Sociolinguistics

define Sociolinguistics

study of how language use varies as a function of geographic factors, social factors, and identity

what is geographic variation?

identifying systematic differences in how people speak based on geography and community (also known as dialectology)

why does geography affect language use?

language contact — settlement patterns vary by location (different layers at different points in time)

• differences in language throughout the different region of the united states

  • due to settlement patterns

language change — natural barriers allow and limit contact

• when a language community does not have contact with other speakers → change can occur

• divergence → changes / innovations / older structures may develop / be retained in one community and not the other

what are the variations in sound? `

phonetic — differences in pronunciation of individual phonemes

• chain shifts — many vowels in a variety change their pronunciation

  • change in one vowel leads to change in the next

• phoentic differences — the same phoneme can be pronounced differently in different varieties

• vowel shifts — change in a pronunciation can impact later sounds

phonology — differences in inventory

• additional phonemes

• leads to more contrast

• lexical variation — varieties many use different words to mean the same thing

what are the variations in meaning

broadening — a word is used to refer to more things than before

narrowing — a word is used to refer to fewer things than before

does geography matter less with the presence of technology?

identity — people maintain dialect to signal group membership

social networks — you sound like the people you talk to the most

local pride — some features are markers of regional identity

what is speech style?

linguistic variation linked to social identity