L23B: Sociolinguistics
2005-2006
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L23B Website:
www.mona.uwi.edu/dllp/courses/l23b
6/30/2016
1
Course Assessment
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
Incourse Test (40% of total
grade)
TEST DATE: MONDAY, APRIL
3, 2006 (2-4pm)

Final Exam
(60% of total grade)
2
Topics for this Session
Review: Communication
 Language & Culture
 Language Variation
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Social Units
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Speech
community
Linguists
in the Caribbean

Speech situation
SCL Conference

Speech event

Speech act
Presentation
In my data, my
informants …
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Speech Event (Meeting a new Person)
Mr. Richardson: By the way, I’m Andrew Richardson but my friends call
me Andy. Here’s my card.
Mr. Chu: I’m David Chu, pleased to meet you Mr. Richardson – here’s
my card.
Mr. Richardson: No, No, call me Andy. I think we’ll be doing a lot of
business together.
Mr. Chu: Yes I hope so.
Mr. Richardson (reading Chu’s card) “Chu, Hon-Fai” Hon-Fai, I’ll give
you a call as soon as I’m settled in at my hotel.
Mr. Chu (smiling): Yes, I’ll expect your call.
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AMERICAN PATTERN
Preference for close
relationship
 Non-verbal element (smile)
means ‘appreciation’
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HONG KONG PATTERN

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Preference for professional
relationship
Non-verbal element
(smile) means ‘discomfort’
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Linguistic variables
“language features that vary
in precise form from
speaker to speaker”
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Linguistic variables:
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Lexical – ‘eat’ vs. ‘nyam’
phonological eg. [k] = [k] vs.
[k]
morpho-syntactic eg.
pluralisation ‘dem’ vs. ‘noun+s’
Syntactic eg. double negatives
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Labov distinguishes Linguistic
Variable as:

Indicators - little or no social
significance attached

Markers/Socially diagnostic
variables – carries social
significance.
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Stereotypes – popular and
conscious characterization of the
speech of a particular group.
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