LCS 111 Lecture 11: Diversity and Difference - Sociolinguistics, Varieties, and Dialects

Administrative Notices: Class Representatives

• SRC Initiative: The Student Representative Council (SRC) has established the Student Academic Affairs Council. This initiative requires every class to elect representatives who will serve on the Students’ Faculty Sub-council.
• Election Requirements for LCS 111: The class must elect a maximum of $2$ representatives for the current semester.
• Powers, Duties, and Responsibilities (Section 20):     - 20.1.1: Representatives must facilitate efficient communication regarding class concerns to the lecturer.     - 20.1.2: They must act as active participants in dispute resolutions between the class and the lecturer.     - 20.1.3: They are responsible for effectively communicating any information received from the SRC to their class. This includes directives from the SRC Academic Affairs Officer, the Student Academic Affairs Council, and the Students’ Faculty Representative Committee.     - 20.1.4: They must meet with the current lecturer on a regular basis to maintain open lines of communication and convey issues relative to the class.     - 20.1.5: They are expected to listen patiently and equitably to all complaints or concerns relayed by their classmates.

Class Representative Nomination Process

• Eligibility: Any student wishing to stand for election for LCS 111 for this semester must nominate themselves.
• Nomination Requirements:     - Candidates must create a short video with a duration of $\text{30 seconds}$ to $\text{1 minute}$.     - The video should outline specific reasons why the student is a suitable candidate for the position.
• Submission & Voting:     - The video must be emailed to the lecturer before the next scheduled class.     - Videos will be screened during the next class session, followed by a formal vote.
• Incentive: Serving as a class representative is highlighted as a beneficial addition to a student’s CV.

Lecture 11 Overview: Diversity and Difference (1)

• LCS 111 Details: Introduction to Language, Communication & Society, Linguistics Department, First floor, Old Arts Block.
• Key Topics of Discussion:     - Data analysis strategies.     - Fundamentals of Sociolinguistics.     - Identification and function of sociolinguistic variables.     - Distinction between language and variety.     - Relationship between languages and dialects.
• Required Reading: Chapter 11, "Linguistic Diversity and Difference."     - First Edition: Pages $294$ to $311$.     - Second Edition: Pages $302$ to $319$.

The Interdisciplinary Scope of Linguistics

• Linguistics serves as a central hub connecting various academic disciplines:     - Psychology: Linked via Psycholinguistics.     - Sociology: Linked via Sociolinguistics.     - Anthropology: Linked via Anthropological Linguistics.     - Artificial Intelligence: Linked via Computational Linguistics.     - Literature: Linked via Stylistics.     - Philosophy: Linked via Pinguistical (Linguistic) Philosophy.
• Core Linguistic Pillars:     - Pragmatics     - Semantics     - Syntax     - Phonology     - Phonetics
• Specialized Fields Mentioned: Biblical studies.

Case Study: Analyzing Sociolinguistic Data

• Case Study Reference: C. Dyers, "From Ibaru to Amajoin – Living Among Languages" (Case Study 14.1).     - Pagination: Pages $389$ through $392$ (First Edition) and pages $401$ through $404$ (Second Edition).
• Data Sample A:     - Line 1: "Ek sê (‘I say’) bafobethu!…molweni ni alright?" (Translation: "Hi guys, how are you, are you all right?")     - Line 2: "Ku grand akhoneks (niks, meaning ‘nothing’)" (Translation: "Fine no problem.")
• Analytic Questions for Students:     - What specific attributes can be determined about the speakers based on their language use?     - Where are these speakers located in "social space"?     - What indicators exist regarding their racial identity, ethnic identity, social class, and gender?     - Discussion on whether this language mixing is considered "acceptable" or "normal."     - Reflection on personal use of varieties and the choice between formal and informal registers.

Defining Sociolinguistics and Linguistic Variation

• Formal Definition: Sociolinguistics is defined by Stroud (2014: 297) as the "…study of how language and society are intimately related."
• Theoretical Basis: Language use provides insights into the structure of society and the individuals within it. Sociolinguists specifically examine linguistic variation across social boundaries.
• Linguistic Variation:     - Refers to differences in language use, such as accent, pronunciation, and lexicon (vocabulary).     - According to Stroud (2014: 299), variation is rarely random or arbitrary. It is not caused by "laziness," "ill disposition," or a lack of knowledge regarding grammatical rules.     - Variation follows specific social "rules" and norms within a speech community. It is regular, systematic, and carries social significance as a form of social practice.

Sociolinguistic Variables

• Definition: A feature, element, or factor of language that is subject to change or variation.
• Function: These linguistic features (e.g., specific lexicons or accents) vary systematically according to social dimensions.
• Dimensions of Variation:     - Gender     - Age     - Ethnicity     - Geographical region     - Social class
• Social Mapping: Variables serve as key indicators of a speaker’s location within the social hierarchy or social categories.

Language Varieties, Languages, and Dialects

• Varieties: The preferred term for sociolinguists. It refers to different "kinds" of language that carry distinct social meanings and values.     - Example: Kaaps, which is a non-standard variety of Afrikaans.
• Language: Stroud (2014: 303) defines it as a "…linguistic variety that has emerged over time as having a distinct identity and which has acquired particular social values and meanings."
• Dialect: A specific form of a language peculiar to a social group or region.     - Example: The Gcaleka and Ngqika varieties of isiXhosa.
• The Concept of the "Standard":     - A "Standard Language" is a variety that has been standardized for official, formal, or educational purposes.     - Standard English: Used in schools nationwide in South Africa.     - Standard isiXhosa: Used in schools where the language is a subject.     - Subordination: When a specific variety is elevated to "Standard" status, other varieties of that language are often labeled as "dialects" and become socially subordinated to the standard.

Comparative Analysis: Standard vs. Urban Xhosa

• Standard Xhosa Example: "Ndibamba ngazibini ngxilimbela kaNtu. Xa ndichukumisa wena, ndiba nemihlali, kuba kaloku ndiyazi uba awusiyo dyongo kwaye unelunda ngesintu."     - English Translation: "I hold with both hands, big man of Ntu (I thank you very much, big man of Ntu). When I move you (emotionally), I become quite excited because I know that you are not a small boy and you are very proud of African traditions."
• Urban (Conversational) Xhosa Example: "Ndiabulela mntakwethu. Xa ndichukumisa wena ndiya vuya kakhulu kuba kaloku ndiyayazi uba awusingomntu uweak kwaye uyazingca ngesintu."     - English Translation: "I thank you very much, my brother. I am pleased that I have touched you (caused you to become emotional) because I know that you are not a weak person and you are proud of our customs."

Classification and Characteristics of Dialects

• Core Characteristics:     - Differences manifest in grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary.     - They are "mutually intelligible," meaning speakers of different dialects of the same language can understand each other (e.g., Gcaleka and Ngqika speakers).     - They often lack the power and status of standard languages because they are not standardized for formal or official use (Stroud, 2014/2019).
• Categories of Dialects:     - Regional: Varieties associated with specific geography (e.g., urban vs. rural isiXhosa).     - Ethnolect: Varieties associated with a race or ethnic group (e.g., Kaaps vs. Standard Afrikaans).     - Sociolect: Varieties associated with a specific social class (e.g., upper-class "twang" vs. working-class English).     - Accent: Specifically refers to the way words are spoken and pronounced.     - Idiolect: Speech habits that are unique and peculiar to a single individual.

Language Fluidity and Multilingualism

• The Linguistic Continuum: It is often difficult to separate distinct varieties in the speech of a single individual.
• Case Study Data (Wesbank High School, Cape Town):     - Utterance: "Ek sê bafobethu! . . . molweni ni alright?"     - Analysis: Utilizes Afrikaans ("Ek sê"), isiXhosa ("bafobethu", "molweni"), and English ("alright").
• Case Study Data (Eastern Cape Farmer):     - Utterance: "The thing qubula’ed out of the bush and landed oorkant over there."     - Analysis: A White farmer uses the isiXhosa word "qubula" (meaning sprang/leapt) and the Afrikaans word "oorkant" (meaning the other side) within an English sentence.
• Motivations for Mixing:     - To increase expressiveness.     - Result of human movement and interaction across spaces.     - Multilingualism is regarded as the norm rather than the exception.

Student Feedback and Preparation

• Check-in Survey: Students are requested to complete a Google Form regarding their progress and coping status in the module. Estimated time: $5\text{ minutes}$.
• Reading for Lecture 12: Chapter 11 in the textbook.     - First Edition: Pages $294$ to $311$.     - Second Edition: Pages $302$ to $319$.