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UNIT 4 - Coggle Diagram
UNIT 4
UNIT 4: VARIATION AND LANGUAGE CHANGE
variation
phenomenon observed when people speak and fluctuate or alternate between variants
speech of
groups
is heterogeneous
sociolinguists observe the tendency of frequency, compare it with other social groups, see if there are correlations and draw conclusions about meanings indexed, motivations
variants are influenced, constrained, conditioned
variability
inherent property of Language use
systematic, patterned and predictable
factors
non-linguistic
audience
theory of audience design
addresse, auditor overhearer, eavesdropper
known, ratified, addressed
addresse (addressed) most influential
sociodemographic
gender
women and standard forms
the social status explanation - social capital
women as more status conscious
≠linguistic marketplace, to accrue capital
women’s role as guardian of society’s values - socialization of women
women's interaction with researcher may be influenced by audience
subordinate groups must be polite - powerless
women claim more status (linguistic marketplace)
vernacular forms express machismo / gender differentiation
vernacular: connotations of masculinity and toughness
affiliation/disaffiliation
attention to one speech
takes into account only tasks, not audience
linguistic marketplace
symbolic value, way of accruing cultural capital
ways of talking have different symbolic value
linked to occupations
some require use of prestigious variants
topic
social networks
dense/close knit
favours retention of vernacular forms
less influence and positive attitudes towards retention
indentity indexed through homogeneity
loose
ties
uniplex
multiplex
group of ppl with which
one speaker
interacts with
stronger than gender
linguistic
always present
except for some lexical variants
linguistic are always stronger, esp in semantic load
"if ommited it can bring about a difference in sense"
Sociolinguists need to consider the interplay of different factors
drives/motivations
to indicate belonging /affiliation/disaffiliation
to do things that are appreciated in community
speakers accumulate symbolic value
to avoid what is looked down on
negotiation of meanings in interaction
language is attuned according to hypothesis
convergence
divergence
importance of audience
variety
and accent
words that exhibit dif speech pattern aren't variants
only phonology and prosody
set of distinctive features at
all
levels of language
AAVE
attitudes evoked in mainstream institutional contexts
deletion of copula "be"
language change
variation
pre-requisite for language change
younger age groupss exhibit a higher tendency to use innovative variant
progressively
than older age groups
generational change is steady
≠stable
variables
social meanings are associated with variants of a stable variable
proportions reproduced in each generation
usually above level of awareness
from above and below
above level of awareness
aware of social significance
variants with overt prestige
below level of awareness
variants with covert prestige
solidarity, anti establishment, social identity
studies
real time
speech as it was produced at different points in time
apparent time
at least 3 age groups at the same point in time
based on Critical Period Hypothesis
data collected at one particular point in time
≠ age graded variation
types
life span change
generational change
relationship between the two
ways of spread
from group to group
innovation usually goes from marginal speakers to middle speakers
from style to style
from casual to formal. from more statusful young group to vernacular style in same group. then formal in another group
like a ladder
gradual and it overlaps
from word to word
sound changes
factors
that promotes
contact between groups
face to face interaction
SOCIAL MEDIA
that impedes
close knit social network
educational institutions
roles of women
geographical factors, isolation
Stantardization
to standardize
to select a variety among others
variety is institutionalized and codified
creating a norm manifested in different kinds of texts
variation tends to be suppressed
is a part of the unifying identity of a large heterogeneous society
typically used by state institutions
educational institutions play a role in the definition of what it is; and contribute reproducing it
standard has symbolic value
symbol of integration (of heterogeneous society), national identity and unity
standard has utilitarian value
it facilitates communication in certain domains
administration, justice, trade
helps in the process of nation building
breaks barriers set by existence of dialects
facilitates dissemination of ideas
standard
variety
LADO
analysts use a sample of the asylum seeker’s speech taken from an interview. In the interview, the asylum seeker's speech is likely to be influenced by his or her perception of the audience, in this case, the interviewer.
influence of factor audience
converge/diverge