Ch. 5 - Speech Communities

Question 1

Speech communities

Answer 1

A flexibly defined group of speakers

Question 2

Nested Varieties

Answer 2

• e.g. English > North america > canada > western canada > vancouver

Question 3

Dense vs. Loose Social Networks

Answer 3

Dense - everyone knows each other, and there are few people known outside of the group
Loose - everyone who knows a bunch of people who don’t know each other

Question 4

Multiplex vs. Simplex social networks

Answer 4

Multiplex - generally knowing people in multiple contexts (e.g. church, work, neighbours, pubs, friends)
Simplex - knowing people in only one or two contexts

Question 5

Social networks

Answer 5

Less about broad categories and more about peer groups
- the people they’re around the most and thus determine more how they speak

Question 6

Communities of practice

Answer 6

People who form their own communities around common activities and interests

Question 7

speech repertoire

Answer 7

the varieties that a speaker controls and uses situationally
- more useful when applied to individuals than groups
- each