REGIONAL AND SOCIAL VARIATION OF LANGUAGE

INTRODUCTION TO LINGUISTICS

  • Focus on language varieties: regional and social variation.

LANGUAGE VARIETY

  • Definition of variety: Different forms of language used by different groups.

  • Types of varieties:

    • Regional variety

    • Social variety

      • Age-related variety

      • Ethnic variety

    • Dialect: Sub-varieties based on region.

    • Sociolect: Social group-based variation.

    • Chronolect: Language variation over time.

    • Ethnolect: Ethnic group dialects.

    • Idiolect: Individual's unique language use.

REGIONAL VARIATION

  • Linguistic Geography: Study of language variation in different regions.

    • Examples: British, American, and Australian English.

    • Specific regional examples: West Midland English, Northern English, etc.

VARIETY vs STANDARD LANGUAGE

  • Standard language:

    • Official language for public use and education.

    • Characteristics include:

      • Idealized variety with no specific region.

      • Lacks an international standard.

      • Standardized spelling, grammar, lexis, and pronunciation?

    • Historically tied to privileges and power.

BRITISH ENGLISH: RECEIVED PRONUNCIATION (RP)

  • Known as BBC English, Queen’s English, Oxford English.

  • Characterized as regionally neutral: hard to determine a speaker's childhood region.

  • Low prevalence (3%-10% of RP users) in society.

  • Modern RP is more democratic, differing from aristocracy.

ACCENT AND DIALECT

  • Accent: Pronunciation cues that indicate speaker's region or social status.

  • Dialect: Includes grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation differences in language.

DIALECTAL DIFFERENCES

  • Examples:

    • Pronunciation variations.

    • Lexical differences.

    • Grammar:

      • Scottish English example: "Ye dinnae ken whit yer haverin’ aboot."

      • Irish English: "How long are youse here?"

DIALECTOLOGY

  • Study of dialect ideals using methods like dialectal surveys.

  • NORMS (Non-mobile, older, rural, male speakers) used to collect data.

DIALECT MAPS

  • Dialect maps: Visual representation of language boundaries.

    • Isoglosses: Lines that separate different dialect features.

ISOGLOSSES AND DIALECTAL BOUNDARIES

  • Example of isoglosses showing regional dialect differences:

    • North Dakota vs. Minnesota dialects regarding 'paper bag' vs. 'paper sack'.

BRITISH ENGLISH DIALECTS

  • List of dialects in the UK and Ireland including Scots, Geordie English, and more.

  • Links to dialect maps.

AMERICAN ENGLISH DIALECTS

  • Overview of various American English dialects across different regions.

  • Comparative visual map of dialects.

BILINGUALISM

  • Presence of more than one dialect/language in communities.

  • Examples:

    • Speaking Spanish at home and English in school.

    • Bilingual individuals from mixed-language backgrounds.

LANGUAGE PLANNING

  • Decisions regarding which language varieties are official.

  • Stages of language planning include:

    • Selection, codification, elaboration, implementation, and acceptance.

LANGUAGE AND DIALECT

  • Max Weinreich's quote on the distinction between a language and a dialect emphasizes social factors:

    • "A language is a dialect with an army and navy."

PIDGINS AND CREOLES

  • Pidgin: Language variety without native speakers developed for trade (e.g., Tok Pisin).

  • Features include simpler grammar and vocabulary based on source languages.

  • Creole: A stable natural language that has developed from a pidgin, serving as a first language for a community (e.g., Jamaican English).

SOCIAL VARIATION

  • Relationships between region, education, and economic status create distinct speech communities.

SOCIOLINGUISTICS

  • Study of how language interacts with various aspects of society (psychology, sociology, culture).

LABOV’S NEW YORK STUDY (1962)

  • Investigated pronunciation of /r/ in various environments as it relates to social status.

  • Found correlation between store prestige and /r/ pronunciation.

PETER TRUDGILL’S STUDY IN READING (1974)

  • Examined usage of postvocalic /r/ to understand class differences in language use.

SOCIOLECT

  • Definition of sociolect: a social dialect associated with a particular social class.

VARIABLES AND MARKERS

  • Differentiation between social and linguistic variables; usage of markers to signify social group membership.

LANGUAGE AND SOCIAL IDENTITY

  • Language as a symbol of identity; speakers categorized by their language practices.

  • Group identity influenced by regional dialects, jargon, and slang.

SPEECH ACCOMMODATION

  • Speech accommodation involves adapting speech style to foster social connection.

  • Convergence: Reducing social distance through language.

  • Divergence: Emphasizing differences to maintain social distance.

REGISTER, JARGON, AND SLANG

  • Register: Appropriate language used in specific contexts.

  • Jargon: Specialized vocabulary related to specific fields or topics.

  • Slang: Colloquial expressions that signal group identity, often transient in nature.

SOURCES

  • McCabe, A. (2011). An Introduction to Linguistics and Language Studies. London: Equinox Publishing Ltd.

  • Yule, G. (2010). The Study of Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

  • Additional resources include links to external websites for further readings.