Multiplex social network?
Social network where individuals interact with each other in multiple ways
Variationist sociolingustics?
Branch of linguistics that seeks to explain the connection between social distinctions and language variation
Variant and variable? Example of “the”
[ð] [brʌðr] = standard
[v] [brʌvr] = non-standard
[d] [brʌdr] = non standard
th /ð/ is the VARIABLE because it can have many different realizations.
Each of the possible realizations of th /ð/ is a VARIANT: [ð], [v], [d]
What is a variable?
Variable is like a phoneme (ie. the underlying representation) while each variant is an allophone
Categorical rule?
Is one that applies without any exception
In sociolinguistic analyses, rules are probabalistic: meaning that they are more or less likely to apply in a given situation
Inter-speaker variation?
How similar or different speakers are from each other
Intra-speaker variation?
How each individual varies within their own speech
Class?
A speakers socio-economic status (SES)
Certain linguistic variants = more closely tied to upper classes (these variants carry the most prestige
Upper class often adapt prestige norms from outside of the speech community
Careful speech style?
Occurs when speakers are paying close attention to how they are speaking
Ethnolect?
Variety of language associated with a particular ethnic group
Copula?
The linking verb ‘be’ that connects the subject to a predicate (verb)
In AAE, the copula is deleted, but only when the copula can be contracted in standard English (SE)
Aspect?
Is used in language to express the way in which time is denoted by the verb
Aspect describes how an action to time (completed, ongoing, habitual) rather than location in time (tense)
Habitual aspect?
Used to indicate that an event is performed usually, ordinarily, repeatedly or customarily (ie. as a habitat)
Habitual be?
Habitual be in AAE is used to express an aspectual distinction that in SE can only be expressed using adverb s or adverbial expressions
Punctual vs habitual?
Punctual: they busy = they are busy right now
Habitual: They be busy = they are usually busy
Double negative?
Use of 2 negative words in the same clause
In SE, 2 negatives often create a positive meaning (sometimes needing special intonation) In AAE, double negatives don’t ‘cancel out’ to create a positive meaning
ex. It’s not like I have no friends
I didn’t do nothing
It wasn’t that nobody came to the party
In AAE, double negatives don’t ‘cancel out’ to create a positive meaning
Ex. Don’t nobody tell him that there’s a surprise party
SE meaning: somebody should tell him about the party
AAE meaning: absolutely nobody should tell him about the party
Negative concord?
Where multiple negatives do not cancel each other out, but rather reinforce or strengthen the negative meaning
Who uses more prestige(= standard?
Women tend to use more prestige (=standard) variants compared to men
Overt prestige?
Refers to the use of any linguistic variables that are associated with prestige (ie. the standard)
Women (female speakers) tend to use more of the standard forms associated with overt prestige
Covert prestige?
When non standard linguistic variable are associated with prestige within certain social groups
Male speakers are likely to use forms associated with covert prestige
Change from above?
A change thats noticeable in a community and works its way down from the upper classes
Women are more likely to drive change with change from from above
Women are more likely to use overt prestige for and adopt change from above due to linguistic insecurity
Change from below?
Change that is not noticeable (subconscious) in a community, and works its way up from the lower classes
Contact situations? Contract driven?
Contact situations: lead to bilingualism, code-switching and borrowing
Contact driven: languages types include mixed languages, lingua Francas, pidgins and creoles
