Post on 14-Dec-2015
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Social Dialectology Ch.3
Measuring the Cause of VariationDefining a Linguistic VariableSocial Factors Related to VariationIdentifying Variation in Spoken and
Written Texts
Various Views of Language Variation
Earlier ExplanationsDialect Mixture:
Implies the coexistence in one locality of 2 or more dialects which enables a speaker to draw on one dialect at one time, and on the other dialect(s) on other occasions.
Free Variation: Refers to the random use of alternate forms within a particular dialect.
Labov’s Variationist Theory
Language involved ‘structured heterogeneity.’
Language contained systematic variation which could be characterized and explained by patterns of social differentiation within speech communities.
Terminology of Dialectology Linguistic Variable: Any single feature of language that could be realized by
choice; can be phonological, lexical, morphological, etc. Variant is a term for different ways the feature is used.
Hypercorrection: When the lower middle class uses more of an elite form than the high-status group. It reflects their desire to distance self from working class.
Overt Prestige: Use of linguistic variants to show higher social status.
Covert Prestige: Working class speech that conforms to local values and norms instead, in order to mark solidarity.
Ethnolect: A variety of language that differs from the general patterns of wider society, based on a sense of identity through ancestry, religion, and culture.
Vernacular: The least self-conscious style of speech used in relaxed, informal situations. This style shows more regular rules of variation.
Fieldwork Methods: Measuring Causes of Variation
Sociolinguistic InterviewParticipant ObservationAnonymous SurveysField Experiments
Sociolinguistic Interview
Samples representative of population
In context (avoid observer’s paradox)
Informal personal interviewInterviewee leads in teaching about
“local ways and attitudes”
Participant Observation
Researcher works in setting gathering data
Insider/outsider status Example: Labov uses it to study
language of gangs in NYC as well as Philadelphia neighborhoods
Anonymous Surveys
Random sample15 minutes on phone Used to supplement other methods
Case study #1 Children in New England (p. 77)
Brief interviews from formal (ex: classroom recitation of a story) to informal settings. Girls use more –ing than boys‘Model’ boys use more –ing than “typical” boys
Case Study #2 Martha’s Vineyard
Methods: 69 tape-recorded interviews. Labov assigned a number to each of 4 possible responses and, using averages, created an index of linguistic use of feature according to age group.
Variations: – 2 diphthongs [aI] & [əI]
– Scores increase as one scans down the column
– Reduced levels of centralization in one group
Age in years Index Score for (aI)
75+ 25
61 - 75 35
46 - 60 62
31- 45 81
14 - 30 37
Case Study #3 NYC Dept. StoreMethods: Labov
pretended to be a customer at three large department stores used by different classes. He recorded 264 salespeople saying “fourth floor.” as well as their gender, race, age.
Variations: →
Postvocalic /r/ variations
62% Saks
51% Macy’s
Deliberate Usage
20% Klein’s
Case Study #3: NYC Lg StudyVariations: (th) variable pg 88
– Most non-fric forms occurred in casual speech for all groups.
– Decreasing frequency through more formal style.
– Sharply stratified char btwn the WC and LMC.
Case Study # 3: NYC Lg Study
Variations: Postvocalic (r) pg 89Methods: Extensive interviews recording
continuous speech, short passage, word list, word pairs– A fine stratification– Casual Speech level: only UMC shows
significant degree of r-pronunciation.– All groups increase from informal to formal
styles.– LMC shows greater increase in the use of [r],
until the word list and minimal pair styles. Overtake UMC.
Case Study # 4 Class Differences in Norwich
Methods: Detailed socioling. interview with fifty adults, ten school children, to generalize about norms
of city. Variations:
– Sharply stratified.– Gap btwn norms of MC
and WC.– Males: Covert Prestige– Females: Overt
Prestige
MMC 100%
LMC 98%
UWC 30%
MWC 13%
LWC (the GA slave class)
3%
Case Study # 5: Class Struggles in Cane Walk
Methods:
Interview recording using phonetic spelling for a Creole that’s only spoken.
Variations: – WC: Used standard variants only 18 % of
the time.– LMC: Used it 83% of time.
Social Factors?What are the social
implications that affect the variations in these case studies
Break up into 5 groups and come up with one social factor for each case study
gender, class, age personality
– Aggressive– Cooperative
mood– Tense– relaxed
formality SES ethnicity occupation geographic local school norms residents vs. seasonal res. attitude identity hypercorrection & covert /
overt prestige standard vs. creole usage
Outline and Label the possible variations on this map of the US: