Questions and Answers
What is the primary focus of sociolinguistics as a field of study?
Which concept in pragmatics refers to the actions performed through language, such as promising or requesting?
What is the term for the implied meaning that goes beyond the literal meaning of words in pragmatics?
Who is credited with developing the concept of communicative competence in linguistics?
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What is the term for the study of how language is used in context to communicate effectively?
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What is the term for the assumptions that speakers make about the hearer's knowledge and beliefs in pragmatics?
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Study Notes
Sociolinguistics
- Study of the relationship between language and society
- Examines how language varies according to social factors such as:
- Geographical location
- Social class
- Ethnicity
- Gender
- Age
- Key concepts:
- Language varieties: dialects, registers, jargons, and styles
- Language attitudes: how people perceive and evaluate language varieties
- Language maintenance and language shift: how language use changes over time
- Language policy: official language policies and their impact on language use
Pragmatics
- Study of how language is used in context to communicate effectively
- Focuses on the role of the speaker, the hearer, and the communication context
- Key concepts:
- Speech acts: actions performed through language, such as promising, requesting, or apologizing
- Implicature: implied meaning that goes beyond the literal meaning of words
- Inference: drawing conclusions based on context and prior knowledge
- Presupposition: assumptions that speakers make about the hearer's knowledge and beliefs
- Turn-taking: how speakers take turns in conversation
- Coherence: how utterances are connected to create a meaningful conversation
Key Theorists and Concepts
- William Labov: pioneer in sociolinguistics, known for his work on language variation and change
- Dell Hymes: developed the concept of communicative competence, which includes linguistic, sociolinguistic, and pragmatic competence
- J.L. Austin: introduced the concept of speech acts and performatives
- Paul Grice: developed the cooperative principle, which outlines the assumptions that speakers make about each other's intentions and goals in conversation
Applications
- Language teaching and learning: understanding the social and cultural context of language use
- Language policy and planning: developing policies that take into account the diversity of language varieties and their social contexts
- Communication in the workplace: understanding how language is used to create and negotiate power dynamics
- Intercultural communication: navigating language and cultural differences in communication
Sociolinguistics
- Language varies according to geographical location, social class, ethnicity, gender, and age
- Language varieties include dialects, registers, jargons, and styles
- Language attitudes influence how people perceive and evaluate language varieties
- Language maintenance refers to the continued use of a language, while language shift occurs when a language is replaced by another
- Language policy involves official language policies and their impact on language use
Pragmatics
- Language is used in context to communicate effectively
- Speech acts include promising, requesting, apologizing, and other actions performed through language
- Implicature implies meaning beyond the literal meaning of words
- Inference involves drawing conclusions based on context and prior knowledge
- Presupposition assumes the hearer's knowledge and beliefs
- Turn-taking is the process of taking turns in conversation
- Coherence connects utterances to create a meaningful conversation
Key Theorists and Concepts
- William Labov pioneered sociolinguistics, studying language variation and change
- Dell Hymes introduced communicative competence, including linguistic, sociolinguistic, and pragmatic competence
- J.L.Austin developed speech acts and performatives
- Paul Grice established the cooperative principle, outlining assumptions about speakers' intentions and goals in conversation
Applications
- Understanding social and cultural context informs language teaching and learning
- Language policy and planning consider the diversity of language varieties and their social contexts
- Communication in the workplace involves negotiating power dynamics through language
- Intercultural communication navigates language and cultural differences
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Description
Test your knowledge of sociolinguistics, which explores the relationship between language and society, including language varieties, attitudes, and policies.