Questions and Answers
What is social class?
A measure of status based on occupation, income, wealth, aspirations, and mobility.
What is Max Weber's theory of social class?
Social class is based on a person's status, including lifestyle and life choices, alongside wealth and occupation.
There is a possibility of social mobility within caste systems.
False
What is sociolinguistic stratification?
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What does 'broad stratification' refer to?
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What does 'fine stratification' refer to?
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How does sociolinguistic stratification by social class work?
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What is intersectionality in the context of linguistics?
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How does intersectionality relate to linguistic change?
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What is an example of class stratification of stable variables?
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What was Labov's focus in his New York study?
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What methodology did Labov use in his New York study?
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What were the results regarding the use of [r] in Labov's study?
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Study Notes
Social Class Definition
- Social class measures status based on factors like occupation, income, wealth, aspirations, and mobility.
- Individuals are grouped into socioeconomic classes based on similar scores across these factors.
Max Weber's Theory
- Social class encompasses lifestyle, life choices, wealth, and occupation.
- Emphasizes individual participation in behaviors (speech, lifestyle) and attitudes (aspirations and life chances).
Social Class vs. Caste Systems
- Social class allows for social mobility; caste systems do not permit movement between castes.
- Individuals born into a lower caste cannot advance to a higher caste status.
Sociolinguistic Stratification
- Involves systematic patterns of language variation based on factors such as age, gender, class, and ethnicity.
- Two types: Broad (large contrasts) and Fine (small contrasts).
Broad Stratification
- Represents significant gaps or contrasts between social groups.
Fine Stratification
- Indicates slight differences in social group characteristics.
Sociolinguistic Stratification by Social Class
- A linguistic variant is more frequently used by higher social classes, while lower classes use a different variant.
- Class usage of a variant is not deterministic; both classes may use variants with differing frequencies.
Intersectionality
- Linguistic variables stratified by social class can also intersect with other social categories like gender, ethnicity, and age.
- Understanding language change requires analyzing the intersection of various social factors.
Intersectionality and Linguistic Change
- Linguistic variables affected by social class can be sensitive to the age of speakers.
Class Stratification of Stable Variables
- (ing) is a crucial marker of social class; non-standard form [in'] often used by working-class speakers, while middle-class favors the standard [ing].
- Variability noted in different Australasian English varieties, with Brisbane exhibiting the highest usage of [in].
New York Study - Testing Linguistic Variables of Class
- Labov's research in NYC focused on final and post-vocalic /r/ pronunciation amid urban accents.
- Non-rhotic accents in NYC (and Boston) contrast with rhotic accents widespread elsewhere.
- Rhotic /r/ usage correlated with social class and was more prevalent among younger speakers.
New York Study Methodology
- Elicited /r/ pronunciations through spontaneous and careful speech by asking informants for store locations.
- Three department stores targeted different social classes: Saks (upper), Macy's (middle), and S.Klein (lower).
Study Results
- The frequency of [r] pronunciation increased consistently with the social class of the store.
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Description
This quiz focuses on the concept of social class, including definitions and theories by notable sociologists like Max Weber. It covers the factors that determine social class, such as occupation, income, lifestyle, and aspirations. Test your knowledge and understanding of these fundamental sociological theories.
