Sociolinguistics

Sociolinguistics 3 branches

Geographic (=dialectology) Sociolinguistic:

• studies regional varities; replaced by sociological

Anthropological Sociolinguistics:

• studies the connection between language —culture—thought

Sociological Sociolinguistics:

• studies structure varities in language that includes social factors

• studies regional varities (+comb: social factors)

Language variation

Variation in all level of langauge :

• Spelling, Lexicon, Pragmatics.Phonectics, Syntax…

Independent variables (=non-ling.)

-Social variables that influence the choice of linguistic forms

e.g. Gender, age, style, region..

Assumption: Non-linguistic variables influence the

realisation of linguistic variables

Dependent variables (ling.)

alternative forms that are equvalent in meaning

e.g. that/which/zero — relativizer

Variety

most neutral term for form of a language

Standard

non-regional variety

Dialect

regional variety

Sociolect

social variety

Genderlect

gender variety

ethnolect

ethnic variety

jargon

professional variety

slang

informal variety

register

functional variety

accent

non-standard pronounciation

Dialect continua

• fluent boundaries

• local dialect speaker share mutual intelligibility with neighbouring local dialect speakters (across language boundaries)!

• more distant local dialect speakers have a reduced or no mutual intelligibility (even same language)

• applies only to local dialect level

E.g. The Romance languages (e.g., Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian) originated from Latin and form a well-known dialect continuum.

• For example, in the Iberian Peninsula, Spanish and Portuguese dialects blend seamlessly near the border, with Galician (spoken in northwestern Spain) acting as a transitional variety between Portuguese and Spanish.

Isogloss

A line on a map marking the boundary between two region which differ with respect to a particular linguistc feature (e.g. pronouciation)

• —> indicates diaclect boundaries

Dialect map

visual representation of the geographical distribution of dialects within a language. It shows where specific dialects are spoken and how linguistic features vary across regions

Explain the relevance and problems of the focus on NORMs in early dialectology

Non-mobile Older Rural Man (= most authentic speaker)

• Stability: least influence+long time speaker

• historical development of language , perserved features that disappeared mobility/urban

Problems:

• Gender/Age Bias —> understanding for linguistic variation wrong!

• Language is dynamic

• static and outdated viwe of dialects

• Social factors ignored

Name three differences between traditional dialectology and more recent variationist approaches to regional sociolinguistics

Traditional dialectology:

• Focus on rural dialect

• Contrast rural dialect vs. standard

• Data: surveys

Variationist sociolinguistics:

• Focus broad varities of Englisch

• interaction geographical + social features effecting language

Summarise Kachru’s three circles model and provide examples for each circle

Inner circle: english a native language

Outer circle: English used for official purposes

Expanding circle: English as a foreign language ➔Fluent boundaries, situation often more complex

Briefly summarise the three waves of variationist sociolinguistics and the differences between them

1st wave: focus on correlation of dependent and independent variables

2nd wave: builds on 1st includes ethnographic info about social factors and speaker agency

3rd wave: how language used to construct social identities

Briefly summarise Labov’s department store study (= fourth floor study

How does the pronunciation of post-vocalic /r/ vary across different speakers in New York City?

• Background:

➢General American Standard English: Rhotic (/r/ pronounced)

➢New York City: became r-less in the 19th century but re-introduction of /r/ pronunciation after World War II as a “change from above”

➢Assumed variation according to: social class, style (formality, attention), position (word-medial vs. word-final)

• Dependent variable: pronunciation of post-vocalic /r/ in all four positions

• Independent variable: store and social information about respondent

Pronounication of “r” influenced by:

social class; Expl-style ; -linguistic constraints;

→/r/ is pronounced most often in the highest ranking store (Saks) and least often the lowest ranking store (S. Klein) →/r/ is pronounced more often in careful speech →Word-final /r/ is pronounced more often than word-medial /r/

Explain low-density, high-density and multiplex links

Low density: Members that know central member don´t know each other

High demsity: Every member of network know all

Multipley link: Members are linked through co-existing types of ties

Explain the concepts of low-density, high-density and multiplex networks and their relevance for sociolinguistics

Low density:

-greater linguistic variation —> diffusion linguistic features across communities —> innovation/change

High density:

-reinforce linguistic norms + resist change —> group identity (perservation)

Multiplex link:

-complex linguistic behavior —> e.g. code-switching…

Explain “change from above”

• Introduced by dominat social class/group

• Full public awarness

• Often borrowing with higher prestige

Explain “change from below” (dominat type of change)

• Introduced by any social class (not observed for higher social group)

• Below level of social awarness until change is almost complete

• 1st appears in vernacular

Explain the concepts overt / covert prestige

Overt Prestige:

-Standard language ; “correct” language use

-can promote “change from above”

Covert Prestige:

-language valued by specific group

-vernacular forms

Important creating group identity

-can promote “change from below”

Communitiy of Practice

• Mutual engagement

• Joint enterprise

• Shared linguistic repertoire

e.g. New bakers