Cours 2 : Language variation

Question 1

dialect continuum

Answer 1

2 completely different languages that are mutually intelligible (a language varies through space and the notion of languages is fluctuating)

Question 2

“Abstand” languages

Answer 2

languages that use linguistic criteria

Question 3

“Ausbau” languages

Answer 3

languages that use non-linguistic criteria, such as cultural or political criteria

Question 4

what’s a standard ?

Answer 4

it’s the dialect used by the dominant social group, when it became prestigious and therefore more desirable

Question 5

Standard English

Answer 5

it’s a mix of geographical and social variety

it was later adopted by the upper-class and gained prestige

Question 6

3 cases of variation and correlation

Answer 6

1. variation happens randomly (ex. “cheers”) -> free variation -> unpredictable
2. variation is linguistically constrained (ex. /p/ in “soup”) -> fully determined -> predictable because it’s a linguistic influence
3. variation is socially constrained (ex. “near”) -> constrained -> probable in a given social context

Question 7

dialectal map

Answer 7

boundaries issued by geographical factors

used as a shibboleth (= linguistic variable that can be used as a diagnostic to find where the person comes from)

Question 8

Martha’s Vineyard : William Labov’s study

Answer 8

variation of /ai/ and /oi/

there is an active use of the non-standard dialect to assert one’s identity

socio-linguistic patterns : linguistic factors and social factors

Question 9

methodological issue for Labov’s work

Answer 9

we measure interspeaker variation but there is ALSO intraspeaker variation

index score : we count how many times the person uses a specific variant

Question 10

variables in language variation

Answer 10

stereotypes : variables used to point at a dialect, subject to comment by speakers

markers : variables less conscious than stereotypes, as speakers consistently switch between variants based on the style in which they speak

indicators : they are consistently used, so speakers of one variety adopt one variant