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L23A: Sociology of Language 2006-2007

L23A: Sociology of Language 2006-2007. Lecturer: Emmogene Budhai-Alvaranga Email addresses: ebudhai@yahoo.com or emmogene.budhai02@uwimona.edu.jm. L23A Website: www.mona.uwi.edu/dllp/courses/l23 a. Please Turn off all cellular phones & pagers. Objectives of the Session.

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L23A: Sociology of Language 2006-2007

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  1. L23A: Sociology of Language 2006-2007 Lecturer: Emmogene Budhai-Alvaranga Email addresses: ebudhai@yahoo.com or emmogene.budhai02@uwimona.edu.jm L23A Website: www.mona.uwi.edu/dllp/courses/l23a Please Turn off all cellular phones & pagers

  2. Objectives of the Session • Review of Last Session – Speech Community • Introduction to Variation existing in speech communities

  3. Review_Main Problems with Group Assignments: •   Even when linguistic criteria assign them to groups, people may have different views on their groupings • Speakers see themselves as one group even if they do not speak the same language

  4. The Speech Community -Characterizing properties: 1.Common locale is shared 2.a high level of interaction among group members  3.more interaction among group members than non-members 4. common social and linguistic norms

  5. Speech Communities – variation Variation in English • Lexical/Semantic differences: miserable in England (unfortunate) & Jamaica (irritable) • Phonology: Americans al’uminium vs British alum’inium • Syntax: Southern US blacks – he don’t know nothing vs. Standard American – he doesn’t know anything

  6. Example of Variation – American English Midwestern dialect Frank: How is Bob? Mary: Bob worries a lot anymore What is Mary trying to say? • a)bob doesn’t worry a lot anymore • b)Bob still worries a lot • c)Bob worries a lot nowadays

  7. Example of Variation – American English African-American Vernacular English (AAVE) • Tabitha: Is she married? Jamal: She BIN married (emphasis on BIN) • What is Jamal trying to say?: • a)she has been married before but isn’t • married now b) she’s married now and has been for a long time

  8. Why language varieties differ? 3 main factors: 1)Movement of population away from source 2)Cultural contact with other speakers 3) Space between people – geographical and social

  9. DISTINCTION IN VARIATION STUDIES: HORIZONTAL (or Regional) VARIATION Vs. VERTICAL (or Social) VARIATION

  10. HORIZONTAL (or Regional) VARIATION • variation largely geographical or regional to which the term “dialect” is usually attached. Eg. North America: different lexical items for beverage: pop, soda, soft drink, tonic • researchers use ISOGLOSSES • Which arelines used to mark linguistic boundaries (linguistic atlas) • a number of isoglosses “bundle” may correspond with dialectal boundaries

  11. VERTICAL (or Social) VARIATION • Variation influence by social factors (socio-economic status, caste, education level, gender, age, race, ethnicity) • Most societies that have social dialect variation have at least two varieties: -a high or prestigious variety - a non-standard variety

  12. Factors influencing Vertical Variation 1) Patterns of Interaction 2) Distribution of Power 3) Distribution of population

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