Sociolinguistics Midterm Exam Review

Flashcards to review key vocabulary and concepts from the Sociolinguistics Midterm Exam.

Sociolinguistics

The study of how social factors influence language.

Variety (or Code)

A form of language or dialect specific to a context or group.

Linguistic Repertoire

All language varieties and styles a speaker uses.

Codification

The process of standardizing a language by establishing norms for its use.

Lingua Franca

Common language for speakers of different native languages.

Vernacular

A language or dialect spoken by ordinary people in a region.

Standard Language

Language accepted as the norm for formal communication.

National Language

A language tied to a nation's identity, history, and culture.

Official Language

A language with special legal status, designated for government and public use in a particular country.

Covert Prestige

The social status associated with non-standard language forms, often used to express solidarity with a group.

Isogloss

A geographic boundary that separates different linguistic features.

Dialect Continuum

Range of dialects across a geographical area, with mutually intelligible neighbors.

Class Variable

A sociolinguistic variable that relates to social class distinctions in language use.

Variant

A different form or version of a linguistic item.

Covariation

The relationship between different linguistic variables in a community.

Diglossia

A situation in which two dialects or languages are used by a single language community in different social contexts.

Code-Switching

The practice of alternating between two or more languages or dialects within a conversation.

Gender Exclusive Speech Forms

Speech patterns that are typically used by one gender but not the other.

Gender Preferential Speech Features

Linguistic features that are more likely to be used by one gender than the other.

Age Grading

When certain language features are more common in specific age groups.

Ethnolect

A dialect associated with a particular ethnic group.

Social Network

The structure of relationships and connections among speakers in a community.

Network Complexity

Degree of interwovenness/interconnectedness of a social network.

Network Density

The number of ties or relationships that exist within a social network.

Community of Practice

Group sharing common interest/activity, learning through interaction.

Social Constructionism Approach

A theory that suggests social phenomena develop in social contexts through interactions.