L

ANGUAGE

V

ARIATION

L I 2 0 2 3 N A T H A L I E F . M A R T I N

Outline of Today’s Class

Today’s :

    Linguistic Community Linguistic Variation Geography Through time   Social variation Situational Variation

Linguistic Variation

 A language, within a same community, is never quite

_____________

.

 We speak of determine the differences between individual speech.

_______________

when we

Linguistic Variation

 In spite of all the variation found between speakers, there are which

______________ _______________

in the way that speakers of a certain community speak, them from other linguistic communities (e.g. Canadian English, British English, Newfoundland English, etc.)

Linguistic Variation

Variability Invariability (Core)

Linguistic Variation

   To say that there is in fact a “linguistic community”, the language must present a certain

_________

.

Vocabulary, phonetic, syntax and grammar should be

__________

the same within the community.

Let’s mention, though, that certain differences pertaining to vocabulary and accent, for example, are tolerated.

Linguistic Community

 A

Linguistic Community

:  is a fuzzy concept since it can be very large (e.g. _______________ , _____________ ) or considerably small (for example, a ____ or ______ , or even a

_______________

).

Linguistic Community

 Definition of a linguistic community according to

Joshua Fishman

: “A linguistic community exists as soon as all members have at least one linguistic variety in common, as well as rules governing the proper use of this variety.” 

_______________

 NOTE: Communities, as well as individuals, have more than one Variety of language.

Classification of Linguistic Variation

 We generally speak of four types of language variation factors.

1.

Geolinguistic variation 2.

Temporal (or historic) variation 3.

Social variation 4.

Situational variation

Linguistic Variation Factors

1 .

2 .

3 .

4 .

G E O L I N G U I S T I C V A R I A T I O N T E M P O R A L S O C I A L ( O R H I S T O R I C ) V A R I A T I O N V A R I A T I O N S I T U A T I O N A L V A R I A T I O N

Video : Learning not to Tawk Like a New Yorker  http://video.nytimes.com/video/2010/11/19/nyregi on/1248069311927/you-talkin-to-me.html

Let’s Share



L ET ’ S SHARE DIFFERENT WORDS OR EXPRESSIONS USED IN OUR OWN REGION :

Linguistic Variation Factors

•

Geolinguistic Variation

• Geolinguistique Variation “ Massachusetts Hold Em’ ”

Atlas of North American English

Phonetics, Phonology and Sound Change  Website:

Examples of Different Language Varieties 

Video and Internet Sources:



American Tongues video http://www.cnam.com/non_flash/language/america n.html

  

Do You Speak American – website and video http://www.pbs.org/speak/ * International Dialects of English Archive http://web.ku.edu/~idea/ Watch clips of video in class – the website here: http://www.pbs.org/speak/

Linguistic Variation and it’s Factors

•

Temporal (or Historic) Variation

• Temporal (or Historic) Variation

Temporal Variation

 Temporal variation is

__________

and manifests itself through

_______________

differences.

 The case of North American French:  In North America, a good number of archaic words that are no longer used in France (though they are sometimes used in certain areas) have been conserved.

Linguistic Variation and it’s Factors

•

Social Variation

• Social Variation

Social Variation

    Languages are to be seen through the eyes of

_____

.

A language changes socially. It needs to come to a certain consensus; that is why it is often heterogeneous, conflictual and dynamic. Social linguistics variation corresponds to different social classes.

For example: the variation of /r/ in New York.  Linguists often use the more neutral term _______ rather than dialect .

Social Variation

 Social variation :  Allows speakers to be a part of a language community (feeling of

_______________

);   Sets and maintains

_________

between social classes; Can emphasize different contexts (if we choose to speak a certain way in a certain context, this can be seen as a political choice).

Linguistic Variation and it’s Factors

•

Situational Variation

• Situational Variation

Situational Variation

  We do not speak the same way to everyone – we adapt our speech according to the “

__________

” Speakers adopt a certain way of speaking according to the

_______________

.

What kind of variation is this?

 « What’shu talking ‘bout, Willis? »