Linguistics: Sociolinguistics

What is sociolinguistics?

The study of the relationship between language and society, focusing on how social factors like class, gender, and ethnicity influence language use.

What is a sociolect?

A variety of language that is strongly associated with a specific social class or group rather than a geographic region.

What is code-switching?

The practice of alternating between two or more languages or language varieties within a single conversation or social context.

What is a pidgin?

A simplified, makeshift language that develops as a means of communication between two or more groups that do not have a language in common.

What is a creole?

A stable natural language that develops from the nativization of a pidgin, becoming the first language of a community.

What is an official language?

A language that is given a special legal status in a particular country, state, or jurisdiction for use in government and administration.

Who famously stated that 'a language is a dialect with an army and a navy'?

Max Weinreich, highlighting that the distinction between language and dialect is often based on political power rather than linguistics.

What is the difference between situational and metaphorical code-switching?

Situational is triggered by a change in setting or participants, while metaphorical is used to change the tone or social relationship without changing the setting.

What is the difference between overt and covert prestige?

Overt prestige is attached to standard varieties recognized by dominant society, while covert prestige is attached to non-standard varieties used to show group solidarity.

What was the primary linguistic variable studied in William Labov's 1966 NYC department store study?

The post-vocalic /r/ sound, which Labov used to demonstrate how rhoticity correlated with higher social class and formal speech.