chapter 6

Basil Bernstein argues that there are two different types of code we may speak in, Elaborated code and Restricted code. Elaborated code involves complex grammar and a wide vocabulary as well as complex sentence structure and elaboration. Conversely, restricted code uses simple grammar and sentence structure with a smaller vocabulary and context clues to convey the meaning. Elaborated code is more logical while restricted code is more emotional. Why this is important is because it is through the code we learn that we take in the world around us. Generally, the restricted code is limited and can hinder some from expanding. The “culture of poverty” refers to those who may have grown up in a restricted code setting and have a simple perspective on things. They do not broaden their minds and become locked out of long-range thoughts. This feels exactly like a “code” to people who may have been brought up in elaborated code.

In our ad, the Boss and CEO of Felcher speaks in elaborated code. It’s based on logical representations of the business environment and he uses a wide range of words that include economic terms. However, Terry Tate speaks in restricted code. He uses emotional noises such as “woo” and “ugh!” Also, he uses references such as “when it’s game time” where we have an inference of what that means based on the context of his uniform and what we know about him as being a football player. This is also an example of relevance theory. The differences shown here also mirror the hierarchy principle while showing how middle class people such as the boss would use an elaborated code while a lower class or rather less professional person may speak in a restricted code.