unit 1-4 Flashcards
(81 cards)
1
Q
What do sociolinguistics study?
A
- Linguistic variables (morphology, pronunciation, syntax,…)
- Social variables (age, gender,education, class, ethnicity,…)
2
Q
What is sociolinguistics?
A
A study of the relationship
between language and
society
3
Q
Our linguistic choices are affected by?
A
- Who can hear us.
- Where we are talking.
- How we feel.
4
Q
Our linguistic choices can give us ….. information
A
non-linguistic
5
Q
Language can serve how many different functions?
A
5:
- Questions: ask infomation
- Representatives: give information
- Expressives: show feelings
- Comissives: offer something
- Declarations: make changes
6
Q
What are the aspects of sociolingustics?
A
- The study of language use
- The study of language variaton
- The socio-cultural aspects
- The interactive nature of communication
7
Q
- The study of language use
A
how language is actually being used in REAL life and in the REAL world, not the ideal ones
8
Q
- The study of language variaton
A
- social factors
- levels of linguistics analysis : sounds, word-structure (morphology), grammar (syntax), vocabulary
9
Q
Identify the linguistic features which
distinguish in these examples above.
What levels of linguistic analysis does the
variation involve?
(a) Refuse should be deposited in the receptacle
provided.
(b) Put your rubbish in the bin, Jilly.
(c) Please tender exact fare and state
destination.
(d) Give me the right money and tell me where
you’re going
A
Levels of linguistic analysis : Grammar and Vocabulary
10
Q
- The socio-cultural aspects
What is the sentence we need to remember?
A
11
Q
4.
THE INTERACTIVE NATURE
OF COMMUNICATION
A
The structure and feature of
conversation, speech acts, cooperation,
turn-taking in conversation are various
aspects of interactive communication that
sociolinguists pay attention to.
12
Q
What are the four social dimensions?
A
A social distance scale (solidarity)
concerned with participant relationship
A status scale concerned with participant
relationship
A formality scale relating to the setting
or type of interaction
Two functional scales relating to the
purposes or topic of interaction
13
Q
The solidarity – social distance scale
A
14
Q
The social status scale
A
15
Q
The formality
A
16
Q
The referential - affective function scales
A
Referential
High Low
information——–information
content content
Affective
Low High
affective——-affective
content content
17
Q
What is variety or code?
A
A specific form of a language
E.g.: a variety can be a language, an accent, a dialect… etc
18
Q
Speech Community
A
A group of people who speak the same
variety.
- Monolingual community: One variety
- Bilingual community: Two variety
- Multilingual community: More than one variety
19
Q
So What governs thevariety we choose?
A
Choosing the appropriate variety in multilingual
communities depends on:
1. Social factors and dimensions
2. The repertoire of the addressee
Repertoire: A group of language varieties mastered
by the same speaker to different degrees of
proficiencies and for different purposes.
These varieties may include: one’s first language,
dialects, etc.
20
Q
Domains of Language Use
A
Typical interactions between typical
participants in typicalsettings.
E.g: family, friendship, religion, education, employment,…
Notes:
The components of a domain do not always fit
with each other.
21
Q
Leakage :
Using the variety of a particular domain
in another domain for …..
A
simplicity
22
Q
Diglossia
A
H=High prestige
• H variety is not used in daily conversation
L=Low prestige
• H and L are used in complementary situations.
E.g:
Latin H=Classic Latin L=Vulgar Latin
Arabic H=Classical Arabic L=Colloquial Arabic
German H=high German L=low German
23
Q
Characteristics of H and LVarieties
A
24
Q
Linguistic Differences between H and L
A
25
Attitudes Towards H and L
## Footnote
H variety
• Norm • respect • Prestigious
L variety
• Below average • Not very respected • Non-prestigious
26
Diglossia and Polyglossia
27
WHEN ONE LANGUAGE MEETS THE OTHER
28
LANGUAGE SHIFT
the language of the MAJORITY
_displaces_ the MINORITY over time in migrant
communities or in communities under military
occupation.
it shifts most of
the time towards the language of the dominant group
and the result could be the _eradication_ of the local
language.
29
Language shift in different communities
30
Migrant minorities
- Shift from L1 in _all_ contexts to L2 in _most_ contexts
- L1 is used in one domain, L2 is used in another domain
- the pressure from the wider speech community
E.g: Vietnamese migrants came to the USA
(P) : Grandparents: L1: monolinguals
(F1) : Parents: L1, L2: bilinguals
(F2) : Children: L2 : monolinguals
31
Non-migrant communities
Language shift due to political, economical
and social changes
E.g: Singapore shift to English.
32
Migrant majority
Colonization: The colonial powers impose their languages on the colonies.
E.g: The Chinese, French, American on Vietnamese.
The British on Indian, Hong Kong, ...
33
Language shift
does not necessarily occur
or could occur
34
Name the factors contributing to language shift
35
Economic, social and political factors
1 The *dominant language* is associated with _social status_ and _prestige_.
2 Obtaining _work_ is the obvious economic reason for *learning another* language.
3 The _pressure_ of institutional domains such as *schools* and the *media*.
36
Demographic factors:
1 Language shift is *faster* in ....areas than.... ones.
2 ....... between groups can *accelerate* language shift.
1. 1 Language shift is *faster* in _urban_ areas than _rural_ ones.
2 _Intermarriage_ between groups can *accelerate* language shift.
37
Attitudes and values
Language shift is .... among communities where the minority
language is *highly* ...... Therefore when the language is seen as an
important symbol of ....., it is generally maintained *longer*,
and *visa versa*.
Language shift is _slower_ among communities where the minority
language is highly _valued_. Therefore when the language is seen as an
important symbol of _ethnic identity_, it is generally maintained *longer*,
and *visa versa*.
38
Language death and loss?
E.g:
- some ...... aboriginal languages
- In 1992, death of *Tefvik Esenc* -\> death of ....
- In 1974, death of *Ned Maddrell* -\> death of .....
- In 1777, death of *Dolly Pentreath* -\> death of ....
When all people of a language die, the
language dies too.
Examples:
- some _Australian_ aboriginal languages
- In 1992, death of *Tefvik Esenc* -\> death of _Caucasian
language Ubykh (Turkey)_
- In 1777, death of *Dolly Pentreath* -\> death of _Cornish_
- In 1974, death of *Ned Maddrell* -\> death of _Manx_
39
What is the difference between
language shift and language death?
40
How a minority language can be maintained?
To consider language an important ....of a minority group’s *identity*
To....to each other and....each other *frequently*
To increase the .....with the *homeland*
To *encourage* members of a minority community to .....their language
To *use* the language in....
To have the *support*.....
Domains: education, law, religion, government, media
To consider language an important _symbol_ of a minority group’s *identity*
To _live close_ to each other and _see_ each other *frequently*
To increase the _degree and frequency of contact_ with the *homeland*
To *encourage* members of a minority community to _take active steps to protect_ their language
To *use* the language in _different settings_
To have the *support* _of institution_
Domains: education, law, religion, government, media
41
Language revival
E.g?
Attitude
How strongly the speakers want to revive the
language
Their reasons for doing so
E.g: hebrew: not used in 1700 yrs, (-prayers, sacred texts)
Puyuma:
Ocitan
Bunun
Maori
42
What is VERNACULAR LANGUAGES?
An _uncodified_ or _unstandardized_ variety
Native dialect (vernacular Arabic in Jordan)
Native language (Spanish in America)
43
WHat are vernacular languages characteristics?
1 Colloquial
The most colloquial variety in the one’ s repertoire.
2 Uncodified
3 Unregularised/ unstandardised
Used for informal situations (L functions) : Hebrew
4 Acquired as the first language
44
STANDARD LANGUAGE
It is the variety used for ..... and which had
undergone some degree of .....
It is the variety used for _writing_ and which had
undergone some degree of _regularisation._
45
What are standard languages characteristics?
```
1 Prestigious.
2 Codified (i.e. written down in dictionaries).
3 Regularised (i.e. described in grammarbook)
4 Used for formal Situations (H functions).
```
46
STANDARD LANGUAGE
1. It was an influentialor prestigiousvariety.
2. It wascodified.
3. It was usedfor Hfunctions.
4. It has NO linguistic merits
47
World English languages are classified into:
1. Inner Circle Englishes:
2. Outer Circle Englishes:
3. Expanding Circle Englishes:
1. Inner Circle Englishes: English as a _native or first_
language (e.g: UK, USA).
2. Outer Circle Englishes: English as a _second_ language *with* an _official status_ (e.g: India, Malaysia, Tanzania).
3. Expanding Circle Englishes: English as a _foreign_
language (e.g:China, Japan,Russia).
48
LINGUA FRANCA:
EXAMPLE:
Ahmed speaks Arabic and Wong speaks Chinese.
Ahmed DOES NOT speak Chinese NOR DOES Wong
speak Arabic. Both Ahmed and Wong speakSpanish.
-\> Spanish is considered LINGUA FRANCA.
It is a language used for *communication*
between people with DIFFERENT _native_
languages.
the official and national language
is the most useful and widely used lingua
franca.
EX:
_Russian_ is the lingua franca for the countries of
the former Soviet Union whose over 700 different
vernaculars.
_Swahili_ in Tanzania
_Tok Pisin_ in Papua New Guinea
49
PIDGIN:
language developed because of _the need_ for
communication between people who have NO common
language. It arises for _economic reasons_ in a situation where
there is a dominant language and another language.
50
What are pidgin characteristics?
1 Has NO native speakers.
2 Based on the dominant language.
• The prestigious language provides most of the
vocabulary.
3 Developed for _trade_ and used for that purpose
_only._
For example, it is the language of African people
who were taken to America to work in plantation.
Their language was a mixture of their own
languages and the language of their bosses.
51
The developmentof a pidgin requires:
1. Prolonged _regular contact_ between the
*different language communities*.
2. _A need_ for c*ommunication between* them.
3. _An absence_ of a widespread *accessible
common language* between them.
52
THE DEVELOPMENT OF PIDGIN’S
STRUCTURE
53
LINGUISTIC FEATURES of pidgin?
Pidgins are used in.....domains and functions
Pidgins have a ... and ..... linguistic
structure.
H-vocabulary
L-grammar
For example, Juba Arabic is a combination of the colloquial
Arabic and the native language of south Sudan.
Pidgins have ... prestige and receive ....
attitudes.
Pidgins are used in _restricted_ domains and functions
Pidgins have a _simplified_ and _mixed_ linguistic
structure
H-vocabulary
L-grammar
For example, Juba Arabic is a combination of the colloquial Arabic and the native language of south Sudan.
Pidgins have _low_ prestige and receive _negative_
attitudes.
54
CREOLE:
the result of when a .... becomes the ....
language of .... generations and acquires
..... *vocabulary* and *grammatical* structures to
.... their various necessary .....
the result of when a _pidgin_ becomes the _native_
language of _newly-born_ generations and acquires
_additional_ vocabulary and grammatical structures to
_serve_ their various necessary _communicative needs_.
E.g. TokPisin in Papua New Guinea.
55
What are creole characteristics?
1. Has _native_ speakers.
2. Used for _social functions_ to express both
referential and affectivemessages.
3. _Linguistically complex._
• It has affixes and inflections.
56
ATTITUDES TOWARDS CREOLES
1 ....have *negative* attitudes towards creoles.
2 When *creoles* are the ...., they are appreciated by their *speakers* as they are considered ....
• E.g. TokPisin in Papua New Guinea. People use it when they apply for a job…etc.
3 When creoles are the ...., *speakers* express strong
loyalty to them because they show .... and best
express their feelings.
1 _Outsiders_ have *negative* attitudes towardscreoles.
2 When *creoles* are the _H variety_, they are appreciated by their *speakers* as they are considered _prestigious_.
• E.g. TokPisin in Papua New Guinea. People use it when they apply for a job…etc.
3 When creoles are the _L variety_, speakers express strong loyalty to them because they show _solidarity_ and best express theirfeelings.
57
Code switching
Alternative use between two or more languages.
Matrix language (the major lg.)
Embedded language (the minor lg.)
Ex: A Chinese child migrant in Australia replying in English to his or her mother’s question asked in Chinese.
58
Conclusion:
.... is the language used in daily
communication and most of them are not codified.
..... are codified. It is an official language.
... is a language used for communication between people whose first language differ.
.... is a language that has no native speaker
..... is a pidgin that has gained native speakers.
_Vernacular_ is the language used in daily
communication and most of them are not codified.
_Standard language_ are codified. It is an official
language.
_Lingua Franca_ is a language used for communication
between people whose first language differ.
_Pidgin_ is a language that has no native speaker
_Creole_ is a pidgin that has gained native speakers.
59
Why Do We code-switch?
1 Situation: When there is an obvious change in the
situation. To hide information from a third party.
2 Topic: Achieve a better explanation of a certain concept.
3 Social reasons:
a.Signal solidarity
b. Increase social distance.
c. Show off, impress or persuade an audience.
d. Reflect one’s ethnic identity.
60
2 types of code switching
```
Situational Switching
(external factor)
```
Metaphorical Switching
(individual’s perception)
61
Code Mixing: may occur because of
..., because of ...,
... use of one or the other code.
Code Mixing: may occur because of
_incompetence_, because of _indiscriminate_,
_random_ use of one or the other code.
62
The sociolinguistic distinction
63
64
65
Language Planning
The deliberate effort to influence the function,
structure or acquisition of a language within a
speech community
66
Language planning process
67
Style
The range of variation within the speech of an individual speaker.
I.e. A variation of language from formal to informal.
68
Speakers can convey the _same_ information _differently_. They change the
STYLE of their speech according to the : ?
1- Addressee
2- Context
69
People’s styles of speech [stylistic features] reflect NOT ONLY aspects of
their .... such as their ethnicity, age, gender, and social
background, but also indicate the .... in which language is being
used.
People’s styles of speech [stylistic features] reflect NOT ONLY aspects of
their _identity_ such as their ethnicity, age, gender, and social
background, but also indicate the _contexts_ in which language is being
used.
70
Addressee as an Influence on Style
• Age
• Gender
• Social roles:
- people work together
- part of the same family
71
When the addressee is the influence, a speaker will
choose the appropriate style based on:
1. Relationship between the speaker and addressee
2. How well the speaker knows the addressee
3. How close the speaker feels to the addressee
(solidarity and social distance)
4. Age of the addressee
5. Social background of the addressee
72
Age of the Addressee
73
Style: Social Background of the addressee
Based on the social role, status and background of the
addressee, the speaker either chooses to modify his/
her speech towards or away from the style of the
addressee.
the Accommodation Theory.
74
Accommodation Theory: 1- Speech Convergence
75
Accommodation Theory: 2- Speech Divergence
**Deliberately** choosing a different language style _not_
used by the addressee to **increase social distance**.
76
Register
It is an occupational style with jargon that describes the
language of groups of people with common interests or jobs or
the language used in situations associated with such groups.
Jargon: Specialised vocabulary specialists develop to talk about their
specialty.
Some linguists use the term register to refer to the style of speech
from slang to elevated variety. Others restrict it to specialised
vocabulary.
Other examples of registers: Journalese, baby-talk, legalese, sports
commentators, language of airline pilots, criminals, doctors, engineers,
politicians, students …etc.
77
The functions of speech:
Expressive utterances
Directive utterances
Referential utterances
Metalinguistic utterances
Poetic utterances
Phatic utterances
Commissives
Performatives or Declaration
Expressive utterances: express the speaker’s feeling (I’m happy today.)
Directive utterances: attempt to get someone to do
something (Wash the clothes.)
Referential utterances: provide information (The second presenter will be Mrs. Hanna.)
Metalinguistic utterances: comment on language
itself (‘Hegemony’ is not a common word)
Poetic utterances: focus on aesthetic features of
language (a poem, an earcatching motto, a rhyme)
Phatic utterances: express solidarity and empathy
with others (Hi, how are you?)
Commissives: Promises and threat (I swear, I’ll do my revenge)
• Performatives or Declaration (And now, I declare you as husband and wife)
78
Directives…
…concern with getting people to do things…
Ex:
Imperative: Sit down!
Interrogative: Could you sit down?
Declarative: It’d be better you to sit down.
79
Factors that affect people
in using Directives..
-The social distance between participants
- Relative status
- The formality of the context
80
Politeness and Address Form
Speaking politeness ---?
* The feelings of others
* The social values of the society
* Formality
81
Politeness and Address Form
Types of politeness
• Positive politeness
(solidarity- oriented, FN)
• Negative politeness
(respectful, TLN)
