Sociolinguistics 06
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Questions and Answers

What is the primary distinction between a dialect and an accent?

  • Dialects differ in pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary, while accents only differ in pronunciation. (correct)
  • Accents represent regional variations, while dialects reflect social class.
  • Dialects are considered standard varieties while accents are considered non-standard.
  • Dialects are more widespread than accents, and are used by a larger number of speakers.

Which of the following is NOT a factor that can influence a speaker's accent?

  • Social class
  • Geographic origin
  • Level of education
  • Native language (correct)

According to the provided content, what is the benefit of using the term "variety" instead of "dialect"?

  • Variety avoids the implication that dialects are inferior or less sophisticated than standard languages.
  • Variety is a more comprehensive term that encompasses all forms of language variation, including accents, dialects, and registers.
  • Variety is a more scientific term that reflects the dynamic and complex nature of language variation.
  • Variety is a more neutral term that avoids the negative connotations often associated with the word "dialect". (correct)

Which of the following statements best reflects Max Weinreich's quote on language and dialect?

<p>A language gains status and recognition based on power and authority, not on its linguistic features. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the context of the given content, what is the relationship between morphosyntax and semantic relations?

<p>Morphosyntax refers to how grammatical structures are formed, while semantic relations are about how meaning is conveyed through these structures. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of New York English pronunciation, according to the text?

<p>Inconsistent pronunciation of /r/ in certain positions (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the text suggest about the pronunciation of /r/ among certain New Yorkers?

<p>The pronunciation is a matter of random choice (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Based on the text, which of the following sounds is NOT affected by offglides in New York English?

<p>/ɪ/ (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference in pronunciation between Received Pronunciation (RP) and General American (GA) in the lexical set LOT?

<p>RP uses /ɒ/, while GA uses /ɑː/ (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of these is NOT a characteristic of the New York dialect?

<p>Consistent pronunciation of /r/ in all positions (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which pronunciation is NOT suggested as a possible offglide for the /æ/ sound in New York English?

<p>[æɪ] (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following words is NOT mentioned as having a different pronunciation between American and British English, based on the text?

<p>Fries (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes the New York dialect as historically non-rhotic?

<p>The /r/ is pronounced before vowels only (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the percentage of H-dropping in the Upper Working Class in Bradford, West Yorkshire?

<p>67 (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of these accents is considered "Received Pronunciation" (RP)?

<p>None of the above (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT one of the eight major accent areas in England, as per Collins & Mees (2013)?

<p>Scotland (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of the population is estimated to speak Received Pronunciation (RP) as their first accent?

<p>2-5% (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which city is associated with the "Scouse" accent?

<p>Liverpool (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the set of keywords used to identify regional variations in vowel sounds?

<p>Wells’ lexical sets (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used for the variation in language usage based on social class?

<p>Social variation (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the omission of the ‘h’ sound at the start of words?

<p>H-dropping (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the accent area in England that includes Manchester, Lancashire, Leeds, Sheffield and Hull?

<p>North (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of these accents is NOT considered a major US accent according to Labov et al (2006)?

<p>Great Lakes (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to the content, what is the term for the deletion of /t/ in unstressed syllables following /n/?

<p>T-deletion (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What statement is true about 'General American' according to the content?

<p>It is not supported by the Atlas data as a distinct dialect. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of these accents is characterized by a chain shift of vowels?

<p>Northern Cities Shift (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a common phonetic-phonological feature discussed in the content?

<p>Consonant cluster reduction (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'apparent time' refer to in sociolinguistics?

<p>A method for comparing language usage across different ages. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT associated with the concept of dialect in linguistics?

<p>Standard language definition. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following terms describes a linguistic phenomenon occurring when the 'r' sound is pronounced in some dialects but not in others?

<p>Rhoticity (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'lexical set' refer to in phonetics?

<p>A range of words that share a similar phonetic feature. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of African American Vernacular English (AAVE)?

<p>Unique syntactical and phonological features. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which accent area confusion is known as the 'Pin/pen merger'?

<p>The indistinguishable pronunciation of 'pin' and 'pen'. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is characterized by the 'TRAP-BATH split' in English dialects?

<p>Distinct pronunciation of the words 'trap' and 'bath'. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the S-curve model of language change illustrate?

<p>A gradual and cyclical change in language patterns. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which store had the highest percentage of shoppers who used the rhotic /r/ in their speech?

<p>Saks (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which store had the lowest overall percentage of shoppers who used the rhotic /r/ in their speech?

<p>S. Klein (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which store had the highest percentage of shoppers who used the rhotic /r/ in some words, but not others?

<p>Macy's (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which demographic had the lowest percentage of shoppers who did not use the rhotic /r/ at all?

<p>Male (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Approximately what percentage of shoppers at Macy's used the rhotic /r/ in some words, but not others?

<p>64% (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Approximately what percentage of shoppers at S. Klein did not use the rhotic /r/ at all?

<p>28% (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to the survey results, which of these statements about the rhotic /r/ usage at Saks is true?

<p>More shoppers at Saks exhibited the rhotic /r/ in all words compared to Macy's. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Southern English

A dialect of English with distinct phonetic features common in the Southern US.

Northern Cities Shift

A phonetic phenomenon where vowel pronunciation changes in northern US cities.

Rhoticity

The pronunciation of the 'r' sound in all positions of a word.

T-deletion

The omission of the /t/ sound in unstressed syllables following /n/ in some American English accents.

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General American

An accent that is not specifically tied to any one dialect of American English.

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H-dropping

The omission of the 'h' sound in certain accents, particularly in lower social classes in Bradford.

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Social variation

Differences in language use based on social class, seen in H-dropping percentages.

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Upper middle class H-dropping rate

Approximately 12% of the upper middle class drops the 'h' sound.

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Lower working class H-dropping rate

Approximately 93% of the lower working class drops the 'h' sound.

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Received Pronunciation (RP)

An accent spoken by 2-5% of the population, with no regional traces.

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Accent

A variation in pronunciation that indicates regional or social origin.

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Southern Standard British English (SSBE)

A variant of English that is more common in southern regions of England.

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Dialect

A sub-variety of a language that includes unique grammar and vocabulary.

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Variety

A neutral term that refers to different forms of a language or dialect.

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Accent areas in England

England is divided into eight major accent regions like Cockney and Scouse.

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Morphosyntactic structure

The arrangement of words and the grammar rules within a dialect.

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Lexical sets

Groups of words that illustrate vowel usage in different accents, like KIT and FLEECE.

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Semantic relations

How meaning is connected and structured within a language's syntax.

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Wells’ lexical sets

A tabulated occurrence of vowel usage in words associated with specific English accents.

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Regional pronunciation variation

Distinct pronunciation differences found across various regions in England.

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Realisation of [r]

The pronunciation and articulation of the sound [r] in speech.

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Overall stratification by store

The variation in the usage of [r] across different retail locations.

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Saks

A luxury department store known for higher-end fashion.

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Macy's

A department store known for a wide range of merchandise, accessible to many.

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S. Klein

A department store brand, part of the dialect survey, known for its specific demographic.

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All [r] %

The percentage of respondents who pronounce the [r] sound fully in words.

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Some [r] %

The percentage of respondents who sometimes pronounce the [r] sound.

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No [r] %

The percentage of respondents who do not pronounce the [r] sound at all.

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Accent Differences

Variations in vowel pronunciation between dialects, such as RP and GA.

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Phonotactics

Rules governing permissible combinations of sounds in a language.

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Lexical Set LOT

A group of words containing the vowel sound /ɒ/ in RP and /ɑː/ in GA.

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Lexical Set BATH

A group of words with /ɑː/ in RP and /æ/ in GA.

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AE vs BE

Differences in American English (AE) and British English (BE) spelling and vocabulary.

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New York English

A dialect characterized by inconsistent /r/ pronunciation and specific vowel transformations.

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Non-rhoticity

A feature where /r/ is pronounced only before vowels, not before consonants.

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TH- and DH-stopping

The pronunciation shift where /θ/ and /ð/ are pronounced as [t] and [d] in certain dialects.

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Real time

An approach to studying language change that observes it as it happens.

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Apparent time

A method that infers language change by comparing different age groups at one point.

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S-curve model of language change

A theoretical model illustrating how language changes spread over time, appearing as an S-shape graph.

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TRAP-BATH split

A dialectal difference in which the vowel sounds in 'trap' and 'bath' are pronounced distinctly.

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African American Vernacular English (AAVE)

A distinctive variety of English spoken primarily by African Americans, with unique grammatical and phonological features.

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Study Notes

Sociolinguistics (2)

  • This is a lecture on sociolinguistics, specifically about English in use, covering week 6.
  • The lecturer is Dr. Thorsten Brato, from the Department of English and American Studies, at Universität Regensburg.

Recap

  • A standard variety is frequently used in media, education, and formal contexts. However, it isn't inherently superior to other varieties.
  • William Labov is the founder of sociolinguistics.
  • Variation in language use is structured.
  • Observer's paradox and sociolinguistic interviews are key concepts in the study of language variation.
  • Linguistic variables (internal) and non-linguistic variables (external) influence linguistic variation.

Today's lecture topics

  • English in England
  • English in the US
  • Major differences between English varieties

1 English in England

  • No accent or dialect is inherently superior to another.
  • The variety spoken in the capital or royal court is often considered the most prestigious due to political, historical, or social factors.
  • Standard English is a social convention for writing, but dialects can express the same ideas.

1 English in England: Vocabulary

  • Accents are differences in pronunciation. Dialects can be more comprehensive changes to grammar and vocabulary.
  • A variety refers to language or dialect. Avoiding judgments when discussing varieties is recommended
  • A language is a dialect with an army and navy. (Max Weinreich)

1 English in England: H-dropping

  • Social class and regional variation in pronunciation (specifically H-dropping) are studied.
  • Data shows correlation between social class and the occurrence of H-dropping in Bradford, West Yorkshire.

1 English in England: RP

  • Received Pronunciation (RP) is primarily spoken by a small minority (2-5%) and has little connection to regional origins.
  • RP originated from the accent of the court and is more common in Southern England.
  • English accents can be categorized into eight major accent areas.
  • Lexical sets are helpful to classify English speakers geographically.

1 English in England: Lexical Sets

  • Lexical sets (e.g., KIT, FLEECE, TRAP) are useful in illustrating vowel variations in different accents

1 English in England: Phonological Variation

  • BATH and TRAP-BATH split, distinguishes variations in the vowels of these words
  • FOOT and STRUT split, distinguishes variations in the vowels of these words
  • FACE and GOAT, distinguishes vowel sounds (monophthongs, diphthongs, etc.) in different areas

1 English in England: Grammatical Variation

  • Grammatical features, such as demonstrative pronouns, plural marking, verb conjugations, and negation, differ across accents.

2 English in the US

  • The diverse linguistic situation in the US is characterized by differentiation on a small scale compared to England.
  • Ethnic and regional groups have distinct linguistic varieties in the USA

2 English in the US: Accent Areas

  • Labov et al. mapped nine major accents in the US using dialectological atlases
  • Varieties (e.g., Southern English, Northern Cities Shift) have notable linguistic features

2 English in the US: Phonetic-Phonological Features

  • Rhoticity, the pronunciation of 'r' sounds
  • T-flapping in unstressed syllables (e.g., letter, bottle)
  • Variations in diphthongs (FACE and GOAT)

2 English in the US: Pin/Pen Merger

  • This merger is a stereotypical feature in the American South
  • The vowel sounds in pin and pen become indistinct before nasal consonants, in certain accents.

2 English in the US: AAVE

  • African American Vernacular English (AAVE) displays unique phonetic, phonological, grammatical, and lexical features
  • Distinct features in consonant cluster reduction, stops of /0/ and /ð/, etc.

2 English in the US: Grammar

  • Grammatical features differ in the US, including tense, subjunctive use, phrasal verbs, auxiliary-verb placement, and negation

3 Major Differences: Accent

  • Differences in vowels, for example, in specific lexical sets (e.g., LOT, BATH, CLOTH)
  • Differences in phonology, for example, whether the /r/ sound is pronounced in different settings or not (rhoticity), and consonant clusters.
  • Differences in lexis (e.g., spelling and word choice)

3 Major Differences: Spelling and Lexis

  • Different spellings and word choices for similar entities.

4 The New York Dialect Survey

  • The survey's method uses a rapid anonymous survey where survey takers interacted with staff of department stores
  • Independent variables: age, style, occupation, ethnicity, sex, store type (e.g. Saks, Macy's)
  • Dependent variable: pronunciation of the /r/ sound

4 The New York Dialect Survey: Results

  • Results show considerable variation in how the /r/ sound is pronounced. Significant differences between stores (e.g., Saks, Macy's) emerged.

5 Real Time and Apparent Time

  • Real time studies (diachronic) analyze variation and change over time
  • Apparent time studies (synchronic) compare different generations at the same point in time
  • Data sources (e.g., COHA) are common in the study of linguistic change.
  • A study on living room furniture in a Canadian context demonstrated trends in lexical choices across generations.

Keywords

  • A list of key terms (accent, lexical set, RP, real time, rhoticity, dialect, etc.) pertinent to the course content.

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Sociolinguistics (2) Lecture Notes PDF

Description

This quiz covers Dr. Thorsten Brato's lecture on sociolinguistics, focusing on English language varieties, particularly in England and the US. Key concepts such as linguistic variation, observer's paradox, and the role of standard varieties are explored. Test your knowledge on how culture and context shape language use.

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