Data collection Flashcards
What is a standard variety of english and where is it used?
Standardisation of language which is usually used: (Trudgill)
- Newspapers
- News broadcasts
- Taught in school
Theorist for standard varieties:
Trudgill
A standard variety example (geographic location)
Pin-Pen merger in the USA
Shared norm:
People who share acceptable group conducts such as:
- Grammar
- Lexical forms
- Phonology
What is a variable?
Something you collect in your data.
Quantitive Analysis:
The definition of the variable is restricted.
Qualitative Analysis
Doesn’t usually use the term “variable.”
Envelope of variation:
You don’t only count when the variable is realised, but how many times there could have been realisations.
Observers paradox:
Observing the way people speak when they are not being observed.
However, the only way to study language is by observing.
What is corpora?
A body of language that someone has collected for a particular purpose
Example of corpora:
The Corpus of American English
Advantages of corpora:
- Good for searching for patterns over a generalised population
- Big size
Disadvantages of corpora:
- Lose control over the demographics of your speakers
- Lose control over the topics they discuss
What might people do according to the Observers Paradox?
If they are aware that they are being observed, they may alter their use of language, which doesn’t reflect their true idiolect.
