Class theorists

Question 1

Milroy’s Belfast Study (1980)

Answer 1

Social networks; closed & open networks
members of speech community are connected to eachother in social networks
* closed = people who all know eachother, tight-knit, high density group
* open = many links to people outside of normal area are involved, low density, broader

Question 2

Peter Trudgill 1974 Norwich Study
Labov - Martha’s Vineyard Study (fisherman)

Answer 2

Covert & overt prestige
* Overt = how ppl speak to gain status in that community
* Covert = among nonstandard speakers & defines how ppl should speak to be considered members of that particular group

Question 3

Bernstein

Answer 3

Elaborated & restricted code
* elaborated = used to convey facts & abstract ideas] associated with formal situations
* restricted = to convey attitude & feeling] informal

Question 4

Malcom Petyt - -H dropping

Answer 4

• focused on local, northern accents (Yorkshire)
• looked at omission of the intial ‘h’ sound in a word
• e.g. Hello = ello
• people of lower class =. used -H dropping most > lower the class = less H’s used
• non-standard english and social class = linked