Regional Variation Theorists Flashcards
What does Bernstein argue?
There is a general agreement among linguistics that a wide variety of language is important in our skills for learning.
This theorist argued that working-class speakers used a restricted code of language, which related to the here-and-now, while middle-class speakers used an elaborated code, which was much more explicit and independent of context.
What are some features of the restricted code of language and the elaborated code of language?
Restricted code of language:
- non standard english
- narrow range of vocabulary
- use of gestures
- incorrect use of grammar
Elaborated code of language:
- standard english
- wide range of vocabulary
- complex sentences
- good use of grammar
What is Eckerts theory?
This theorist argues that people tend to speak like those who they share values and practices with.
How did Eckert research her theory?
Looked at language within American high-schools.
There were the ‘burnouts’ who had exaggerated pronunciation that reflected their urban accent.
Then there were the ‘jocks’ who spoke in a more socially prestigious way - often reflecting their middle class background.
What was Powney’s theorist?
Invented the notion of ‘familect’ where people within the family invent their own private lexis to refer to shared meanings (calling up events that happened in the past)
What was Trudgill theory?
Looked at the use of ‘ing’ words.
People who use ‘ing’ words are more socially prestigious than those who use ‘in.’
How did Trudgill test these findings?
Tested the way in which both genders from each social class spoke - found that there was a higher amount of ‘ing’ words spoken from people of a higher social class and a higher amount of ‘in’ words from people of a lower social class.
What does Giles argue?
He developed the ‘Communication Accommodation Theory’ (CAT)
Explores how a user adapts his/her language to signal their feelings to the person they are talking too.
What is convergence?
When some peoples language structurally resembles one another because of language contact (spent a long time with each other)
What is divergence?
When communication breaks down between people due to lack of interaction among speakers causing new languages to be formed.
What is Estuary English?
A variety of modified regional speech.
In the middle of both RP (Received pronunciation) and London speech.
What is Dialect Levelling?
Where language forms of different parts of the country converge and become more similar over time. There is a loss of regional variation and diversity.
Who argued for ‘Dialect Levelling’
Milroy and Kerswill.
