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1/28/2011
LING6023 Topics for Todays Lecture
Lecture 2B Linguistic theory and the everyday real
Quantitative Study of world: Chomskys ideal speaker-listener
Sociolinguistic Variation Linguistic variation
Linguistic variable
22 January 2011 Linguistic variant
Prof. Robert S. BAUER Sociolinguistic variation
Department of Linguistics Quantitative sociolinguistics
University of Hong Kong
Five social factors influence and correlate
1 with speakers linguistic behavior 2
Topics for Todays Lecture Topics for Todays Lecture
Presenting sociolinguistic data Linguistic insecurity
Organizing and carrying out a quantitative Hypercorrection
sociolinguistics research project
Dependent and independent sociolinguistic Observers paradox
variables Rapid, anonymous interview
Six stages in conducting quantitative Labovs five methodological axioms of
sociolinguistics research sociolinguistic research
Sample speaker population: How many Styles of speaking
subjects do you need?
Design of sociolinguistic interview for Style-shifting
collecting speech data 3 4
Topics for Todays Lecture Linguistic Theory According to
Noam Chomsky
Sociolinguistic study of phonetic “Linguistic theory is concerned primarily
variation and change with an ideal speaker-listener, in a
Conditioned phonetic variation completely homogeneous speech-
Unconditioned phonetic variation community, who knows its language
Free phonetic variation perfectly . . .”
Noam Chomsky, Aspects of the Theory of
Syntax (1968:3) (emphasis added)
5 6
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Speakers Language Behavior Linguistic Variation and Change
in the Real World Every language is in a constant state of change;
The ideal speaker-listener and the completely as we will see, variation plays an important role
homogeneous speech-community are in the process of change.
convenient abstractions that suit the purposes Sociolinguistic research can help us understand
of a theoretical linguist. variation and change:
However, they do NOT exist in the real world. “Linguistic research which is based on empirical
If we were to accept this limitation imposed by work in secular linguistics and which is
the Chomskyan view of language and linguistic concerned to apply the data obtained in such
behavior, then we could neither recognize nor studies to the solution of problems of linguistic
study the very real, everyday phenomenon of theory, such as how and why language
linguistic variation, and there would be no field changes, and what is the cognitive status of
called sociolinguistics. 7 linguistic variability.” (Trudgill 2003:83) 8
Sociolinguistics Where does variation come from?
and Linguistic Variation Answer: Differences (= variations) in speakers
As already stated, sociolinguistics is basically linguistic knowledge influence their linguistic
about studying the speakers two or more behavior.
ways of saying the same thing, that is, Generalization from Lecture #1:
linguistic variation. No two people who think of themselves as
On one occasion the speaker pronounces a speaking the same language possess exactly
word one way or uses a particular word or the same knowledge of that language,
syntactic pattern, while on some other because they do not have the same
occasion s/he uses a different pronunciation, experiences of their language.
word, or syntactic pattern, yet the meaning This statement applies to parents and their
associated with each of these variant children and even to siblings growing up in
linguistic items is essentially the same. 9 the same family. 10
Sociolinguistic Variation Theory and Methodology of
Sociolinguistics
This is the social distribution of linguistic In early 1960s William Labov began his
variation within the speech community. sociolinguistic investigations of English in the
The study of sociolinguistic variation USA and introduced and developed the
undertakes the following tasks: theory, methods, and terminology for
(1) identifying which individual speakers and conducting sociolinguistic research.
social groups exhibit linguistic variation; Labovs contributions have had a major impact
(2) describing the relationship between social on the study of linguistic variation and change
and linguistic variation; and and developing the field of sociolinguistics.
(3) explaining the significance of this He has been justifiably called the father of
relationship. 11 sociolinguistics. 12
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What is Quantitative Linguistic Variable
Sociolinguistics? “. . . a linguistic item which has identifiable
For some linguists the quantitative study of variants.” (Wardhaugh 1992:139)
linguistic variation is sociolinguistics. “A linguistic unit, sometimes known as a
Quantitative sociolinguistics is a kind of sociolinguistic variable, initially developed by
statistical and correlational linguistics that Labovin connection with his work in secular
measures linguistic variation; that is, it linguistics and variation theory, in order to be
measures the impact of certain social able to handle linguistic variation.
variables that are associated with the speaker Variables may be lexical and grammatical, but
(sex, age, educational level, social class) on are most often phonological.” (Trudgill 2003:82)
the speakers use of particular linguistic (Secular – “of or relating to the worldly or
variables. temporal; not overtly or specifically religious”).
13 14
Linguistic Variants of Variables Phonological Variable
The two or more forms of a linguistic variable for “A phonological variable may be more or less
which variation has been observed. than a phoneme, but will be associated
• Post-vocalic “r” is a linguistic variable with two with a particular lexical set or group of
variants: ] and . words in which phonetic variation has been
• “–ng” (suffix -ing) is a variable with two variants: observed to occur, where that variation can
[] and []. be related to social variables or to other
• Linguistic variables and their variants are linguistic variables.” (Trudgill 2003:82)
typically written together in a formula:
(r):[, ] as in four [, ], fourth []
(ng):[, ] as in singing [
]
15 16
Two Kinds of Labovs Three Kinds of Phonetic Variants
Phonological Variables 1. Indicator: variant carries little or no social
significance
1. Discrete: consonants 2. Marker: variant conveys social information
(r): about speaker; people are aware of markers
(ng): [] which are related to social categories and
2. Non-discrete: vowels speech styles;
(oh):
[], [], [], [], e.g. New York English: fourth => [] ~ []
4. Stereotype: variant is popular and conscious
characterization of particular social groups;
e.g. some New Yorkers: bird => “boid”;
17 rd 18
33 Street => “thoity thoid street”
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Secular Linguistics Secular Linguistics (contd.)
“A view of sociolinguistics as a “Secular linguistics has as its objective a
methodology – a way of doing series of goals which are no different
linguistics – associated particularly with from those of any other sort of linguistics,
the American linguist William Labov, and but it works on the assumption that
sometimes also known as quantitative linguistic hypotheses and theories should
sociolinguistics or, less properly, be based on observations and analyses
correlational sociolinguistics.” of vernacular varieties as these are used
(Trudgill 2003:117) by ordinary speakers (i.e. not by linguists)
in everyday social contexts.”
(Trudgill 2003:117-118 )
19 20
Secular Linguistics (contd.) Secular Linguistics (contd.)
“The research of linguists working in their “One of the particular concerns of
offices on their intuitions concerning secular linguistics is the attempt to
their own dialect of their own language achieve an understanding of linguistic
needs to be supplemented and change, and much work in this field is
checked by work on (usually tape- devoted to studying linguistic changes
recorded) samples of) real language in in progress.” (Trudgill 2003:117-118 )
real contexts.”
Trudgill 2003:117-118 )
21 22
Five Social Factors Correlate with 1. Contextual Style of Speech
Speakers Linguistic Behavior The speaker has available to him or her
In developing his sociolinguistic a choice or range of speech styles.
methodology, Labov discovered there These speech styles are usually
are five social facors with which the determined by the social situation.
speakers linguistic behavior is closely A formal social situation (e.g. job
correlated. interview) typically requires a formal
style of speaking; an informal, casual
social situation calls for an informal,
23 colloquial style of speech. 24
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