Chapter 8 Language in Social Contexts) W9 }6 e' L. z; c
l What is sociolinguistics?
7 B+ M; P- ^4 V7 ~) N n The sociolinguistic study of language# g& o# ~: q; e5 g
u Language in relation to society4 a7 D* T) z8 |& x% z, S6 Y
u Diversity of language, variation between societies or within a society
$ F9 ~' b) j5 Q9 e" U; ?, r5 G n The distinction between “language” and “a language”
$ y5 r- ]9 _6 A8 ~ u Try to answer the following three questions:
" x; b6 J" k+ ~ l Can language be defined in terms of geography?0 Y/ V' z& f5 k" g5 r% S6 r0 E
l Can language be defined in terms of nationality?
7 L( X+ E3 d3 I; G l Should language be defined by mutual intelligibility?& N9 F" `9 \2 O9 c$ E U
u The answer to these questions should all be no. All languages are equal. If you define language in terms of these factors, you are speaking of “a language”.
: t$ U1 F5 D% a5 G' \" a7 x l Varieties of language
6 R6 C6 E+ Q* \& n! p/ \ n A language varies according to the following factors:
* g. G5 |7 ?/ n, W u Situation3 z8 g) b7 |# Y y2 z! p. H
u Geographical areas3 P3 l. W! H" F8 @1 J
u Social factors
5 R4 ?& \5 f$ n, P% @! ]: W0 H& g u Purposes and subject matters
: m3 h& i# q2 b7 z, Z u Time (through which the language develops)
' [& d3 x' ~! o. W0 z n Geographical varieties and regional dialects* `* w) m3 \1 O. g+ i
u What’s the relationship between a regional dialect and the national standard speech?3 u3 N8 W( |" w' T9 e' M
l A regional dialect is a variety of the national standard speech.
. Y0 v1 Y" \* Z6 Z! @ u Accent6 @0 O- i& p! k
l Pronunciation:
/ R* ]: |, B) Z8 @+ J l Spelling: -our/-or! ~* o2 A4 |9 v% |- U
l Vocabulary:
' K3 ?+ f# i: n4 S" s3 ^2 ?9 i \ l Grammar: have you/do you have…
4 c3 E% w/ r- f3 B u Social varieties
, N6 ^* i9 K7 Y6 R' G* j5 @ l Sociolects are forms of a language that characterize the speech of different social classes.0 a! r8 J; g% H
l A social variety is a variety of language brought about by the social factors.
+ v+ s. f" W* H l Language plays the role of a social indicator.+ i% a$ r% `+ ~7 I" T
l Social classes and variation
8 R( r) p4 \# ?8 X- E& g n Grammar: third person singular
) u% Y) ^" u9 `/ g n Pronunciation: popular contracted forms: Y6 f8 A+ G6 o- i) H1 ^
l Sex and variation3 E: B) {- x( r1 k* q
n Women tend to speak more standard, decent variation.
& k& H& g* T5 f- n; d n Women tend to make overstatements, especially when making comment.8 x$ l' j2 [( R2 m6 V
n Women prefer to use certain adjectives which are not used normally.
; h# F& Q7 P* i% u! S- w% z n Women tend to avoid the use of vulgar words.
8 }$ k8 r3 J) n1 {1 ~% Q/ R: t n Women tend to use certain expressions to show happiness or surprise.
0 O' E5 `/ T0 N* y% a! f! m9 v l Age and variation
* K( m( n. e1 @3 g l Race and variation3 M( q# V5 f% V( Z7 J$ J
n Racial difference
( ?. b- t5 j, K( U n Black English
; G" y8 R- }# X, }- q - Pronunciation
* G) ]0 G1 O6 L" @+ w: y - Grammar8 v8 {5 Q! S: J
l Temporal dialects
% T/ T6 F: D7 G2 r( ~ f- v n Standard dialect and idiolect0 Q; H: T- ?* L: L) R- J
u Standard dialect is the highest prestige in a society or a nation. It is usually based on the well-educated speech. |
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