Sociolinguistics A

Question 1

A: Define concepts of language change from above and below: points

Answer 1

Above intro 2
Above :) 2
Above: source of change 2
Below intro 3
Below e.g. 1

Question 2

A: Define concepts of language change from above and below: above intro 2

Answer 2

• alterations individuals consciously recognise
• can manifest when individuals acknowledge social implications of sociolinguistic evolution: ‘they’ first pp: promote lang change to bolster social identity

Question 3

A: Define concepts of language change from above and below: above :) 2

Answer 3

• prestige and appealing to language communities
• Labov : even NYers who didnt use postvocalic /r/ recognised it as a prestigious feature & positively evalutated

Question 4

A: Define concepts of language change from above and below: above source of change 2

Answer 4

• above = generally spreading downward through social groups
• E.g pv /r/ first appeared in upper-middle speech (Labov Saks = highest frequency): gradually diffused down

Question 5

A: Define concepts of language change from above and below: below intro 3

Answer 5

• subtle subconscious shifts in lang that originates from within collective consciousness of community
• unlike above
• GVS : demonstrates lang change occurring gradually over centuries

Question 6

A: Define concepts of language change from above and below: below e.g 1

Answer 6

[in contemporary society]
- evolution of slang terms & colloquial expressions in youth culture : spontaneous from informal interactions