CSD 2030: Intro to Language - Social Variation in Language Study Notes

Social Variation in Language (CSD 2030: Intro to Language)

Instructor: Lindsey Parker, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Main Takeaway Points:

  • Define sociolinguistics and provide examples.

  • Explain the concept of code-switching and give examples.

  • Investigate dialect stigma and bias.

  • Provide examples of social dialects, including Black American Sign Language, British English dialects, and African American English.

  • Identify the elements of register, including jargon and slang.

  • Discuss the implications of ‘disorders within dialect’ for language assessments.

Terminology

  • Speech Community:

    • Definition: A group of people sharing a set of norms and expectations regarding language usage.

    • Features:

    • Not exclusive to speakers of the same language; also involves cultural elements.

    • Different rules govern discourse, verbal styles, and social engagement; understanding of how and when to communicate is shaped by cultural norms.

  • Sociolinguistics:

    • Definition: The study of speech communities and the relationship between language and society.

Code-Switching

  • Code-Switching:

    • Definition: The practice of alternating between languages or dialects in conversation, often to fit social contexts.

    • Purpose: To meet social language expectations across different speech communities.

    • Situational Context: Code-switching can be used to identify social group membership; others may judge a person’s belonging based on their speech.

Prestige in Speech Styles

  • Overt Prestige:

    • Definition: Switching speech styles to reflect those associated with higher social status.

  • Covert Prestige:

    • Definition: Adopting speech styles valued within certain groups, providing social cache or standing among peers.

    • Speaker Preferences: Choices between sounding like peers vs. those from a different status can reflect values prioritized by speakers (community belonging vs. social mobility).

Social Dialects in Sociolinguistics

  • Social Dialect:

    • Definition: Varieties of a language distinguished by features that correlate with social status.

    • Examples: Class variations such as upper, middle, or working class.

  • Sociolect:

    • Definition: A distinct language variation specific to a social class, characterized by differences in vocabulary, pronunciation, and subtle social identity indicators.

    • Ascribed Status:

    • Definition: Status given involuntarily at birth or later in life, influencing the acquisition and social implications of sociolects.

Dialect Stigmas

  • Dialect Representation:

    • Clarification: Dialects are differences in language, not disorders or errors.

  • Societal Attitudes: There are socially preferred expressions that reflect the power of certain political or social groups, leading to linguistic discrimination.

  • Linguistic Chauvinism:

    • Definition: The belief that one's version of a language is the most correct or pure, perpetuating negative stigma towards certain dialects.

Case Example: Sociolects in Britain

  • Context: Britain exemplifies a hierarchical society with pronounced ascribed statuses.

  • Sociolect Examples:

    • The upper class sociolect is represented by Received Pronunciation (RP), often termed “The Queen’s English.”

    • Cultural Reference: The play and film My Fair Lady explore biases tied to sociolects, demonstrating impacts on hiring and relationships.

Social Markers in Sociolinguistics

  • Social Markers:

    • Definition: Speech or pronunciation traits that typically indicate social class within a society.

    • Examples:

    • Omitting the ‘-ing’ sound (e.g., ‘going’ vs. ‘goin’).

    • Dropping the /h/ sound, which may signify lower education or socio-economic status.

    • Idiolect:

    • Definition: A personal dialect unique to an individual, influenced by specific social markers.

    • Example Context: Social markers for class distinctions could be linked to postvocalic /r/ variations characteristic of certain decades (1960s and 1970s).

Register in Communication

  • Register:

    • Definition: The conventional manner of language use that is appropriate for a specific context, characterized by distinct jargon.

    • Jargon:

    • Technical vocabulary tied to fields such as occupation, religion, law, and online communication.

    • Social Role: Jargon serves to create and maintain connections among individuals while at times excluding others.

Slang and Its Implications

  • Slang:

    • Definition: Informal words or phrases that serve as substitutes for conventional language.

    • Sociolinguistic Perspective: Often perceived as informal, less credible, or lower status, which can imply bias in social interactions.

Examples of American Social Dialects

  • Black American Sign Language (BASL) and African American English (AAE):

    • Significance: These social dialects provide distinct linguistic identity and cultural representation within their communities.

Implications for Language Assessments

  • Disorders within Dialects:

    • Concept: Shift from a mental model of ‘difference versus disorder’ to recognizing the existence of disorders within dialects.

    • Identifying Disorders:

    • Children with language disorders exhibit significant differences from peers, affecting their social and academic communication.

    • Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) assess language disorders by comparing children who are lagging in their dialect acquisition to those within their dialect group who speak more proficiently.

    • Important Note: This is not characterized as a dialectal difference or an idiolect but as a specific language disorder that exists in the context of a dialect.