Language Society and Language Society and CultureCulture

Social DialectsSocial Dialects Varieties of language used by Varieties of language used by

groups defined according togroups defined according to : : - -ClassClass

- -EducationEducation - -OccupationOccupation

- -AgeAge - -SexSex etcetc . .

Education, Occupation , Social Education, Occupation , Social ClassClass

It seems to be the case that a It seems to be the case that a person who spends a long time going person who spends a long time going through college or university will through college or university will tend to have spoken language tend to have spoken language features which derive from written features which derive from written languagelanguage

Some professors are recognized bySome professors are recognized by “ “ talks like a booktalks like a book“ “

Differences in occupation and social Differences in occupation and social class have some effect on the speech class have some effect on the speech of individualsof individuals..

Every job has a certain amount of Every job has a certain amount of ‘jargon’ which those not involved in a ‘jargon’ which those not involved in a similar occupation find difficult to similar occupation find difficult to understandunderstand . .

Bucket of mudBucket of mud , , draw onedraw one , , hold the cowhold the cow

A chocolate ice creamA chocolate ice cream And a coffee without creamAnd a coffee without cream

Age and SexAge and SexVariation according to age is most Variation according to age is most

noticeable across the grandparent-noticeable across the grandparent-grandchild time spangrandchild time span..

Grandfathers may be confused by Grandfathers may be confused by some of the speech of a teenage some of the speech of a teenage granddaughtergranddaughter..

Female speakers tend to use more Female speakers tend to use more prestigious forms than male speakers prestigious forms than male speakers

with the same general backgroundwith the same general background

Ethnic BackgroundEthnic BackgroundSome examples of ethnic differencesSome examples of ethnic differences..

The speech of recent immigrants, The speech of recent immigrants, and often their children will contain and often their children will contain identifying features. In some areas identifying features. In some areas where there is strong language where there is strong language

loyalty to the original languageloyalty to the original language . .

Black English is a widespread social Black English is a widespread social dialect . When a group within a dialect . When a group within a society undergoes some form of society undergoes some form of isolation , such as the discrimination isolation , such as the discrimination or segregation experienced or segregation experienced

historically by American blackhistorically by American black . .

IdiolectIdiolectThe term idiolect is used for the The term idiolect is used for the

personal dialect of each individual personal dialect of each individual speaker of a languagespeaker of a language . .

There are other factors , such as There are other factors , such as voice quality and physical state voice quality and physical state which contribute to the identifying which contribute to the identifying features in an individual’s speechfeatures in an individual’s speech

StyleStyle It refers to the relations among It refers to the relations among

participants in a language activity, participants in a language activity, especially the level of formality ( especially the level of formality ( formal , colloquial , etc. )formal , colloquial , etc. )

There is a gradation of style of There is a gradation of style of speech , from very formal to the very speech , from very formal to the very informalinformal..

Going for a job interview, one may Going for a job interview, one may saysay::

Excuse me , is the manager in his Excuse me , is the manager in his office ? I have an appointmentoffice ? I have an appointment..

Speaking to a friend about another Speaking to a friend about another friend , one might be less formalfriend , one might be less formal; ;

Hey , is that lazy dog still in bedHey , is that lazy dog still in bed? ? I gotta see him about somethingI gotta see him about something..

Style -ShiftingStyle -ShiftingStyle-shiftingStyle-shifting  occurs in all speakers to occurs in all speakers to

a different degree; interlocutors a different degree; interlocutors regularly and consistently change regularly and consistently change their linguistic forms according to their linguistic forms according to contextcontext..

Style shifting refers to a single Style shifting refers to a single speaker changing his or her style in speaker changing his or her style in response to contextresponse to context..

Differences in style carry over into Differences in style carry over into the written language . A written form the written language . A written form of a message will be more formal in of a message will be more formal in style than in spoken equivalentstyle than in spoken equivalent..

I’m writing to inform youI’m writing to inform you.. ..

Just wanted to let you knowJust wanted to let you know……

RegisterRegisterIt refers to variety of language defined It refers to variety of language defined

according to its use in social situationaccording to its use in social situatione.g. a register of scientific , religious , e.g. a register of scientific , religious ,

formal English, etcformal English, etc..Language activity that takes place in Language activity that takes place in

various contexts makes differences in the various contexts makes differences in the type of language selected as appropriate type of language selected as appropriate to different types of situationto different types of situation

Register is associated with the Register is associated with the setting and scene in which they are setting and scene in which they are used than with the people who are used than with the people who are using themusing them. .

Levels of formalityLevels of formalitya. How about coming to the movie a. How about coming to the movie

tonighttonight? ? b. Would you like to come to the b. Would you like to come to the

movie tonightmovie tonight? ? C. Might I escort you to the movie C. Might I escort you to the movie

tonighttonight? ? D. I would deem it a privilege if you D. I would deem it a privilege if you

would accompany me to the cinemawould accompany me to the cinema . .

DiglossiaDiglossiaIt refers to a situation where two very It refers to a situation where two very

different varieties of a language co-different varieties of a language co-occur throughout a speech occur throughout a speech community , each with a distinct community , each with a distinct range of social function. Both range of social function. Both varieties are felt to be alternative by varieties are felt to be alternative by native speakersnative speakers. .

E.g. Arabic ( high: classical ; low : E.g. Arabic ( high: classical ; low : colloquial )colloquial )

Linguistic DeterminismLinguistic Determinism Language determines thoughtLanguage determines thought..

It is you language that makes you It is you language that makes you perceive how the world is through perceive how the world is through the categories and the number of the categories and the number of words , the choices in wordswords , the choices in words..

Sapir-Whorf HypothesisSapir-Whorf HypothesisThe language of American Indians The language of American Indians

led them to view the world differently led them to view the world differently from those who spoke European from those who spoke European

languageslanguages .. ..

Language UniversalsLanguage UniversalsAll languages have certain common All languages have certain common

properties. Every human languageproperties. Every human language : : - -can be learnt by childrencan be learnt by children , ,

- -employs an arbitrary symbolemploys an arbitrary symbol system , andsystem , and

- -can be used to send and receivecan be used to send and receive messages by its usersmessages by its users. .