Social Groups Theories

Question 1

Dialect

Answer 1

A style of language used in a geographical region

Question 2

Idiolet

Answer 2

A persons individual speech style

Question 3

Sociolect

Answer 3

The language used by a specific social group

Question 4

Social Identity Theory

Answer 4

People’s self esteem and world view are shaped by the groups they identify with

Question 5

Who proposed social identity theory

Answer 5

Tajfel and Turner

Question 6

Social identity theory on group membership

Answer 6

Idea that people define themselves based on the groups they belong to, giving them a sense of identity and belonging

Question 7

Social identity theory on positive self concept

Answer 7

Idea that to feel good about themselves, people favour their in group and find differences between the in and out groups

Question 8

Social identity theory on social comparison

Answer 8

Idea that people compare their in groups to other groups which leads to bias, discrimination, and superiority

Question 9

Social identity theory on stereotypes

Answer 9

Idea that stereotypes form from the categorisation of people leading to prejudice against those they see as different

Question 10

Levels of social identity

Answer 10

Personal
Social
Social categorisation
Distinct social groups (in and out groups)

Question 11

Who proposed communication accommodation theory

Answer 11

Giles, 1971

Question 12

Communication Accomodation Theory

Answer 12

Suggests people adjust their language, speech style and behaviour to match or differ from those around them

Question 13

Convergence

Answer 13

When people want to be liked so change their language to be more similar to those around them

Question 14

Divergence

Answer 14

When people want to emphasise a difference between them and those around them, so make their language more different than the others’ speech

Question 15

Upwards convergence

Answer 15

Matching the people around them by trying to sound more upper class

Question 17

Upwards divergence

Answer 17

Enunciating a higher class accent to distance themselves from others

Question 18

Downwards divergence

Answer 18

Enunciating a lower class accent to distance themselves from others

Question 19

Sociolinguistics

Answer 19

The study of language in relation to social factors like class, region and gender

Question 20

Standard forms

Answer 20

The socially accepted way of speaking

Question 21

Labov’s theory of dialectical prestige

Answer 21

Idea that social value is gained by using standard or non standard forms

Question 22

Overt prestige

Answer 22

A form of social value gained by using standard forms of speaking

Question 23

Covert prestige

Answer 23

A form of social value gained by using non standard forms

Question 24

Eckert’s theory of age

Answer 24

Chronological age- number of years passed since birth
Biological- physical maturity
Social- social maturity based on life events like getting married, having children etc.

Question 25

Downwards convergence

Answer 25

Matching the people around them to sound of a lower class

Question 26

Codeswitching

Answer 26

Using multiple languages or language varieties in a single situation. Regularly used by minority groups when switching between conversations in their dominant and sub-cultures.

Question 27

Stenstrom's features of 'teenage talk'

Answer 27

Overlaps Mumbling Verbal duelling Slang Taboo Codeswitching

Question 28

Slang

Answer 28

Language considered as informal, more commonly used in speech rather than writing, and typically associated with one group or context

Question 29

How did Andersson and Trudgill describe slang's origins

Answer 29

Originated with British criminals to refer to their own language and hide meaning from police or authority.

Question 30

Restricted code

Answer 30

Assumes the listener shares understanding of the topic being spoken about.

Question 31

Elaborated code

Answer 31

Does not assume a shared understanding of the topic and is therefore more descriptive and explicit