The Theorists Flashcards
Howard Giles
We alter our speech on who we are talking too
Covergence:
Decreases social distance: a person with a regional dialect in an interview may choose to speak in a different manner to gain status
Divergence
Emphasises gap between people: two people from different regions may emphasise their accent from regional identity
Jenny Cheshire
Men and women use spoken language differently
> men drop letters more
men use ain’t and double negatives
women are more status conscious
men desire covert prestige (break rules)
women desire overt prestige (follow rules)
Brown and Levison
4 politeness strategies
BALD ON RECORD:
Shock person e.g HELP!
POSITIVE POLITENESS
used to minimise gap between speakers e.g you must be hungry, it’s a long time side breakfast how about some lunch
NEGATIVE POLITENESS
implies social distance or awkwardness. Be indirect. “I’m looking for a comb”
Basil Bernstein
Two types of language
RESTRICTED > used by us all > working class > simple sentences > limited use of adjectives > used when talk to close friends and family
ELABORATED
> middle and upper class
> more complex and grammatical sentences
> wide range of adjectives
Zimmerman and West
Analysed single and mix sex conversation.
SINGLE SEX
0.35 interruptions and overlaps
MIXED SEX
4.36 interruptions and overlaps
> 98% of interruptions are men and 100% of the overlaps
women accept it
rarely interrupt men and when interrupted kept quiet
Robin Lakoff
Three politeness rules
DONT IMPOSE "I'm sorry but" GIVE OPTIONS "It's up to you" MAKE RECIEVER FEEL GOOD "How would I have coped without you"
INDIRECT REQUEST FORMS "would you mind" TAG QUESTIONS "Isn't it" HEDGES/ FILLERS "Kind of" and "Y'know" I
HP Grice
Four maxims
Quantity: say no more or less than is required
Relevance: each utterance should be relevant
Manner: avoid ambiguity and obscurity
Quality: tell the truth (believable) when maxims are broken conversation dies out.
Jennifer Coates
- Men will often reject topics of conversation introduced by women
- While women accept topics brought in by men
- Men will discuss make topics (sport)
- Women are more likely to initiate conversation but are less likely to make it success
Cameron
Suggested that language differences are caused by situations not gender
Levison
Positive face
When you feel valued, like or appreciated by someone else’s words
Negative face
When you feel imposed upon
