L23A: Sociology of
Language 2006-2007
Lecturer: Emmogene Budhai-Alvaranga
Email addresses: ebudhai@yahoo.com or
emmogene.budhai02@uwimona.edu.jm
L23A Website:
www.mona.uwi.edu/dllp/courses/l23a
Please Turn off all cellular phones & pagers
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1
Objectives of the Session
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Review of Last Session – Speech
Community
Introduction to Variation existing in
speech communities
2
Review_Main Problems with
Group Assignments:
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Even when linguistic criteria assign
them to groups, people may have
different views on their groupings
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Speakers see themselves as one
group even if they do not speak the
same language
3
The Speech Community Characterizing properties:
1. Common locale is shared
2. a high level of interaction among
group members
3. more interaction among group
members than non-members
4. common social and linguistic norms
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4
Speech Communities –
variation
Variation in English
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Lexical/Semantic differences: miserable in
England (unfortunate) & Jamaica (irritable)
Phonology: Americans al’uminium vs
British alum’inium
Syntax: Southern US blacks – he don’t know
nothing vs. Standard American – he doesn’t
know anything
5
Example of Variation –
American English
Midwestern dialect
Frank: How is Bob?
Mary: Bob worries a lot anymore
What is Mary trying to say?
 a)
bob doesn’t worry a lot anymore
 b)
Bob still worries a lot
 c)
Bob worries a lot nowadays
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Example of Variation –
American English
African-American Vernacular English (AAVE)
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Tabitha: Is she married?
Jamal: She BIN married (emphasis on BIN)
What is Jamal trying to say?:
a) she has been married before but isn’t
married now
b) she’s married now and has been for a
long time
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Why language varieties differ?
3 main factors:
1) Movement of population away from
source
2) Cultural contact with other speakers
3) Space between people – geographical
and social
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8
DISTINCTION IN VARIATION STUDIES:
HORIZONTAL (or Regional) VARIATION
Vs.
VERTICAL (or Social) VARIATION
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HORIZONTAL (or
Regional) VARIATION

variation largely geographical or regional to
which the term “dialect” is usually attached.
Eg. North America: different lexical items for beverage:
pop, soda, soft drink, tonic
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researchers use ISOGLOSSES
Which are lines used to mark linguistic
boundaries (linguistic atlas)
a number of isoglosses “bundle” may
correspond with dialectal boundaries
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VERTICAL (or Social)
VARIATION

Variation influence by social factors
(socio-economic status, caste, education level,
gender, age, race, ethnicity)
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Most societies that have social dialect
variation have at least two varieties:
a high or prestigious variety
a non-standard variety
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Factors influencing Vertical
Variation
1) Patterns of Interaction
2) Distribution of Power
3) Distribution of population
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