Week 12-language in society

Question 1

Define dialect

Answer 1

mutually intelligible forms of a language that differ in systematic ways
-mutually intelligible (understood by others)

Question 2

Define idiolect

Answer 2

individual’s unique way of speaking
-shaped by personal experiences, social influences, and interactions
-unique to one person

Question 3

Define regional dialects. What id dialect levelling?

Answer 3

Arose because of physical distance
-Less pronounced today
-Reflect cultural identity – why they still persist.
-Dialect levelling; process =movement towards greater uniformity and less variation among dialects

Question 4

Define social dialects

Answer 4

Dialects developed by social factors.
-Can be regional also.
-Numerous.
-May be based on: Socioeconomic status, Ethnic/racial differences, Country of origin/descent, Gender

Question 5

How are pidgins formed? What are they?

Answer 5

are created when people speaking two diverse languages need to communicate.
-superstrate language contributes majority of lexicon and grammar
-other language contributes in less obvious way=substrate languages
-Most are short-lived – lasting only a few generations.

Question 6

How are creoles formed? What are they?

Answer 6

language evolved in a contact situation to become native language of a generation of speakers
-far richer and more complex than pidgin

Question 7

What are linguistic features of pidgins?

Answer 7

-Small inventory of phonemes
-Lack grammatical words (e.g. auxiliary verbs, prepositions)
-Simpler set of pronouns
-Fewer prepositions

Question 8

What are linguistic features of creoles?

Answer 8

-may have inflectional morphology for tense, etc.
-more complex pronoun systems

Question 9

Define register

Answer 9

Dialect determined by subject matter
e.g. legalese-long sentences, specific vocabulary known as jargon (shall, forewith, hereby, liable)
e.g. recipes and cooking instructions – short, simple sentences. Imperative sentences

Question 10

Define jargon

Answer 10

words of a register – which are technical
-Other words of a register which are not technical, and are slang are called ‘argot’. E.g. ‘gang speak’ or ‘sailor lingo’

Question 11

Define taboo words

Answer 11

-Unacceptable/ forbidden/ dangerous words – dictated by the social context.
-Common taboo words across cultures are words relating to sex, sex organs and natural bodily functions

Question 12

Define euphamisms

Answer 12

word or phrase that replaces taboo word/ used to avoid reference to certain acts or subjects.
e.g. Die = pass on
-Demonstrate a non-literal or connotative meaning.