Standpoint Theory and Speech Communities

Question 1

Suzanne Langer

Answer 1

Speech Communities

Question 2

Members of a social group have a way of communicating that people outside the community do not understand. This is called what?

Answer 2

Speech Code

Question 3

Communication Rules

Answer 3

Regular patterns in the communication used by particular groups. These rules are socially constructed and can be learned.

Question 4

According to the speech communities theory why are misunderstandings likely to occur?

Answer 4

When people who occupy different social groups communicate.

Question 5

Code Switching can be

Answer 5

• inadvertent
• a way to fit in
• strategic
• a way to communicate privately
• used to convey a thought

Question 6

3 critiques of speech communities

Answer 6

• obscures human diversity
• fosters division among social groups
• theory is not sufficiently critical

Question 7

Standpoint Theory claims that

Answer 7

the social, material and symbolic circumstances of a social group shape the standpoint members of that group.

Question 8

3 key ideas in standpoint theory

Answer 8

• a standpoint is a place from which we view the world that determines what we focus on as well as what we don’t know
• the social groups we belong to shape how we see the world and how we communicate
• societal inequalities generate distinctive accounts of the world

Question 9

According to standpoint theory why do groups in positions of lesser power in society have a more accurate understanding of social life than groups with more power?

Answer 9

• Their security and well-being depends on their understanding of how the status-quo operates
• No reason to maintain social hierarchy as it does not serve them well

Question 10

Standpoint theory is a theory about

Answer 10

Knowledge

Question 11

Partial Perspective

Answer 11

Individuals only view things from particular vantage points, each vantage point only provides a partial understanding of the social whole

Question 12

A person in a normally marginalized social position who has gained access to a more privileged location

Answer 12

Outsider Within

Question 13

Double location leads to

Answer 13

double consciousness

Question 14

Knowledge is plural and depends on social location

Answer 14

situated knowledges

Question 15

Accuracy

Answer 15

The ability to see more than what’s available t one’s own specific location

Question 16

2 critiques of standpoint theory

Answer 16

• privileges marginalized standpoints

- obscures human diversity

Question 17

According to _____ language is key to building shared culture?

Answer 17

Suzanne Langer

Question 18

Socially constructed

Answer 18

Speech Communities

Question 19

A system of communicating that outsiders of that community do not understand is a?

Answer 19

speech code

Question 20

Individuals with a more accurate standpoint are those with

Answer 20

less power in society