Chapter 6 and Commercial 9/30

In this chapter, Basil Bernstein discusses his ideas on restricted and elaborated codes in the speech of different classes of people. He argues that there is a difference in the way middle and upper class people talk to their children than the way working class people talk to their children. He also argues that these two “codes” have an effect on a how a child develops and thinks of their future and what they may be able to achieve. In short, elaborated code is used by the upper and middle class; it is much more complex in grammar and sentence structure, while vocabulary is more varied. Restricted code is used by the working class and is simple in grammar and sentence structure, while it tends to be more emotional rather than logical. Restricted code of speech gives the working class children a little less sense of possibility as Bernstein believes it shapes a person’s behavior. Working class children may settle for less in life with a rather simplistic outlook on everything. It should be noted that the restricted mindset makes it difficult for middle and upper class people to deal with the working class because of the difference of codes in the language being used. Our group is using the Axe Clean Your Balls commercial and I believe the ad is using a restricted code of speech. There is a low level of conceptualization being used in the commercial as it does not take a genius to figure out what the actors in the ad are trying to get across. The grammar is also very simple along with the sentence structure. Also, the context shapes the meaning in this commercial, rather than having the meaning elaborated verbally. The ad is targeting a younger, more open minded audience, as older people may find this type of commercial more immature than funny.