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Definition
| widespread feeling that people should be ever vigilant about the "correct" use of language. Middle-class anxiety to use the "proper way of speaking" |
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Term
| Labov's Studies in Department Stores |
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Definition
| to test the hypothesis that the of the postvocalic and final "r" is a reflection of social class differences (Car vs. ca, car = more prestigious). Busy clerks used "r" rarely, when Labov asked,clerks use of "r" increased. Social class does make a difference (at Saks, more "r" in casual speech |
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Definition
| tendency of middle-class speakers to pay a lot of attention to prestige (standard) forms. At Macy's (middle class) the clerks were more "correct" than Sak's in careful speech. |
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| Labov also investigated; agreed upon norms for the evaluation of speech that all NYers shared, they could agree on what was prestigious and what was wrong in speech. [Hypothesis: depending on social class backgrounds, speakers have different frequency with which they use prestige forms.] |
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| He was correct- there were more prestige forms in careful speech, and social class had an effect on speech. Lower-middle class showed the greatest sensitivity to non-standard features (even though they used them). Labov saw this hypercorrection as linguistic insecurity. *Labov saw language change happening through the insecurity of lower-middle class: hypercorrection leads to the spread of prestige norms throughout the community. |
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Term
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Definition
| clusters based on kinship, occupation, and group membership- communities characterized by these high-density networks. The higher the network strength, the higher use of the vernacular. |
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| Basil Bernstein's 2 codes |
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Definition
| 2 codes (varieties of language) one restricted and the other elaborated. He tried to tie them to social class and family type. |
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Definition
| rooted in localities where the are strong communities that center on physical work. People share a subculture, so the need for explicit meanings isn't great. Language is predictable, fixed code. |
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Definition
| Result of families and communities where things are not taken for granted. People have to make themselves clear to negotiate meaning. Explicitness is valued. |
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Definition
| a type of social stratification, a caste-based society is where a social position is inherited and fixed throughout life. Often assign different lexical items and grammatical structures to a given caste. ( |
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Term
| Penelope Eckert's findings |
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Definition
| Correlation between social groups and pronunciation, with the burnout women leading a change in pronunciation. Reiterates Labov's finding that language change starts in the lower middle class and moves upward, with women leading. |
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Term
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Definition
| A set of choices among linguistic features. Another variation of language, similar to dialect, but determined by the SUBJECT MATTER, rather than geographical/social issues. Examples: baby-talk, newspaper English (dropping articles), sports announcer |
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Definition
| Related to contextual factors, 3 factors determine register: subject matter, social roles/situations, discursive function |
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Definition
| what the text is about (what speakers are talking about will determine their choices in the various linguistic levels- lexical, syntactic, etc. Chemistry has its own register. |
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Definition
| Who the speaker is, what he/she does |
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Term
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Definition
| what the speaker is using the text for- the field of discourse (discussing, insulting, etc.) |
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| 5 styles, based on the speaker & hearer, situation, and the purpose of the exchange |
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Definition
| Consultative, casual, intimate, formal, and frozen |
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Term
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Definition
| public mode, no familiarity is presupposed. Speaker provides background info and hearer participates. |
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Term
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Definition
| public mode with familiarity presupposed, speaker may be elliptical and use slang |
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Term
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Definition
| single-word utterances and jargon may be used, speaker uses ellipsis to the ultimate degree |
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Definition
| text must be cohesive, to make up for the distance between speaker/hearer; feedback is regulated (speaker provides background, hearer doesn't participate) |
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Definition
| written mode, no contact between speaker/hearer, no feedback. Sophisticated style, associated with literature |
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Term
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Definition
| special, exclusive language of a group. Almost like a code that is not accessible to those outside the group (i.e: the Mafia) |
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Term
| Distinctions between registers and between register, jargon, slang and argot |
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Definition
| Are NOT watertight, sometimes difficult to decide if a text is in a register or if a given expression is jargon or slang |
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Term
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Definition
| occupational varieties; a specialized variety that workers use to talk about their job using specific terms that refer to their activity. True for every profession, also for any hobby, association or organized group. |
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| Jargon's 2 main functions |
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Definition
| 1) provides speakers of specialized group with clear, unambiguous terms to refer to their activities 2) provides speakers of a subgroup with means of marking in-group membership and excluding outsiders. |
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Definition
| a variety of language used by a restricted part the population (often younger or less respectable than the majority) that is based on very informal or innovative lexicon that replaces other words available in the general lexicon (buck for dollar, cool for good). Primary function of slang = mark its speakers as different/unconventional. |
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Definition
| a feature of slang is that may use a high number of taboo words, meaning words that violate the standards set by society for proper behavior. (Often crude or offensive) |
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| Primary sources of taboo words |
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Definition
1) sexual/reproductive organs/behavior,
2) excretory organs/fluids,
3) taboo-breaking behavior (incest),
4)racial/ethnic slurs,
5) blasphemy |
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Term
| Difference between slang and jargon |
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Definition
| Slang is a public variety, meant to be understood by all. Jargon is primarily an in-group variety, meant to be understood only by members of the group |
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