Language Variation, Class, and Symbolic Capital - In Depth Notes

Course Overview
  • Course: LING 1430 - Language, Power and Persuasion
  • Theme: Examines the relationship between language and social dynamics, focusing on class and symbolic capital.
Announcements
  • Final Exam: April 11, 7pm–10pm, at Tait McKenzie Centre
  • Assignment 2 Due: March 28, 2023
  • Linguistics Club: New club for students interested in linguistics.
Recap from Previous Week
  • Guest Lecture: Samantha Jackson discussed accents in hiring evaluations.
    • Finding: Multi-ethnic Toronto students showed unconscious bias against certain foreign accents, particularly against Chinese accents.
    • Implications: Highlights barriers faced by qualified immigrants seeking work.
Language Variants and Social Class
  • Linguistic Variation: Explores how different social groups use language differently:
    • Lexical Variation Examples:
    • Addressing groups: "you guys" vs. "y'all"
    • Sweetened beverages: "soda" vs. "pop" vs. "coke"
    • Athletic footwear: "sneakers" vs. "trainers"
  • Variables and Variants:
    • Variables = abstract linguistic features (e.g., pronouns, nouns)
    • Variants = specific realizations of those variables in speech
Case Studies in Variation
  • Toronto Slang: Different terms used in local vernacular.
  • Phonetic Variables:
    • Example: th-stopping (pronouncing "the" as "t" or "d"). Often associated with working-class varieties.
    • Usage patterns in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) vary with demographic factors like age and origin.
Labov's Studies on Social Class and Language
  • William Labov: Key figure in sociolinguistics who categorized the relationship between language variation and social class:
    • Engaged in extensive fieldwork in New York City.
    • Observed pronunciation differences in social settings (e.g., casual vs. careful speech).
  • Key Findings:
    • Non-rhotic speech (dropping the 'r') indicates social class in NYC.
    • Working-class speakers more likely to use non-standard variants.
Symbolic Capital
  • Concept: Refers to intangible attributes that can improve social standing:
    • Symbolic capital can manifest through education, relationships, and language use.
    • Involves the balancing act of aligning with societal norms while also representing one's identity and group.
Communities of Practice**
  • Penny Eckert's Research: Examines how high school students navigate class and identity through language:
    • Identified groups (e.g., Jocks vs. Burnouts) that use language as a form of identity and social capital accumulation.
Negative Concord
  • Linguistic Phenomenon where multiple negations are used:
    • Non-standard examples: "I didn't do nothing" vs. standard negative form
    • Reflects community identity and resistance to standard norms.
Importance of Understanding Language and Power
  • Key Takeaways:
    • Language variation reflects social structures and identities.
    • Social class influences how language use is perceived and evaluated.
    • Non-standard variants can be socially valuable and signify group solidarity.
Final Thoughts
  • Interplay of Language and Identity: Language shapes and reflects personal and group identities, thereby influencing social dynamics and perceptions.