LANGUAGE AND DIALECTS (accents)

Question 1

Labov accent/dialect experiment

Answer 1

• focused on dialectology & pronounciation of diphthongs
• used Martha’s vineyard
• diff groups pronounced diphthongs differently
• population isolated themselves from tourists to establish identity

Question 2

Sociolect

Answer 2

Variation in pronunciation in a particular social group

Question 3

Idiolect

Answer 3

An individuals speech style

Question 4

Dialect

Answer 4

Variation in words/structures associated with a particular geographical region (lexis/grammar)

Question 5

Accent

Answer 5

Variation in pronunciation associated with a particular geographical region (phonology)

Question 6

Kevin Watson’s sociophonetics

Answer 6

• some accents sound ‘nice’ (objective) e.g. RP
• some don’t e.g. Brummie bc of media portrayal
• negative value attached to certain accents bc of negative stereotype of place of origin
• insider & outsider beliefs

Question 7

Overt prestige

Answer 7

A dialect that is widely recognised as being used by a culturally dominant group e.g. RP

Question 8

Covert prestige

Answer 8

A dialect that is generally perceived by the dominant culture group as being inferior but which compels its speakers to use it to show membership in an exclusive community.

Question 9

Bradford ethnicity study

Answer 9

• 95% students Pakistani so codeswitch with Punjabi & English
• difference in language based on post code
• boys codeswitched to create group identity, girls never bc felt like minority
• slang influenced by heritage, pop culture & internet

Question 10

South London ethnicity study

Answer 10

• lexical choices from students originate from Jamaican/Afro-Caribbean
• language not about ethnicity but where you live

Question 11

Received Pronunciation

Answer 11

Considered standard pronunciation of British English. A marker of social status & non regional

Question 12

Howard Giles accent study

Answer 12

• ‘matched-guise’ approach
• P’s listened to same speaker w/ range of accents & passed judgement
• rated RP as highest in competence & intelligence despite same person

Question 13

Social mobility

Answer 13

A person’s move from one social class to another via marriage, job etc

Question 14

David Starkey in London riots

Answer 14

• links Jamaican crêole w/ bad behaviour / criminality
• on BBM during riots slang was used to organise
• in prison higher % of urban accents

Question 15

Choy & Dodd accent/dialect study

Answer 15

• teachers perceptions of students ability and personality influenced by their speech

Question 16

Dixon, Mahoney & Cock’s accent study

Answer 16

• ‘matched-guise’
• Ps believed suspect w/ Brummie accent more likely to be guilty