Sociolinguistics Lecture Notes

Introduction to Sociolinguistics

• Sociolinguistics: Study of the relationship between language and society.
• Key topics covered:
  • Differentiating between languages and dialects
  • Dialect continuum
  • Isoglosses and dialect boundaries
  • Notion of accent
  • Slang

Languages and Dialects

• Estimated 5,000 to 7,000 languages in use (spoken and signed).
• Distinction between languages and dialects is not always clear.
• A language can have multiple dialects; each may have different levels of prestige.
• Example: Received Pronunciation (high prestige) vs Southern American English (lower prestige).

Dialects vs Languages

• Mutually Intelligible: Dialects are typically mutually intelligible; languages are not.
• Example: Understanding within Western American English and Southern American English versus Scottish English (unintelligible).
• Dialect Continuum: A range of dialects that are mutually intelligible with adjacent varieties but not at opposite ends.

Accents

• Accents have a negative connotation but are neutral in linguistics.
• Everyone has an accent; it reflects regional and social aspects.
• Factors influencing accents: age, gender, socioeconomic status.

William Labov's Study

• Labov studied R-lessness among English speakers in NYC.
• Salespeople from high prestige store (Saks Fifth Avenue) more likely to pronounce 'R' than those from lower prestige stores (S. Klein).
• Findings: Social factors affect dialect and accent usage.

Isoglosses and Dialect Boundaries

• Isogloss: A boundary separating different linguistic forms (not political boundaries).
• Geographic barriers (like mountains or rivers) influence language variation.
• Example: Different usage of 'y'all' vs 'you all' across the Sandia Mountains.
• Dialect Boundary: A bundle of isoglosses indicating where one dialect ends and another begins.

Slang

• Slang: Informal language used by younger speakers to reinforce group membership.
• Language evolves across generations, and slang shifts frequently.
• Older speakers may resist language changes, including slang.
• Examples of current slang (e.g., lit, on fleek, yeet) may or may not persist over time.
• Encouragement to share examples of slang in comments.

Conclusion

• Language change is natural and ongoing.
• Importance of understanding sociolinguistic variations in language.
• Invitation to engage and share thoughts on slang.