Introduction to Linguistics and Sociolinguistics

A set of flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the introduction to linguistics and sociolinguistics, focusing on theories, definitions, and historical contexts.

Linguistics

The study of human language as both a system and a social practice.

Formal Linguistics

Studies language as a system, focusing on phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics.

Sociolinguistics

The study of language in its social context, including cultural, political, economic, and interactional contexts.

Micro-sociolinguistics

Focuses on language as influenced by social factors.

Macro-sociolinguistics

Focuses on how language impacts society.

Variationist Sociolinguistics

Studies language-internal variation influenced by social factors such as class, gender, age, and ethnicity.

Decolonisation

The transition from colonial rule to sovereign nation-states, involving struggles for self-determination.

Coloniality

Refers to enduring power structures arising from colonialism that persist beyond formal colonial rule.

Language Standardisation

The process of developing a spoken dialect into a standard written language.

Criterion of Mutual Intelligibility

A measure of whether two linguistic varieties are considered separate languages or dialects based on how well their speakers understand each other.

Language

A human system of communication that has a distinct identity and social values.

Dialect

A human system of communication with distinctive grammatical forms, vocabulary, and pronunciation, typically not standardised.

Civic Nationalism

A form of nationalism where membership in the nation is based on citizenship, regardless of ethnic-linguistic identity.

Ethnic-Linguistic Nationalism

A form of nationalism where membership in the nation is defined by a shared language and ethnicity.

Epistemic Violence

The undermining and reshaping of local knowledge systems and ways of understanding the world as a result of colonial influence.

Missionary Standardisation

The process through which missionaries standardised local languages in colonial contexts.

Political Decolonisation

The liberation movements focused on overthrowing colonial rule and achieving political independence.

Standard Language Ideology

The belief that one dialect of a language is superior to others and that standardised languages rank higher.

Language Hierarchy Ideology

The belief that some languages are more important or higher in status than others.