8) Language variation Flashcards
What is a dialect?
a variety of language, not the same thing as slang or jargon
Dialects, as does the standard variety, follow ______________________ even though they may not be formally written down
a set of “grammar” rules
Why are some language varieties more highly socially valued than others?
it’s mostly a matter of fashion, it all depends on who speaks that way - e.g. elite members of society
Why do people use dialects?
social reasons- association with home, local neighborhood, or simply because it’s cool or it sounds tough
In many communities, people use nonstandard features ____ frequently than people in higher-class groups
more
Name levels of dialect variation
Lexical variation, phonological variation, morphosyntactic variation, pragmatic variation
In which dialect variation can we see the most noticeable differences?
in lexical variation
Which dialect variation is often a source of confusion or embarrassment?
lexical variation
What is morphosyntactic variation?
how words are put together into sentences
Which dialect variant is about the differences in conventions of language use ar a broader level?
pragmatic variation
Which dialect is often considered to be one of the most distinctive dialects of American English?
African American English
What are the types of dialect variation?
social class and social network, gender-based patterns of variation, ethnicity-based variation
What can you say about gender-based patterns of variation?
women tend to be more standard than men, they also adopt new features more quickly, in casual styles, however, women actually used more informal speech than men
Which ethnic variety has been most thoroughly studied?
the African American English
Why has African American English been embroiled in controversy?
there was debate whether AAE has its origins in the early dialects of BrE brought to the American colonies, or if it originated as a creole
