Chapter 2
Dialectology &
Language Variation
Nothing is permanent but change
Heraclitus

True or False

All dialects are equal

The cartoon in the previous slide focuses on which aspect of dialectal difference?
A.
Vocabulary
Competence
B.
C.
D.
Organizational
Phonology
Syntax
Pragmatic
Competence
E.
Textual
Competence Competence
Illocutionary
Competence
Strategic
Competence
Sociolinguistic
Competence
Vocabulary
Morphology
Syntax
Cohesion Rhetorical
Organization
Phonology
Functional
Abilities
Dialect Cultural
References
Register

Whaddya Think?
Dialects have clear boundaries

Linguistic Atlas Example http://hyde.park.uga.edu/lamsas/lingmaps.html

Isogloss Map
• Created from multiple individual responses
• Indicator of dialectal tendencies
• NOT intended to capture distinct lines between groups of speakers
• Dialect boundaries often geographic, political

Dialectology – Vocab/Concepts



Focal (urban) vs. relic (rural) areas
Diachronic Change
Family Tree

William Labov

Linguistic variable / Marker

Markers

Grammar

Don’t have any  Ain’t got none

Word Choice
 y’all, yous, your’en, you them

Pronunciation


Variation on a Theme…



Dialect
Sociolect
Ideolect
(Regional)
(Social)
(Individual)

Provide examples of each…

Did Ja Git It?

A.
B.
C.
The dropping of “r” in “car”, “park”, etc in London and other parts of
England is an example of which type of variation?
D.
Dialect
Sociolect
Idiolect
All of the above

American English: Consonants
Nearly complete set…

Data Collection & Analysis



Sampling Techniques

Random – “Best”…?


Judgment
Stratified
Variables

Dependant



Independent
Research Question (not in text)
Null hypothesis (not in text)
Questionnaires

You Tell Me…

What are the problems with each?



Informants
Field method
Observer’s paradox

Application

What linguistic variables might be fun to look at in South Carolina? How would you expect them to vary by location, social class, and/or situation?



50¢ there
???

Whaddya Think?

I am a “Typical South Carolinian”…

Is there any such thing as a
“Typical South Carolinian”?

Modern Dialectology


Focus on urban speech
Boundary interaction of dialects
(Section 2.4)

Phonetic Variation in US


Common dialect markers?
Place them on vowel chart

Pronunciation Variation:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Follows identifiable rules
Follows fuzzy isoglosses
Tends to occur between similar sounds
Tends to compromise between dialects
All of the above

Transplanted People
Focusing creation of a new dialect from select features of a set…
Tends to favor one or two of the most prominent or powerful dialects
New
Dialect/
Language
Leveling mixed and focused features are typically not purely any former language/dialect, but compromised adaptations
Mixing features from multiple dialects
(though not equally, cf. focusing…)

Rural Dialectology Today…


Focus on Vocabulary





Passive understanding
Idiosyncratic knowledge
Metaphorical/idiomatic usage
Mainstream  Slang
Older users don’t think youngsters ‘get it’
Grammar & Phonology

Slower to change…

Challenges for Dialectologists




Prosody

Rhythm, pitch, intonation, voice quality

Acquired early in childhood
Articulatory Setting

Dialect
(Boiling Springs)
// Language
(Cherokee)
Discourse Style

Particles (uh, yeah, y’know…)
Register

Out of Context…
Can you relate this to the study of language…?

Did Ja Git It?

A.
B.
C.
E.
Which of the following is NOT a type of language variation?
D.
Personal
Regional
Social
Temporal
All of the above are variation types

Did Ja Git It?

A.
B.
C.
E.
Which is an example of a “marker”?
D.
/l/ in the past tense in Indian languages
“pail” vs. “bucket” in England
“threw” vs. “throwed” in Missouri
[ol] vs. [oil] in the South Carolina
All of the above are markers

Did Ja Git It?

A.
B.
C.
E.
Isoglosses are:
D.
Fixed boundaries between dialects
Typically wide, straight lines
Primarily based on political lines
Based on single &/or multiple markers
None of the above

Did Ja Git It?

A.
B.
C.
E.
Dialects tend to:
D.
Stay stagnate for long periods of time
Spread across areas in even waves
Jump from one urban center to another
Be affected by geographic features
Both C and D are true

Did Ja Git It?

A.
B.
C.
E.
Traditional Dialectology:
D.
Focused on urban areas
Surveyed nearly all people in target areas
Have been done for over 100 years
Employed only professional linguists
Both A and C are correct

For Tomorrow
Social Dialects
See schedule for details