Issues in Sociolinguistics

Question 1

Define sociolinguistics

Answer 1

Study of language in relation to society

Question 2

Define discourse

Answer 2

‘Real language that real people use in the real world’: text in context. Language as it’s used, but also active

Question 3

Define dialectical

Answer 3

Two way relationship - language both SHAPES and is SHAPED BY situations/institutions/social structures

Question 4

What are interactional sociolinguistics?

Answer 4

How people use language in conversation with one another (including identity construction, power dynamics etc)

Question 5

What is critical discourse analysis?

Answer 5

How texts (e.g. adverts, political speeches) shape how we think about society

Question 6

What are variationist sociolinguistics?

Answer 6

Correlating particular features of language with particular groups of speakers (including linguistic variation between speakers of the same dialect etc)

Question 7

Define indexicality

Answer 7

Language conveys social meaning, thus indexes/points to particular social identities (e.g. socioeconomic class, age, gender, sexuality, location)

Question 8

What are accents a form of?

Answer 8

Indexicality - e.g. Brummie accent indexes upbringing in Birmingham; RP accent is social (not regional) thus indicates social class

Question 9

What is the difference between accent and dialect?

Answer 9

Dialect = variety you speak (including lexis)
Accent = sound you make

Question 10

Define sociolinguistic markers

Answer 10

Using language to index identity/belonging to a particular community/group (e.g. calling alleyway ‘gennel’ indexed belonging to local Sheffield community). Marked in/out of community by language.
Language also constructs and defines our membership to social groups.

Question 11

In investigating language variation, explain how by defining variables and variants

Answer 11

Compare people’s use of linguistic variables (things that change in language - a word that can be said in different ways e.g. “jumping”); work out frequency of using a non-standard variant vs. a standard variant (the different ways something can be said e.g. “jumpin’” vs. “jumpinG”

Question 12

Define vernacular.

Answer 12

Language first acquired; used primarily among friends/family/in comfortable contexts. Your natural language.

Question 13

How does social class correlate with use of stable variants?

Answer 13

High-status variants more frequent in upper classes; low-status variants more frequent in lower classes due to identity (e.g. working-class speakers more likely to be in close-knit community, thus reinforcement of local dialect norms) and sociocultural experience (education, privilege, perceptions of ‘prestige’)

Question 14

How does gender impact linguistic variants used?

Answer 14

Women rely on language to index social status because they possess less material power and have less secure social position

Question 15

What is the difference between covert and overt prestige?

Answer 15

Covert: when non-standard dialects carry prestige for certain groups.
Overt: prestige associated with variants speakers are aware is ‘better’ according to standard English.

Question 16

What is it called when style varies in different contexts?

• What might it demonstrate?
• Why does it happen? (3)

Answer 16

SHIFT
- demonstrates we’re somewhat aware of the meaning our language use carries
- Happens because of
> prestige (we’re trying to acquire social status)
> hypercorrection (unnatural use of standard language)
> accommodation theory (trying to gain acceptance)

Question 17

Describe the difference between convergence and divergence

Answer 17

Convergence: shift of language to be more similar to addressee; to gain approval/fit in/acceptance into community
Divergence: emphasise differences between two speakers

Question 18

What theory are the concepts of convergence and divergence a part of?

Answer 18

Accommodation theory

Question 19

Define prestige

Answer 19

Trying to acquire social status

Question 20

Define hypercorrection

Answer 20

Unnatural use of standard language

Question 21

Define accommodation theory

Answer 21

Trying to gain acceptance through shifting language to become more like those with the desired identity