Which of the following is a characteristic of the restricted code?

• A. Context bound; this is where the speaker assumes the listener shares the same experiences as them.
• B. Descriptive and ungrammatical
• C. Not analytic and short sentences
• D. Used mainly by the working class

Answer: (D)

Restricted code is a way of speaking that relies on shared experiences and context to convey meaning; listeners are expected to infer a lot from social cues and the situation, rather than from explicit elaboration. This style tends to use shorter, simpler sentences and less explicit logical detail, presupposing that the audience already knows what’s being implied.

The most distinctive and identifying trait in this framework is its association with the working class. In Bernstein’s theory, restricted code is linked to everyday life within that social group, so it’s described as being used mainly by the working class. That social-class link is what exam writers often treat as the defining characteristic.

To contrast, elaborated code—used more by the middle and upper classes—is more analytic and explicit, with clearer, more complex sentence structures. So while context-bound features accompany restricted code, the key characteristic highlighted here is its typical use among the working class.