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What is sociolinguistics?
The study of the relationship between language and society.
Which factors influence language use?
What is a linguistic repertoire?
The range of language varieties a person can use.
Which of the following is an example of a speech function?
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Language variation provides insights into societal structures and individual identities.
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What is diglossia?
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What is code-switching?
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All linguistic repertoires are the same across cultures.
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Match the following terminology with their definitions:
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What influences language choice in multilingual communities?
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What does ethnolinguistic vitality measure?
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Which community demonstrates code-switching due to bilingualism?
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A community often experiences ________ due to the necessity of adopting the dominant language.
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What is a vernacular language?
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Which of the following are characteristics of standard languages?
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What is the definition of a lingua franca?
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Pidgins have native speakers.
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Define creoles.
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What is the main process by which a pidgin evolves into a creole?
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The two types of language planning are ______ and ______ planning.
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What is a de facto language?
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De jure language is a language that has been officially established by law.
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What role do linguists play in language planning?
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Which language was chosen as the national language of Tanzania?
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Study Notes
Introduction to Sociolinguistics
- Sociolinguistics examines how language and society are interconnected.
- It explores why people speak differently across various social contexts and the social meanings conveyed through language use.
- Language variations offer insights into societal structures and individual identities.
Key Concepts
- Language use is influenced by social factors like participants, setting, topic, and function. People adapt their language based on these factors.
Styles, Dialects, and Varieties
- Style refers to language variations influenced by context and audience.
- Dialect refers to regional or social varieties of a language with distinctive features in pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary.
- Variety/Code is a neutral term encompassing any form of language or dialect used by speakers in a particular social context.
Linguistic Repertoire
- An individual's linguistic repertoire includes all the language varieties they can use.
- The choice from their repertoire is dependent on the social context and purpose of communication.
Speech Functions
- Language serves numerous functions:
- Referential Function: Conveying information or content.
- Affective Function: Expressing feelings or emotions.
- Utterances often serve both functions simultaneously.
Social Dimensions of Communication
- Solidarity--Social Distance Scale: Measures the level of familiarity or intimacy between speakers; high solidarity (intimate) or low solidarity (distant).
- Status Scale: Indicates the relative social status of speakers; superior (high status) or subordinate (low status).
- Formality Scale: Assesses the influence of setting or type of interaction; formal (high formality) or informal (low formality).
- Referential and Affective Function Scales:
- Referential Scale: High information content versus low information content.
- Affective Scale: Low affective content versus high affective content.
Examples Illustrating Key Concepts
- Ray utilizes diverse language styles while interacting with his mother, principal, and grandmother, highlighting the influence of participants and setting on language choice.
- Margaret's greetings vary based on her relationship with each person, demonstrating how social relationships impact forms of address.
- Villagers in Hemnesberget, Norway, utilize two dialects: Ranamål for local informal settings and Bokmål for formal domains - showcasing code-switching based on context and purpose.
- The multilingual community in Sauris, Italy, demonstrates language selection depending on the audience and context, illustrating code-switching across different domains.
Analyzing Language Use
- To understand why speakers choose particular language forms, consider:
- Identify the linguistic variation: differences in pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, styles, dialects, or languages.
- Identify social factors: participant relationships, social setting, and purpose of the interaction.
- Look for patterns: the correlation between social factors and linguistic choices and the recurring use of particular forms in specific contexts.
Sociolinguistic Competence
- Individuals often naturally acquire sociolinguistic norms through exposure.
- Comprehending appropriate language use in diverse contexts is a crucial part of communicative competence.
Applications
- Understanding language variations facilitates:
- Effective communication across diverse social contexts.
- Appreciation of linguistic diversity.
- Avoiding misunderstandings due to inappropriate language use.
Key Terms Summary
- Style: Context-dependent language variation.
- Dialect: Regional or social language variety.
- Variety/Code: Any form of language used in specific contexts.
- Linguistic Repertoire: The range of language varieties an individual can use.
- Speech Function: The purpose behind an utterance (informative or emotional).
Conclusion
- Sociolinguistics provides valuable insights into how language functions within society.
- By analyzing language use through social dimensions, we gain a deeper understanding of the intricate relationship between language and social identity.
Expanding Circle of English
- Countries where English is learned as a foreign language for international communication are part of what is known as the expanding circle of English.
- Examples of countries in the expanding circle include China and Russia.
Lingua Franca
- A lingua franca is a common language used for communication between speakers of different native languages.
- Tukano is a lingua franca in the Vaupés region of the Amazon.
- Swahili is a lingua franca in East Africa.
- English is a global lingua franca.
- A lingua franca facilitates trade, diplomacy, and multicultural interactions.
- A lingua franca may influence or replace vernacular languages in multilingual communities.
Pidgins
- Pidgins are simplified languages that develop to enable communication between groups without a common language.
- Pidgins usually arise from a need to communicate for trade.
- Pidgins have no native speakers.
- Pidgins have simplified grammar and limited vocabulary.
- Pidgins are used in restricted domains such as trade but are not used in all domains.
- Pidgins often have low prestige and may be viewed negatively.
Creoles
- Creoles are fully developed languages that originated from pidgins and have become the first language of a community.
- Creoles have native speakers, as they are acquired by children as their native language.
- Creoles have expanded vocabulary and grammatical complexity.
- Creoles are used across all domains of communication, including home, education, and government.
- Creolisation is the process by which a pidgin evolves into a creole as it gains native speakers and becomes used in more domains.
Pidgin and Creole Comparison Table
- Pidgins are simplified languages with no native speakers and limited use.
- Creoles have native speakers, are fully developed languages and are used in all domains of life.
Lexifier and Substrate
- The lexifier language provides the majority of the vocabulary for a pidgin or creole.
- The substrate is the language that influences the grammar and pronunciation of a pidgin or creole.
- English is the lexifier language for Tok Pisin.
Linguistic Processes in Pidgins and Creoles
- Linguistic processes include simplification of consonant clusters, reduction of inflectional morphology, and use of particles to indicate tense and plurality.
Post-Creole Continuum
- The post-creole continuum describes the range of varieties that can arise from a creole language.
- The acrolect is the variety closest to the standard language.
- The basilect is the variety most distinct from the standard.
- Mesolects are intermediate varieties.
Decreolisation
- Decreolisation is the process in which a creole language gradually becomes more like the standard language.
Attitudes Towards Language Varieties
- Pidgins are often stigmatized and considered inferior.
- Creoles may face negative perceptions, but some can be embraced as symbols of identity.
- Some creoles gain prestige, such as Tok Pisin in Papua New Guinea.
Language Maintenance and Shift
- Strong ethnic or group identity can support vernacular maintenance.
- The usefulness of a language in various domains encourages its preservation.
- Government recognition and promotion can enhance a language's status.
National Language and Official Language
- A national language symbolizes a nation's identity and unity.
- An official language is designated for use in government and administrative matters.
De Facto and De Jure Language Status
- A de facto language is widely used in practice but is not legally recognized.
- A de jure language has been officially established by law.
Language Planning
- Language planning is a deliberate effort to influence how a language is used within a society.
- There are four key components of language planning: selection, codification, elaboration, and acceptance.
- Selection involves choosing a language or variety to develop as a national or official language.
- Codification involves standardizing the structure of a language by developing rules, spelling systems, and dictionaries.
- Elaboration involves expanding the language's functionality into new domains.
- Acceptance involves promoting positive attitudes toward a language.
Types of Language Planning
- Status planning seeks to change the social standing of a language, enhancing its prestige and acceptance.
- Corpus planning involves the development and standardization of the language's structure, such as grammar and vocabulary.
- Acquisition planning involves strategies aimed at increasing the number of speakers through language learning programs.
Purposes of Language Planning
- Language planning can be used:
- To unify diverse linguistic groups and promote national unity.
- To preserve cultural heritage.
- To develop consistent language norms and expand the language's use into new domains.
- To enhance acceptance and communication.
- To promote socioeconomic development.
Examples of Language Planning
- Tanzania's policy of adopting Swahili as the national language unified the country and ensured its functionality in domains such as education, administration, and media.
- Norway's language planning involved recognizing both Bokmål and Nynorsk to create a distinct national identity.
Factors Influencing Language Planning
- Political power can influence the language selected for official use.
- Cultural identity can influence the language chosen to symbolize a nation's heritage.
- Practicality can influence the selection of a language based on its widespread use and functionality.
- Attitudes and perceptions towards a language can influence its acceptance.
Linguistic Landscapes
- Linguistic landscapes refer to the presence and visibility of languages in public spaces.
- By examining linguistic landscapes, we can understand the gap between official language policies and actual language use.
Challenges in Language Planning
- Challenges include balancing national language policies with the rights of minority languages, the tension between standardization and linguistic diversity, and resistance to change.
Role of Linguists
- Linguists contribute to language planning by:
- Developing grammars and dictionaries.
- Advising on language policies.
- Developing vocabulary.
- Promoting language acceptance.
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