Dialect Levelling, Koineisation and Code Switching Flashcards
What dialect is particularly useful with this theory?
Estuary English
What is the general concept of dialect levelling?
The gradual decline of differences between local dialect and sociolect forms
Who did research supporting this theory?
Kerswill
How does Estuary English help this theory?
The movement of this dialect into other surrounding areas shows that other dialects are converging together more and are taking features from other dialects, making the differences less extreme or not there at all
What is Koineisation?
Where two existing varieties of dialect come into contact and create a new dialect which does not interfere with the existing dialects
What is different about these new koins?
They are distinctive from the original dialects which made it, and all can exist together
Who came up with Koineisation?
Kerswill
What is Code Switching?
Where a person uses different accents and dialect depending on who they are speaking to and where they might be
Who came up with Code Switching?
Sebba
What is an example of code switching done in Sebba’s research?
The speakers were able to use:
Standard English, RP, Jamaican Creole and Cockney forms in their use of language
What can code switching result in?
Complex new linguistic combinations
as they may mix a Jamaican Creole word with an RP accent
What does Sebba believe about code switching?
It is a very valuable skill which involves a lot of sophistication unlike other linguistics who suggest the language is being “dumbed down”
