| Term | Definition |
|---|
| dialect | A variety of a language that has a set of characteristics (e.g., phonological, lexical, grammatical) that distinguish it from other varieties of that same language |
| dialect vs. language (linguistic vs. nonlinguistic criteria) | Linguistic: mutual intelligibility, Nonlinguistic: political, historical, social factors |
| factors that affect dialect | geography, age, occupation, social status |
| idiolect | the speech variety of a single speaker |
| dialect continuum | when each dialect is intelligible w/ its contingous neighbor but unintelligbible with the dialects at the opposite end of continuum. |
| Mutual (un) intelligible | Chinese: Mandarin and Cantonense are mutually unintelligible but are dialects of Chinese |
| 3 ways dialects can differ | Phonology ('accent'), Lexicon, Grammar (PGL) |
| northern | r-less dialects (e.g., NY, Boston, Chicago, upper Midwest) |
| Midland | Appalachian: Guitar (geetar), directly (die-rectly), so-called standard dialect (Ohio) |
| Southern | T (i) n o clock, oil, all |
| isogloss | the geographical boundary or delineation of a certain linguistic feature |
| dialect leveling | the fact that the western dialects of the US are not as distinct as those in the Eastern part is due to this. |
| Labov | Studied variation in pronunciation of [r] in phrase 'fourth floor' among department store salespeople. (high levels = high class, i.e. Saks VS. Klein) |
| registers/styles | the fact that ppl. use different words in diff speechs (ass vs. buttocks) = register |
| Markers of style | Phonological: Casual, informal style marked by increased speech rate, Lexical: Jargon: specialized vocabulary of a profession or group Grammar: (informal style more concise, uses contractions) |
| slang | (informal, lexical in nature, used for group identity, short lifespan, can become standardized, scalar) |
| jargon | specialized vocabulary of a profession or group |
| neologisms | blends, clippings, compounds, acronyms, conversions |
| standard vs. nonstandard (vernacular) dialects | Standard: dominant or 'prestige' dialect, typically used by political leaders and upper classes, in literature, taught in schools ( ≠ 'correct', 'proper', 'better'), i.e. |
| nonstandard (vernacular (slang)) dialects | any dialect not perceived as standard (≠ 'substandard', 'incorrect', 'improper') |
| hypercorrection (phonological, lexical, syntactic) | Phonological: 'r'-insertion, e.g., idear, Cuba(r), Lexical: malapropisms, e.g., You misunderestimate me, Grammatical: e.g., between you and I |
| overt vs. covert prestige | Overt: Attached to some dialect by the community at large that defines how people should speak to gain status in that community Covert: Exists among nonstandard speakers and defines how people should speak to be considered members of that particular group (ya'll in the south) |
| Accent | This term refers to phonological variation, i.e. variation in pronunciation Thus, if we talk about a Southern Accent |
| Misconception of AAE | It is black slang, lazy speech |
| characteristics of AAE (phonological, syntactic) | r deletion (mo(re), gua(rd), simplification of consoanant clusters (child, last), Syntax: common to other languages/dialects (just not SAE), habitual be |
| Code Switching | Alternation between two languages or dialects; Many African-Americans are bidialectal in AAE and SAE, and 'style-shift' (a.k.a. 'code switch') between the two dialects depending upon context |
| linguistic profiling | Determining characteristics about someone (such as their ethnicity or socioeconomic status) based on the way they use language |
| Ebonics controversy (Oakland) | AA Neh, Linguistics society supported Background: 80% of AA suspended Precedent (guide): Verdict: teachers failed "to take into account [the children's] home community dialect in teaching them how to read."Goals: to recognize Ebonics as 'home language' to blacks, help teachers understand, Media: AAE as illegitimate |
| Empricial studies | Correct of nonstandard in school DOES not lead to increased standard use, use of nonstandard in teaching speeds improves learning of standars in reading/writing. AA college students instructed on diffs. btw. AAE and SAE improved SAE writing |
| linguistic gender differences: phonological, lexical, grammatical | Phonological (e.g., Chukchee the consonants r and ch in male, sh in female) Lexical (e.g., Thai, Japanese, Carib: Thai phom men, dichan men) Grammatical (e.g., Kurux: M to M bardayi (you com, M to W bardi) |
| behavioral gender differences (examples) | m: address group more than individuals, Interrupt more often, lecture w: Ask more questions, Encourage others to speak, listen |
| gender-exclusive vs. gender-preferential differentiation | preferential (reflected in frequency with which men, women use same linguistic characteristics), Lexical: M: Curse more, W: empty modifiers: so, very) Phonological: Women tend to use standard forms more than men (e.g., [-ing] vs. [-in]) |
| Sexism in language | Asymmetry: male term is default, female term adds suffix (e.g., prince/princess, waiter/waitress, actor/actress), nongender specific: (e.g., doctor, professor (as male) vs. teacher, nurse (as female)) male pronouns as generic: (e.g, he, man/mankind, brotherhood, mailman, etc.) |
| 2 views on 'sexist' (also racist, etc.) language | View #1: No: (gender differences in) language simply reflect how society works View #2: Yes: language does not just reflect society, but serves as primary means of |
| politically correct language | Attempts to eliminate unacceptable or offensive language (e.g., Bias-free usage manuals) Based on belief that changing language can change attitudes, society (e.g., mailman postal worker, fireman fire fighter, etc.) |
| relationship(s) btw. language and power | Taboo: in polite situations, 'shit', Euphemism: use of the phrase of furry things to refer to rabbit, PC: firefigher instead of fireman, Epithet: minority groups reclaiming words for power relationship |
| Loaded words | Loaded language is that attempts to influence the listener or reader by appealing to emotion rather than logic, Joe Biden |
| Speech codes | how words have power: guard or guideline. A speech code is any rule or regulation that limits, restricts, or bans speech beyond the strict legal limitations upon freedom of speech or press found in the legal definitions of harassment, slander, libel, and fighting words. Such codes are common in the workplace, in universities |
| Strategies of propoganda | Name Calling: Senator Jane Doe is a bleeding heart, Glittering Generalities: words at heart (name calling opp.), Plain-folks Appeal: to be a person just like ourselves, Argument Ad Populum: telling people what they want to hear |
| Propoganda | A means of persuasion, designed to influence rather than inform, often through an appeal to emotion rather than intellect |
| Doublespeak | Language which pretends to communicate but doesn't |
| Argument Ad Hominum | argument to the man, personal attack i.e.: Lincoln called 'baboon', although nothing to do with slavery |
| Transfer guilt or glory by association | Glory: transfer positive association -> damn, Guilt: negative, John Doe says we need to do something about our gov't, the KKK said too |
| Bandwagon | popular |
| Cause & Effect | driving full sized cars mean a safer road in America |
| Begging the Question | "no on said.." but shouldn't the question be... |
| Card Stacking | pile of facts towards favor |
| Testimonial | loved ones support |
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