How do we create our identity through language?
We create our identity chiefly through language, including specific lexical choices, grammatical constructions, and variations in phonology.
What did Wilam Labov discover about Vineyard fishermen?
Labov found that a small group of fishermen on Martha’s Vineyard pronounced vowel sounds differently to establish their identity as ‘Vineyarders’ and distance themselves from tourists.
What is ‘Multicultural London English’ (MLE)?
MLE is a hybrid dialect with West Indian, South Asian, Cockney, and Estuary roots, prevalent in East London among people with few opportunities.
What did teenagers in Bradford express about their dialect?
Teenage boys in Bradford stated their dialect was a conscious choice, mixing Punjabi and English to create a language that others do not understand.
What did teenagers in South London say about their language use?
Teenagers in South London discussed using words like ‘bruv’ and ‘Bredrin’ to set themselves apart, with many terms having Jamaican or Afro-Caribbean roots.
What is ‘dialectal leveling’ according to Lesley Milroy?
Dialectal leveling refers to the disruption of localized networks that historically maintained complex linguistic norms, leading to a standardization of dialects.
What did Paul Kerswill’s research indicate about social mobility and dialects?
Kerswill’s research indicated that increased social mobility and interaction with diverse speech varieties contribute to dialect leveling and the fading of Received Pronunciation.
What phonological variant did Paul Foulkes and Gerard Docherty discuss?
They discussed the replacement of ‘th’ with ‘f’ or ‘v’ and how this variant has spread beyond its original London origins.
What attitudes do people have towards RP speakers?
RP speakers are often perceived as haughty and unfriendly by non-RP speakers, and working-class accents may be viewed as having less educational potential.
What did Howard Giles’ matched guise study reveal?
Giles found that teenagers rated an RP speaker higher in competence and intelligence compared to speakers with non-standard accents.
What correlation did Dixon, Mahoney, and Cocks find in their matched guise study?
They found that a suspect speaking with a non-standard Birmingham accent was perceived as significantly more likely to be guilty.
What did Neuliep and Speten-Hansen study regarding ethnocentrism?
They found that highly ethnocentric listeners rated non-native speakers lower on attractiveness, credibility, and similarity to themselves.
