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Chapter 2. Dialectology & Language Variation Nothing is permanent but change Heraclitus. True or False. All dialects are equal. The cartoon in the previous slide focuses on which aspect of dialectal difference? Vocabulary Morphology Phonology Syntax All of the above.
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Chapter 2 Dialectology & Language Variation Nothing is permanent but change Heraclitus
True or False • All dialects are equal
The cartoon in the previous slide focuses on which aspect of dialectal difference? • Vocabulary • Morphology • Phonology • Syntax • All of the above Whenever we speak… Language Strategic Competence Competence Organizational Pragmatic Competence Competence Grammatical Textual Illocutionary Sociolinguistic Competence Competence Competence Competence Vocabulary Cohesion Rhetorical Dialect Cultural Organization References Syntax Register Morphology Functional Phonology Abilities
Whaddya Think? Dialects have clear boundaries
Linguistic Atlas Example http://hyde.park.uga.edu/lamsas/lingmaps.html
Isogloss Map • Created from multiple individual responses • Indicator of dialectal tendencies • NOT intended to capture distinct lines between groups of speakers • Dialect boundaries often geographic, political
Dialectology – Vocab/Concepts • Focal (urban) vs. relic (rural) areas • Diachronic Change • Family Tree • William Labov • Linguistic variable / Marker
Markers • Grammar • Don’t have any Ain’t got none • Word Choice • y’all, yous, your’en, you them • Pronunciation
Variation on a Theme… • Dialect (Regional) • Sociolect (Social) • Ideolect (Individual) • Provide examples of each…
Did Ja Git It? • The dropping of “r” in “car”, “park”, etc in London and other parts of England is an example of which type of variation? • Dialect • Sociolect • Idiolect • All of the above
American English: Consonants Nearly complete set…
Data Collection & Analysis • Sampling Techniques • Random – “Best”…? • Judgment • Stratified • Variables • Dependant • Independent • Research Question (not in text) • Null hypothesis (not in text) • Questionnaires Start thinking about your final project NOW
You Tell Me… • What are the problems with each? • Informants • Field method • Observer’s paradox
Application • What linguistic variables might be fun to look at in South Carolina? How would you expect them to vary by location, social class, and/or situation? • 50¢ • there • ???
Whaddya Think? • I am a “Typical South Carolinian”… • Is there any such thing as a “Typical South Carolinian”?
Modern Dialectology • Focus on urban speech • Boundary interaction of dialects (Section 2.4)
Phonetic Variation in US • Common dialect markers? • Place them on vowel chart
Pronunciation Variation: • Follows identifiable rules • Follows fuzzy isoglosses • Tends to occur between similar sounds • Tends to compromise between dialects • All of the above
Transplanted People Focusingcreation of a newdialect from select features of a set…Tends to favor one or two of themost prominent or powerfuldialects Mixingfeatures from multiple dialects(though not equally, cf. focusing…) New Dialect/ Language Levelingmixed and focused features are typically not purely any former language/dialect, but compromised adaptations
Rural Dialectology Today… • Focus on Vocabulary • Passive understanding • Idiosyncratic knowledge • Metaphorical/idiomatic usage • Mainstream Slang • Older users don’t think youngsters ‘get it’ • Grammar & Phonology • Slower to change…
Challenges for Dialectologists • Prosody • Rhythm, pitch, intonation, voice quality • Acquired early in childhood • Articulatory Setting • Dialect (Boiling Springs)// Language (Cherokee) • Discourse Style • Particles (uh, yeah, y’know…) • Register
Out of Context… Can you relate this to the study of language…?
Did Ja Git It? • Which of the following is NOT a type of language variation? • Personal • Regional • Social • Temporal • All of the above are variation types
Did Ja Git It? • Which is an example of a “marker”? • /l/ in the past tense in Indian languages • “pail” vs. “bucket” in England • “threw” vs. “throwed” in Missouri • [ol] vs. [oil] in the South Carolina • All of the above are markers
Did Ja Git It? • Isoglosses are: • Fixed boundaries between dialects • Typically wide, straight lines • Primarily based on political lines • Based on single &/or multiple markers • None of the above
Did Ja Git It? • Dialects tend to: • Stay stagnate for long periods of time • Spread across areas in even waves • Jump from one urban center to another • Be affected by geographic features • Both C and D are true
Did Ja Git It? • Traditional Dialectology: • Focused on urban areas • Surveyed nearly all people in target areas • Have been done for over 100 years • Employed only professional linguists • Both A and C are correct
For Tomorrow Social Dialects See schedule for details