Regional Variation

Question 1

Standard English

Answer 1

Is the recipe end for of the language which operates universally agreed principles of grammar, syntax and often spelling. It is associated with the written mode more than the spoken and has become associated with formality, universal clarity and overt prestige.

Question 2

Accent vs dialect

Answer 2

Regional accents are the manner of pronunciation/articulation particular to a geographical place.
Regional dialects are the lexical and syntactic/grammatical features that are particular to a geographical place.

Question 3

Received Pronunciation

Answer 3

1. Conservative RP - think the Royal Family, the old, clipped form of BBC English.
2. Contemporary RP - still elite sounding, but spoken in more casual settings. Think Made in Chelsea.
3. Mainstream RP - a form of accent where there are no discernable markers; an absence of regionality (think Daisy Ridley, Kiera Knightly, Benedict Cumberbatch, David Attenborough).

Question 4

Dr lance workman - accent and perception of intelligence - procedure

Answer 4

This study investigated the effect of regional accent on the perception of intelligence and physical attractiveness.
Previous research suggests that, in the UK, there is a link between a person’s accent and their perceived level of intelligence, with speakers of ‘Received Pronunciation’ (RP) being considered to be cleverer than those with regional accents.

Question 5

Dr lance workman - accent and perception of intelligence - findings

Answer 5

We uncovered evidence that a Yorkshire accent is considered to be more intelligent than RP which, in turn, was considered to be more intelligent than a silent condition. The Birmingham accent was, however, rated for intelligence on a par with the silent condition. In contrast to these findings for intelligence no relationship between attractiveness and accent was uncovered. Results are discussed in terms of a reduction in negativity for some regional accents but not for others, where unfounded, negative stereotypes continue to be persuasive.

Question 6

Labov - Martha’s Vineyard

Answer 6

On Martha’s Vineyard a small group of fishermen began to exaggerate a tendency already existing in their speech. They did this seemingly subconsciously, in order to establish themselves as an independent social group with superior status to the despised summer visitors. A number of other islanders regarded this group as one which epitomised old virtues and desirable values, and subconsciously imitated the way its members talked. For these people, the new pronunciation was an innovation. As more and more people came to speak in the same way, the innovation gradually became the norm for those living on the island.

Question 7

Linguistic accommodation

Answer 7

the alteration of aspects of and individual’s speech when he or she interacts with others from different groups. There are two types:
1. Convergence: the speaker incorporates elements of the others’ speech into their own (accent aspects and a move towards a more standard form of English).
2. Divergence: the speaker emphasises differences between their own speech and others.