20 Questions
What is the main focus of sociolinguistics?
The relationship between language and society
How does social context influence the way people talk?
It affects the way language is used in a community
What do people indicate through the way they talk?
Aspects of their social identity
Why do people select the appropriate variety for any particular interaction?
To match the social factors of the situation
What is relevant in accounting for the particular variety of language used in an interaction?
The participants, setting, topic, and function
In a diglossic community, which variety of language is generally considered the prestige variety?
H variety
What is the term used for situations where a community regularly uses more than three languages?
Polyglossia
What describes the use of language arranged structurally and grammatically in another language?
Code-switching
What is the term used for the situation when people switch from one code to another for clearly identifiable reasons?
Situational switching
What characterizes a diglossic community?
Use of two distinct language varieties for different functions
Variety refers to language in context. People select the appropriate variety for any particular interaction based on social factors.
True
Sociolinguistics focuses on the relationship between language and society, and the context in which it is used.
True
The way people talk is not influenced by the social context in which they are talking.
False
Our speech provides clues about our social identity.
True
The solidarity-social distance scale is not a relevant factor in sociolinguistics.
False
Polyglossia is a characteristic of speech communities rather than individuals
True
Diglossia is a situation in which three dialects or languages are used by a single language community
False
Code-switching is used to show emotions
True
Situational switching occurs when people switch from one code to another for reasons which can be clearly identified
True
Metaphorical switching involves code-switching for rhetorical reasons, drawing on the associations of both codes
True
Study Notes
Sociolinguistics
- Focuses on the relationship between language and society, considering the context in which language is used.
Language and Social Context
- The way people talk is influenced by the social context in which they are talking.
- Social factors influence the variety of language used in an interaction.
Language and Identity
- Our speech provides clues about our social identity.
- The way we talk indicates aspects of our social identity.
Language Variety
- Refers to language in context, taking into account the social factors that influence language use.
- People select the appropriate variety for any particular interaction based on social factors.
Diglossia and Polyglossia
- Diglossia: a situation where two dialects or languages are used by a single language community, with one variety considered the prestige variety.
- Polyglossia: a situation where a community regularly uses more than two languages.
Code-Switching
- Refers to the use of language arranged structurally and grammatically in another language.
- Occurs when people switch from one code to another for clearly identifiable reasons.
- Types of code-switching:
- Situational switching: switching codes for reasons that can be clearly identified.
- Metaphorical switching: code-switching for rhetorical reasons, drawing on the associations of both codes.
This quiz covers the basic concepts of sociolinguistics, including the relationship between language and society, language choices, and the influence of social context on speech. It explores how language is used to indicate social identity and provide clues about individuals.
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