Language Varieties - Sociolects

Question 1

What is a sociolect?

Answer 1

Language used by a whole social group

Question 2

Prescriptivism and Descriptivism

Answer 2

PRESCRIPTIVISM - an approach to language that sets out rules for what is regarded as ‘correct’ –> language shouldn’t be changed

DESCRIPTIVISM - an approach to language where it can change, grow and evolve

Question 3

Slang and Neologisms

Answer 3

Slang and neologisms can create group cohesion and identity as all members will the using the same variation

HOWEVER slang can cause confusion for people beyond these social groups

The rising number of glossaries available online is evidence of the confusion among older adults about the lexical choices of young people

Question 4

Polari

Answer 4

Polari was a form of slang used by gay men in Britain prior to the decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1967

It’s now archaic due to it becoming normalised within Britain now

Question 5

Polari Jargon

Answer 5

Fruit = homosexual man

Fantabulosa = wonderful

Slap = makeup

Question 6

Twitchers

Answer 6

Twitchers are those who travel to spot rare birds

Question 7

Twitchers Jargon

Answer 7

Sprawk = blending of a sparrow and hawk

Dip out = to miss a bird a twitcher is looking out for

Blocker = a bird that is elusive

Question 8

Sociolects Theories - WILLIAM LABOV, SOCIAL BONDING THEORY

Answer 8

Small part of population begins to pronounce certain words or sounds differently from the rest of the population

Difference in pronunciation starts to become a signal of social and cultural identity

Question 9

Sociolect Theories - MONTGOMERY & BERNSTEIN 1971, ELABORATE + RESTRICTED CODE

Answer 9

Working class people could only use their linguistic structures whereas middle classes could effectively code switch alternating between RP and non-standard english

Question 10

Sociolect Theories - HOWARD GILES, ACCOMMODATION THEORY

Answer 10

Convergence - a speaker converges their language to sound like everyone else

Divergence - a speaker diverges their language to sound different from others

Question 11

Sociolect Theories - MICHAEL HALLIDAY, ANTI-LANGUAGES

Answer 11

Language used to prevent others from outside the group understanding it

Normally used by prisoners and criminals

Question 12

Sociolect Theories - DONALD MCKINNON 1996

Answer 12

Categories of attitudes towards language use than can lead to change:

1) Incorrect or correct
2) Pleasant or ugly
3) socially acceptable or socially unacceptable
4) morally acceptable or unacceptable
5) appropriate in context or inappropriate in context
6) useful or useless