communication major paper
ryoaga
language_in_society_and_language_contact.pptxLanguage in Society
COMS 320 Sp15
Ch 7 Sections
Language Levels
Idiolect
Dialect
Language
Contact
Language in use
Lingua Francas
Pidgins & Creoles
Multilingualism
Idiolect
Unique language characteristics of individual speakers (p. 279)
Imitation is not normal, nor does it show individual aspects
450 to 850 million English idiolects
Unique language use in groups depends on the degree of anticipation of shared meaning (Bernstein)
Restricted codes
Shared set of assumptions
Predictable language, less expression needed
Elaborated codes
Unshared perspectives
Less predictable language, more elaboration needed
Research Moment: Data Gathering
On your own, on scratch paper, take about 5 minutes to write down paragraph responses to the following questions. Write as if you were talking to a friend.
What is the biggest problem with parking at CSUN?
What is one of your favorite movies or books, and why?
Research Moment: Data Analysis
Now, in groups of 2 or 3, compare your data
For Q1, analyze sentences w/similar meanings
How is the language similar?
How is the language different?
For Q2, analyze the attempt at conveying meaning
What language makes the meaning clear?
What language needs further explanation?
Results
In a restricted code situation, how does an idiolect soften strictly repetitive language?
In an elaborated code situation, how does an idiolect interfere with language comprehension?
Dialect
Mutually intelligible forms of a language that differ in systematic ways (p. 279)
All speakers speak at least one dialect
Language – collection of dialects
Max Weber – language is a dialect with an army and a navy
Language vs. dialect?
Dialect continuum
Dialect area – concentration of differences
Isogloss – estimated boundary of dialect area
Regional dialects often have geographical boundaries
Ethnic identity
Dialects tend to increase, even with media influence
Dialect Characteristics
How can we tell dialects apart?
Phonology: Accents
r-drop – fath-er vs. fath-uh (New England)
Ask vs. aks (AAVE)
r-final – idea vs. idear (Chinese, near Beijing)
Syntax: Verbs, usually
Then she come a-runnin’ (Appalachian)
He been married vs. He Been married! (which one is still married?) (AAVE)
Lexicon: Nouns
What would you call the food on the right?
How far away is San Diego from LA?
Social Dialects
Dialects can also result from social boundaries
Gender
Male and female language characteristics
Male and female dialects/languages
Social class
Vernacular
Prestige dialects
Diglossia – different languages for different purposes
English social dialects
AAE & ChE
Korean English? Armenian English?
Language in society
Styles/Registers
“Situational dialects”
Language use that depends on interactants and context
Can be competent in several styles
X – Formality/informality, high/low status
Slang
Creative, playful language that marks informal speech
Can become outdated quickly or adopted by society
X – groovy vs. cool vs. freshman
Language in society
Jargon and Argot
Jargon – specialized vocabulary of group, often technical
Can add to the common language
X – computer, law, medical terms
Argot – specialized vocabulary of group, often idiomatic
X – teenage slang, nerd speech, debate jargon
Both forms can result in exclusion of the uninitiated
Jargon – can become speaker’s everyday language
May need translating!
Argot – often created specifically for definite inclusion/exclusion boundaries
Cardiac arrest, respiratory system, digestive tract, colon, anus
Litigation, fraud, embezzlement
Input, output, memory, software, hardware
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Language in society
Taboo words
Words considered inappropriate for use in “polite society”
Euphemisms
Language that replaces taboo words or avoids unpleasant or unmentionable subjects.
X – heck, darn, shoot
Most cultures have euphemisms for death
X – belly up, six feet under, kicked the bucket, laid to rest, bought the farm, one last curtain call
Language creativity at work: Bucket list
Speech Communities
Groups of people who have developed a social dialect
Interaction rules
Language norms
Example
Online support blog for chronic pain sufferers
Lots of personal pronouns and personal stories
Full medical names for diseases and disorders
Lupus vs. lupus erythematosus
& for “and” in all words, like st&
Language in Contact
COMS 320 Sp15
Communication Accommodation
Communication Accommodation Theory
Interactants will adapt their speaking style to each other to either reduce or increase social distance.
Relationship-based
Convergence – Emphasize group membership
Divergence – Reinforce social identity
Linguistic characteristics not yet researched
Language and accommodation
Convergence starts with comprehension
Divergence is developed through prestige
Exercise: Languages in Contact
+Ls, come up front, choose a slip of paper, read it, and put it back face down, then choose a partner from the 1Ls.
1Ls, you work at a local travel agency. +Ls, you are important visitors trying to purchase something to help you get around the city or country. You must communicate your needs to the 1Ls without losing your dignity.
+Ls may not purchase the item until 1Ls can understand your request and construct a sentence that confirms the item and tells you the price in your language, or after 10 minutes of struggling. Write down the final form of L1’s sentences.
No English or common language should be spoken during this exercise. Cheating will result in no extra credit.
Language in Contact
Lingua franca
Language that allows diverse language groups to understand each other
Set by common agreement between groups
If not native, will be spoken by most group members with an adequate level of competence
Often a trade language for conducting business
Roman Empire: Latin
Africa: Swahili
China: Putonghua
English: “Lingua franca of the whole world”
Pidgins
Language arising from limited contact between speakers of mutually unintelligible languages
Lexifier – source for lexicon, usually superstrate
Superstrate – dominant language
Substrate – native language
Conditions
Multilingual community (or interaction)
Relative isolation of substrate from superstrate
Proper forms of superstrate not learned by substrate speaker
L1 already acquired by both speakers
pigeon
Pidgin Characteristics
Characterized by impoverished language structures
Most common vowels
a (ah), i (ee), u (oo)
Telegraphic syntax
No articles, auxiliary verbs, prepositions
Few function words
Pela – plural marker, adjective marker
Yu = you, yupela = you all
Circumlocution
Grass bilong het, Grass bilong fes
Mak bilong fet, Makmak
Irregular, non-rule-based usage – lots of idiolects!
Creoles
Pidgin that becomes a native language of at least one generation of speakers
Children develop pidgin into language with rules and uniformity among speakers, but with own characteristics
Syntax
Simplified grammar
No auxiliary verbs such as “will,” no tense inflection on verbs
“A gon full Angela bucket”
Lexicon
Sophisticated pronoun systems
Different pronouns for number in group, inclusion-exclusion
Compounding
“Sweat.” Pidgin: wara bilong skin, Creole: skinwara
TOK Pisin
One of New Guinea’s national languages
Superstrate - Indo-European, esp. English
Substrate - several Melanesian dialects
Status is debated
Creole – native speakers
Pidgin – 90% of speakers have other native languages
TRANSLITERAtion
Work at street
all car must stop
if you see
red (adj) mark
Language prestige
The assignment of relative status or importance to languages
Standard dialect
Socially chosen ideal dialect among dialect varieties
Unrealistic: no one actually speaks it
US: Standard American English
AKA Broadcast Standard
Where did it originate?
What might be some consequences
of having no standard dialect?
Who has to overcome the challenges?
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Impacts of Standard dialect
Official language(s)
Language used by administration
X – Uganda: Swahili, English. US – state-level decision
Language planning
Purposeful, often administrative attempts to control language use and change
X – French Academie, British “received pronunciation,” revival of Hebrew in Israel, feminist movements against sexist language
Strongly impacts education
Language banning
Restriction or prohibition of unacceptable dialects or language forms
X – Language reform in Turkey in the 1930’s
Perpetuation of prestige
Prestige is often perpetuated (consciously or unconsciously) by the attitudes of dominant and non-dominant language speakers toward the relative status of languages.
https ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSvp- 5JLKdQ
1. How is language contact being encouraged?
2. What kind of language would develop between the two groups of speakers if contact were continued?
3. How is language prestige being perpetuated?
