-standard English with close friends might be heard as distant or pretentious, while non-standard forms build solidarity. Covert prestige explains why non-standard varieties persist despite the overt pressure to standardise.
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