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SOCIOLINGUISTICS
2. Definition of Sociolinguistics
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What is language?
Language
A system of symbols with
standard meanings.
Allows humans to communicate
and is the main medium of
transmission of culture.
A socially shared code to express
thoughts and concepts
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Language
A means of communicating
information
Significant in establishing and
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Other Communication
Human:
Direct
Body language , tone of voice, gesture
Indirect
Writing, music, painting, signs
Nonhuman:
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Sociolinguistics
Sociolinguistics
Study of language in relation to
society (R.A. Hudson, 1980)
A blend of sociology and
linguistics
It is also referred to as sociology
of language
Study of society in
relation to language
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Defining sociolinguistics
Sociolinguistics is the study of the
complex relationship between language
and society
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14 What is Sociolinguistics?
Language Society
Attitudes
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RELATIONSIP
BETWEEN
LANGUAGE AND
SOCIETY
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Cultural knowledge
Cultural knowledge is therefore all-important
Cultural knowledge entails knowing how
groups (family, friends, colleagues, fellow
citizens, etc.) behave (or are likely to behave),
what is ‘normal’ (and ‘abnormal’) behaviour
(remember that using language is a form of
behaviour!),
what is ‘expected’ in a multiplicity of social
settings.
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Sociolinguistic
Development of
the Child
Sociolinguistic Development
of the Child
Although it may be assumed that each speaker
is unique in his experience of language
and develops a unique grammar,
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3. Adolescence(peers)
4. Adulthood
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Sociolinguistic
Development of the Child
There is a considerable disagreement
among the sociolinguists as to the time a
child takes in passing from one stage to
another.
During this time, a child also gets busy
1. BABYHOOD
The models are parents and other carers, who use baby
talk words like gee gee, catie, baby good night.
2. CHILDHOOD
The models are other children of the same age or
somewhat older
These children speak differently from their
parents
They imitate teenagers as well
This leads to what is called ‘Age Grading’, a
pattern of use in which linguistic items are used by
people of a particular age, who then stop using it
when they grow older.
Language used by primary children-rhymes,
skipping, songs, so on.
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3) Adolescence
(Children are influenced by their peers who
help them to develop their language, teenage
slang )
This is the stage at which children prepare to
be the next generation of adults.
May be teenage gangs and social types are
a preparation for the complexities of adult
life, but whatever their reasons they have a
profound effect on the speech of adolescents.
4) Adulthood
Here models are other adults as a source
of inspiration .
Work, parenthood and other social activities
bring us into contact with other adults who
offer competing models which we may either
avoid or copy.
There is still scope for change, for learning to
use more or less standard speech for work
purposes under the pressure of the ‘linguistic
market-place’
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Individualism and
Conformity
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What is Conformity?
Conformity--a change in behavior or belief as a
result of real or “imagined” group pressure (swear
words , shit, bloody) .
We learn these same way as we learn the rest of the
language
Why do we conform?
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Competence And
Performance.
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THANK YOU
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