Evaluating Language Teaching Methods to the Character Eliza Doolittle in the movie ‘My Fair Lady’ (1964)

Dr. Hari Madhab Ray

Dr. Hari Madhab Ray Assistant Professor, Centre for Linguistics, SLL&CS, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.

Abstract

Influenced by Behavioral understanding of language and Audio-lingual method of language teaching Professor Henry Higgins employs various techniques to teach better and standard English to the character Eliza Doolittle, a common flower girl whom he bet “I could pass her off as a duchess at an Embassy Hall’ or ‘the queen of Sheba’. The attitude of Professor Henry Higgins towards the character Eliza Doolittle reflects the deep-rooted prescriptive notions of the English language. Language is not only a mean of communication, it is also a marker of identity, it creates social and class distinction, the way one speaks a language. The standard language of the elite is seen as a marker of social mobility, a prospect for job, as Professor Higgin says, “I could even get her a job as a lady’s maid or a shop assistant which requires better English”. This paper will evaluate the teaching methodologies employed by the Professor Henry Higgins to the character Eliza Doolittle and the results yielded in the movie ‘My Fair Lady’ (1964).It will aslo looks into the prescriptive hegemony of standard English, Eliza’s Cockney English, and influence of behaviorism in language teaching.

How to cite this article: Ray HM, Evaluating Language Teaching Methods to the Character Eliza Doolittle in the movie ‘My Fair Lady’ (1964). J Adv Res Eng & Edu 2016; 1(1): 1-9.

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