FILE 10 Language Variation - Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the notes on language variation (File 10: Language Varieties, Variation at Different Levels, and Factors Influencing Variation).

Language variety

A cover term for any form of language with systematic features, including languages, dialects, idiolects, speech communities, and registers.

Languages

Distinct language systems that are often mutually unintelligible and have their own standard norms.

Dialect

A language variety spoken by a group, characterized by systematic differences from other varieties in structure or vocabulary.

Idiolect

The unique speech pattern of a single speaker, differing systematically from others.

Speech community

A group defined by extralinguistic factors (region, SES, age, gender, ethnicity) whose members speak in related ways.

Register

A variety associated with a particular situation or context (e.g., formal vs informal).

Style

Systematic variation in speech based on topic, setting, and addressee.

Style shifting

Automatically adjusting one’s speech style to fit the audience or situation.

Accent

Phonetic/phonological variation in pronunciation; the sound system differences across speakers.

Mutual intelligibility

If two language varieties can understand each other, they are typically considered dialects of the same language.

Dialect continuum

A chain of dialects where neighboring varieties are mutually intelligible, but distant ones may not be.

Jargon

Technical vocabulary used within a specific field or domain.

Slang

Informal vocabulary that is often nonstandard; includes common slang and in-group slang.

Standard dialect

A prestige variety often used in schools, media, and formal settings; not inherently linguistically superior.

Standard American English (SAE)

The standard US English grammar variety used as a reference point across dialects.

Received Pronunciation (RP)

The prestige British standard accent (BBC English/Queen’s English).

Overt prestige

prestige attached to the standard dialect by the wider community.

Covert prestige

Prestige within nonstandard-speaking groups, associated with belonging to a specific community.

Hypercorrection

Producing a nonstandard form by false analogy in an effort to sound correct.

Reflexive pronouns (Standard vs Nonstandard)

Standard English uses self/selves after possessives or pronouns (myself, yourself, himself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves); some nonstandard varieties use hisself/yourselves/theirself.

Pro-drop languages

Languages that allow subjects to be omitted when recoverable from context (e.g., Spanish, Italian, ASL, Japanese, Mandarin, Polish).

Rhotic vs non-rhotic

Rhotic varieties pronounce /r/ in all contexts; non-rhotic varieties drop post-vocalic /r/ in certain positions.

Northern Cities Shift

A rotation of the Northern US vowel space affecting low and mid vowels, altering items like bag/bat and back.

Centralization (Martha’s Vineyard)

Labov’s finding that some diphthongs (/ɑ/ and /ɑʊ/) can centralize toward a schwa-like nucleus, related to identity and regional variation.

Isogloss

A boundary line marking where linguistic features differ; bundles of isoglosses define dialect boundaries.

Discourse analysis

Analyzing conversations to understand how identities and social meanings are constructed in talk.

Emblematic language use

Using language elements to symbolically reference heritage or identity (e.g., specific loanwords or codes).

Ethnicity and language variation

Ethnic group membership can influence linguistic features, but no variety is inherently superior.

Chicano English

A dialect of English spoken by many Mexican-descended Americans, with features influenced by Spanish.

African-American English (AAE)

A continuum of varieties with features such as monophthongization, word-final consonant reduction, copula absence, habitual be, and multiple negation.

Lumbee English

A distinct Native American dialect with unique phonetic/syntactic features and vocabulary.

Martha’s Vineyard case study

Labov’s study showing centralization linked to island identity and group identification, with social factors affecting variation.