Sociolinguistics - Attitudes to Variation

Question 1

Perceptual dialectology

Answer 1

The study of people’s subjectively held beliefs about different dialects or linguistic varieties

Question 2

Folk linguistics

Answer 2

The study of speakers’ opinions and beliefs about language, language varieties, and language usage. Also called perceptual dialectology

Question 3

Standard variety

Answer 3

Standard English is the language of educated people

It has been codified in languages and grammars

It is a variety without a home

It is more easily recognisable in writing

It is a variety involving vocabulary and grammar but can be spoken with any accent

Question 4

Overt prestige

Answer 4

Prestige associated with a variant that speakers are aware of and can talk about in terms of standardness, or aesthetic and moral evaluation like being ‘nicer’ or ‘better’.

Question 5

Covert prestige

Answer 5

A norm or target that is oriented to without the speaker even being aware that they are orientation to it. Evidence of covert prestige can be found in mismatches between speakers’ self report of using one variant and actual use of another variant.

Question 6

Matched-Guise test

Answer 6

An experimental technique used to determine the true feelings of an individual or community towards a specific language, dialect, or accent.