Introduction to Dialectology II
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Questions and Answers

What characterizes a dialect continuum?

  • Dialect continua are only found in urban areas.
  • Speakers from different regions cannot understand each other.
  • Differences in dialects increase the closer speakers are geographically.
  • Adjacent dialects exhibit minimal differences while those further apart show greater variation. (correct)

    • Which of the following statements about dialect areas in England is correct?

  • Urban areas like London are represented as exclusive traditional dialect centers.
  • Certain areas were excluded from the traditional dialect map because they were not English-speaking until the 18th century. (correct)
  • All regions in England have developed traditional dialects since the 18th century.
  • Only rural areas far from London are considered in the division of traditional dialects.

    • How has the role of dialectology changed in contemporary linguistics?

  • It has integrated with other linguistic fields like sociophonetics and historical linguistics. (correct)
  • Dialectology has shifted to apply mainly to written language studies.
  • It is no longer studied due to its historical significance.
  • Dialectology is now focused on urban dialects.

    • What is a notable focus area for modern dialectologists?

    <p>Studying dialect continua and geographical language borders.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which feature distinguishes traditional dialect areas from other language varieties?

    <p>Traditional dialects have developed over a long period and are region-specific.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What misconception about dialect continua might students hold?

    <p>All adjacent dialects retain some level of mutual intelligibility, which decreases with geographical distance.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect of dialectology is becoming increasingly significant in scholarly work today?

    <p>Public perception of dialect and accent diversity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which project aimed to gather responses about dialect variations using surveys in the XXI century?

    <p>The BBC's Voices project</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an isogloss in the context of dialectology?

    <p>A line that indicates the boundary between different linguistic features</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of layer does a dialect map use primarily for linguistic information?

    <p>A main layer that visualises linguistic features using graphic elements.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How are different dialect features visually represented on a dialect map?

    <p>Through varied graphic elements like points, lines, and coloured areas</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a significant development of the analysis in dialectology in the XX century?

    <p>Identifying how social backgrounds affect language use</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following describes the primary focus of W. Labov's contributions to dialectology?

    <p>Incorporating social variables into dialect studies</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary goal of dialect maps in dialectology?

    <p>To visualize the geographical distribution of dialect variants</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In which of the following studies did W. Labov primarily focus on the urban New York accent?

    <p>Research on the social implications of urban speech</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What term is used to describe the study of dialects while considering the social background of speakers?

    <p>Sociodialectology</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which major dialect survey is known for focusing on recording traditional dialects?

    <p>The Survey of English Dialects</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of isoglosses in dialect maps?

    <p>They separate the geographical distribution of dialect variants</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the concept of dialect continua relate to comprehension among speakers?

    <p>It highlights minimal differences in closely located dialects</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which technological advancement has significantly aided dialectological research in recent years?

    <p>Computers and digital data analysis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do dialect maps primarily visualize?

    <p>Linguistic features and their areal distribution</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In dialectology, how do dialect maps contribute to the understanding of language change?

    <p>They provide a snapshot of linguistic evolution through various dialects.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'diastrático' refer to in the context of dialect maps?

    <p>Variations in language use based on social class.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best encapsulates the primary applications of dialect maps in current linguistics?

    <p>Providing insights into historical territories and migration influenced by language.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What defines a dialect continuum?

    <p>A gradual variation of dialects where mutual intelligibility decreases with distance.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factor is significant when studying dialect areas in England?

    <p>The influence of historical events in shaping dialect boundaries.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary concern of modern dialectologists?

    <p>Developing a universal system of phonetics applicable to all dialects.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key characteristic of dialect maps according to current dialectology studies?

    <p>They highlight areas of transition between dialects based on social factors.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement regarding the current position of dialectology is true?

    <p>Dialectology's relevance has diminished but remains integrated with other linguistic disciplines.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How are sociolects related to dialect continua?

    <p>Sociolects reflect a gradual change along social hierarchies similar to dialect continua.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a distinguishing feature of dialect continua compared to discrete dialect areas?

    <p>Dialect continua exhibit non-definite boundaries with gradual changes in speech.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In contemporary dialectology, what purpose do dialect maps serve beyond geographical visualization?

    <p>They help reconstruct linguistic history and change processes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which modern technological advancement has significantly influenced the gathering of dialect data?

    <p>The internet and social media platforms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement best summarizes the collaborative nature of contemporary dialectology?

    <p>It combines insights from both linguistic and sociological fields.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What kind of visualization of linguistic information might you expect to find on a modern dialect map?

    <p>Colour gradients representing the frequency of dialect features.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What has been a shift in dialectology as prompted by W. Labov's work?

    <p>Incorporating social variables alongside geographical analyses.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect of social class is highlighted in dialectology regarding regional dialects and accents?

    <p>Working-class speakers typically exhibit more regional dialectal variation than upper-class speakers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did traditional dialectology initially gather data on dialectal features?

    <p>With postal questionnaires sent to the general population.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What social factor is considered crucial for explaining the spatial distribution of linguistic features?

    <p>The historical context of the region's settlement.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What has been a notable impact of urbanization on dialects according to contemporary dialectology?

    <p>It leads to a decline in regional dialect diversity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factor is NOT considered a traditional method for dialect data collection?

    <p>Conducting informal interviews with local inhabitants.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of dialect maps, what is the function of the 'basic layer'?

    <p>It illustrates the political and administrative boundaries.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What method do dialectologists utilize to perform large-scale surveys of dialect variations?

    <p>Reliance on social media and online surveys for data collection.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following distinguishes point-text maps from other dialect maps?

    <p>They incorporate written forms alongside graphical representations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role do computers play in the current practice of dialectology?

    <p>They enable the collection and analysis of large data corpora.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Introduction to Dialectology II

    • Course focusing on suprasegmental phonology of English and dialectology
    • Offered in 2024
    • Location: Antigua y Barbuda

    Table of Contents

    • 01: Trudgill's Sociolinguistic Pyramids
    • 02: How dialectologists do their work
    • 03: Dialect maps
    • 04: Dialect continua
    • 05: Dialectology at present
    • 06: Recap

    Trudgill's Sociolinguistic Pyramids

    • Close relationship between social status, dialects, and accents
    • Increased regional dialect variations correlate with lower social standing
    • Upper classes exhibit minimal dialect variation
    • Dialects exhibit the most geographic variation among those of lower social classes

    How Dialectologists Do Their Work

    • Traditional dialectology:
      • Georg Wenker (Germany, 1876) used postal questionnaires
      • Sent sentences to teachers in Northern Germany
      • By 1887, the list was sent to 50,000 teachers across Germany, seeking local dialect responses.
      • Wenker received 44,300 questionnaires back, creating hand-drawn maps highlighting single characteristics.
      • The 'Sprachatlas des Deutschen Reichs' was published in 1881, being the first published linguistic atlas
    • Applied by fieldworkers:
      • France (1896) with Jules Gilliéron and Edmond Edmont
      • Edmond Edmont cycled across the French countryside to collect data from informants.
      • Collected data from the field, sending responses for later study.
      • Data collected by fieldworkers, publication began in 1902 and concluded in 1910
    • Modern methods:
      • Electronic tools: Hans Kurath spearheaded the Linguistic Atlas Project using the American Dialect Society (1929), recording words and pronunciations of everyday American English across the country.
      • This project led to the publication of the Linguistic Atlas of the United States
    • Historical linguistics: Kurath's focus was reconstructing the evolution of English in the USA to pinpoint how it evolved from British settler forms into current dialects. (Brown, 2021)
    • Tape-recorded exchanges: Lee Paterson and William A. Kretzchmar Jr. produced the Linguistic Atlas of the Gulf States using tape recordings spanning 1968 – 1983.
    • Linguistic Atlas of the Middle and South Atlantic States: (LAMSAS) Kurath, McDavid Jr., and Kretzchmar Jr. created maps of this region utilizing survey questionnaires from 1933 to 1974.
    • Survey of English Dialects (SED):
      • After WWII, research examined 300 towns/villages across England to collect linguistic data.
      • Fieldworkers spoke with individuals across England, collecting dialect recordings.
      • Informants were identified to be non-mobile, aged, male and rural (NORMs).
      • Informants were recorded on the use and pronunciation of common words.
    • Modern digital dialectology:
      • Data via modern methods—computers, online surveys, and social media

    Dialect Maps

    • Visual representations of dialectal variation across geographical areas.
    • May incorporate symbols, words, transcriptions, or color gradients.
    • Isoglosses are lines separating areas with different linguistic feature varieties.

    Dialect Continua

    • Neighboring dialects vary subtly.
    • Larger distances increase linguistic variation.
    • Speakers of neighboring dialects usually can understand one another despite subtle differences.
    • Speakers potentially separated by geographic distance have a higher chance of not being mutually intelligible.

    Dialectology at Present

    • Less central in linguistics compared to the 19th century.
    • Increasingly an interdisciplinary endeavor.
    • Including sociolinguistics, historical linguistics, linguistic geography, geolinguistics, and sociophonetics
    • Aims for improved understanding of linguistic variation
    • Areas of transition between dialects are key topics.
    • Investigating dialect and accent diversity in ordinary spoken language
    • Focus on fundamental questions that spurred the field.
    • Urban dialectology (1960s): Labov led research shifting focus from rural to urban settings including social variables.
    • Sociodialectology: Labov's work explored and highlighted the social and stylistic variation in dialects.

    Recap

    • Relationship between social standing and amount of regional dialect variation.
    • Standard English varies less geographically than non-standard English.
    • Some regional variation occurs at the upper social strata, but it is dialect-based rather than accent-based
    • Historical linguistics uses dialect maps to showcase different stages.
    • Geographic proximity between dialects has a bearing on mutual comprehensibility.
    • Recent study focuses on social variables, transition areas in dialects, and public attitudes towards dialects.
    • Modern methods, such as online surveys and social media usage, have become prominent in data collection and analysis.
    • Objectives of dialect maps have historically been geographical visualizations of dialect differences.
    • Isoglosses are utilized in maps to clearly demarcate variations among dialects.

    Assignment

    • Units 4 to 7 of Trudgill's 'Dialects' should be read.
    • Create a list containing the main concepts covered.
    • Provide examples illustrating the understanding of concepts.
    • Discuss concepts in class.

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    Introduction to Dialectology II 2024 PDF

    Description

    This course delves into the suprasegmental phonology of English and the intricacies of dialectology. Students will explore various aspects such as sociolinguistic pyramids, dialect maps, and methodologies used by dialectologists. Offered in 2024 in Antigua y Barbuda, this course will enhance your understanding of regional dialect variations and their social implications.

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