Sociolinguistics Lecture Notes by Ruth Infante

Sociolinguistics Lecture Notes

Speaker and Date

  • Speaker: Ruth Infante

  • Date: March 19th, 2020

Overview of Topics

  • Wardhaugh, Ronald:

    • Introduction

    • Knowledge of Language

    • Variation

    • Scientific Investigation

    • Language and Society

    • Sociolinguistics and the Sociology of Language

    • Methodological Concerns

Part I: Languages and Communities

  • Languages, Dialects, and Varieties:

    • Discussion on the distinctions and connections between languages, dialects, and different varieties of a language.

  • Pidgins and Creoles:

    • Examination of simplified languages (pidgins) and fully developed languages (creoles) that arise in contexts of linguistic and cultural blending.

  • Codes:

    • Concept of communication systems used in spoken interaction, defined as codes.

  • Speech Communities:

    • Groups of people who share a common language or dialect and engage with each other verbally.

Part II: Inherent Variety

  • Language Variation:

    • Exploration of the different forms languages take across different contexts or social settings.

  • Some Findings and Issues:

    • Addresses research findings in language variation and related issues.

  • Change:

    • Concept of language change over time and factors that contribute to it.

Part III: Words at Work

  • Words and Culture:

    • Interaction between linguistic expressions and cultural practices.

  • Ethnographies:

    • Techniques for documenting and analyzing the language use within specific cultural contexts.

  • Solidarity and Politeness:

    • Investigation of how language reflects social relationships and politeness strategies.

  • Talk and Action:

    • Relationship between spoken language and action, particularly in how communication enacts or influences social behaviors.

Part IV: Understanding and Planning

  • Gender:

    • Discussion of language use in relation to gender identity and social roles.

  • Disadvantage:

    • Consideration of how language influences social inequality and disadvantage.

  • Intervening:

    • Exploration of strategies for addressing language-related issues in society.

Participant Definitions and Perspectives

  • Participants are invited to provide their own definitions of language:

    • Discussion around various perspectives on language:

      • Structural Point of View: Examination of language as a structure.

      • Generative Point of View: Focus on the innate knowledge of language.

  • Definition of Language:

    • "A language is what the members of a particular society speak."

Concept of Society

  • Definition of Society:

    • "Any group of people who are drawn together for a certain purpose or purposes."

Participant Engagement

  • Reading Activity:

    • Participants given 20 minutes to scan information on sociolinguistics, contributing ideas afterwards about the topic.

Communication as Code

  • Definition of Communication Code:

    • "When two or more people communicate with each other in speech, we can call the system of communication that they employ a code."

  • Knowledge of Language:

    • Knowledge regarding the grammar of a language is recognized as an abstract concept that each speaker possesses.

    • Challenges for Linguists:

      • Linguists find it difficult to describe the grammar due to its abstract nature and the shared knowledge among speakers.

Individual and Shared Knowledge

  • Linguistic Knowledge:

    • Knowledge is both personal (individual) and communal (shared) among speakers of the language.

    • Understanding is derived from experience using the language.

Abstract Nature of Language Knowledge

  • Agreement among Linguists:

    • Most linguists agree that the knowledge of language is abstract and includes understanding:

      • What is permitted/forbidden in language.

    • Factors influencing language knowledge:

      • Genetic, psychological, and social.

Language as Communal Possession

  • Chomsky's Perspective:

    • Linguists should distinguish between:

      • Universals: Important aspects of language.

      • Specific Utterances: Less important elements of language use.

    • Competence vs. Performance:

      • Competence: Knowledge of language.

      • Performance: Actual use of language in context.

Communicative Competence

  • Definition:

    • Knowing a language includes knowing how to use it appropriately in various contexts.

  • Categories of Competence:

    • Pragmatics: Understanding context and use of language.

    • Semantics: Meaning in language.

    • Syntax: Structure of sentences.

    • Morphology: Form of words.

    • Phonology: System of sounds.

Discussion Questions

  • What is Language?

  • What is Society?

  • What is the Knowledge of Language?

  • Open Forum Discussion:

    • Encourages participants to write their answers on the UTC platform.