Language, place and classLanguage, place and class

Regional and social variationRegional and social variation

A storyA story

A man migrated from Wales to southern A man migrated from Wales to southern England in the 1920s. He took his 5 year old England in the 1920s. He took his 5 year old daughter to the village school and daughter to the village school and introduced her to the headmaster saying introduced her to the headmaster saying “I’ve brought you a new scholar” . The “I’ve brought you a new scholar” . The headmaster replied “She’ll be the first one headmaster replied “She’ll be the first one we’ve ever had here”. The man was not a we’ve ever had here”. The man was not a coward – he had a dangerous job and had coward – he had a dangerous job and had fought in France and Palestine in WW I. --fought in France and Palestine in WW I. --

continuedcontinued

but he was very afraid since he was but he was very afraid since he was obviously in the presence of a raving lunatic obviously in the presence of a raving lunatic He could clearly see a hundred scholars He could clearly see a hundred scholars running around the playground.running around the playground.

Was the headmaster really insane? Was the headmaster really insane?

continuedcontinued

No.No.

There was a difference in dialect. In Wales a There was a difference in dialect. In Wales a scholar was someone who went to school. scholar was someone who went to school. In England it referred to a knowledgeable In England it referred to a knowledgeable person.person.

Study of social and regional Study of social and regional differencesdifferences

1919thth and early 20 and early 20thth studies based on studies based on studies of old menstudies of old men

Geographical rather than socialGeographical rather than social Drew isoglosses on mapsDrew isoglosses on maps

continuedcontinued

isoglosses separated dialectsisoglosses separated dialects Based on family tree modelBased on family tree model Assumed real dialects spoken by Assumed real dialects spoken by

older malesolder males

Continued Continued

See handout for English dialectsSee handout for English dialects

Often highly accurateOften highly accurate

Info collected 1948-61 – men born 1890-Info collected 1948-61 – men born 1890-1920 but can still identify place of origin of 1920 but can still identify place of origin of someone who left 40 years agosomeone who left 40 years ago

MalaysiaMalaysia

Can similar maps be constructed for Can similar maps be constructed for Malaysia?Malaysia?

Dialect continuumDialect continuum

Gradual changes from one place to another Gradual changes from one place to another in Englandin England

Western RomanceWestern Romance

Southern SlavicSouthern Slavic

West MalaysiaWest Malaysia

Problems with Dialect StudiesProblems with Dialect Studies

Ignored social change – assumed Ignored social change – assumed no social variation in dialect areasno social variation in dialect areas

ignored variation by gender – not ignored variation by gender – not interested in women or assumed interested in women or assumed followed menfollowed men

continuedcontinued

ignored variation by ageignored variation by age Ignored urban areas – “not real Ignored urban areas – “not real

dialects”dialects” Non-random samplingNon-random sampling

Language and classLanguage and classClassClass Differences in status, prestige, respect, Differences in status, prestige, respect,

powerpower Found in all societies, even “classless” onesFound in all societies, even “classless” ones Until 500years ago based mainly on Until 500years ago based mainly on

violenceviolence

continuedcontinued In western societies – mainly & increasingly In western societies – mainly & increasingly

income, wealth, occupation and educationincome, wealth, occupation and education

International stratification – economic International stratification – economic increasingly an educational, digital and increasingly an educational, digital and linguistic gaplinguistic gap

Social VariationSocial Variation Languages vary by class – often formalisedLanguages vary by class – often formalised

Words for royalty and others in Thai, Words for royalty and others in Thai, Javanese, Malay, English – criminal offence Javanese, Malay, English – criminal offence in Thailandfor foreigners to use words for in Thailandfor foreigners to use words for parts of the King’s bodyparts of the King’s body

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Pronouns European tu/vous, du/sie systemsPronouns European tu/vous, du/sie systems

Phonology – most persistent kind of social Phonology – most persistent kind of social variationvariation

Social structure of EnglishSocial structure of English Social dialect -- dialect of a social group Social dialect -- dialect of a social group Accent – variations in phonologyAccent – variations in phonology English – many regional dialectsEnglish – many regional dialects Standard English is a written and spoken Standard English is a written and spoken

dialect dialect Most writing is in SEMost writing is in SE

continuedcontinued Slight national variationsSlight national variations Spoken by minority of native speakers – Spoken by minority of native speakers –

understood by mostunderstood by most Target language for NNSs – model in Target language for NNSs – model in

phonetics textbooksphonetics textbooks RP (BBC) is an accentRP (BBC) is an accent

Status of RP/BBCStatus of RP/BBC High prestigeHigh prestige Hostility – US films spoken by Hostility – US films spoken by

vampires, aliens and Shere Khanvampires, aliens and Shere Khan Status may be declining – prestige Status may be declining – prestige

speakers – Sean Connery (Scottish), speakers – Sean Connery (Scottish), Hugh Grant (RP), Trevor Phillips Hugh Grant (RP), Trevor Phillips (Caribbean) (Caribbean)

Recent Changes in RPRecent Changes in RP Linking /r/Linking /r/ klklO:T -- kO:T -- kllQTQT Final glottalisation – noted in Final glottalisation – noted in

Diana, but not Charles or BlairDiana, but not Charles or Blair Some features of CockneySome features of Cockney

continuedcontinued Emergence of Estuary EnglishEmergence of Estuary English

Intermediate between Cockney and RP Intermediate between Cockney and RP

Spreading geographically and up and down Spreading geographically and up and down social structuresocial structure

Social Aspects of American Social Aspects of American EnglishEnglish

No equivalent to RP – closest is Network No equivalent to RP – closest is Network English (mid-western?)English (mid-western?)

US presidents retain regional accents – US presidents retain regional accents – Bush (Texas) Kennedy (Boston), Clinton Bush (Texas) Kennedy (Boston), Clinton (deep South)(deep South)

Social variations within regionsSocial variations within regions African Americans distinctAfrican Americans distinct

Labov’s StudyLabov’s Study Language varies by class as well as placeLanguage varies by class as well as place

Labov studied NYC department storesLabov studied NYC department stores

Asking same questions in 3 stores of Asking same questions in 3 stores of different statusdifferent status

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Found post-vocalic /r/has high status in Found post-vocalic /r/has high status in NYC NYC

Use increases in middle and upper middle Use increases in middle and upper middle classesclasses

Not in Boston reverseNot in Boston reverse Not in England – found in regional dialectsNot in England – found in regional dialects

continuedcontinued Within English – a sign of low statusWithin English – a sign of low status

In Reading used more by working classIn Reading used more by working class

In Malaysia? – a sign of high status --- In Malaysia? – a sign of high status --- teacher inducedteacher induced

Other FindingsOther Findings Studies in UK found variation by Studies in UK found variation by

classclass

E.g. Reading and Norwich – post E.g. Reading and Norwich – post vocalic /r/, /h/ deletion, /n/ rather vocalic /r/, /h/ deletion, /n/ rather than /ng/ than /ng/

continuedcontinued Differences between men and Differences between men and

womenwomen Any high status form used more Any high status form used more

frequently by women frequently by women Overt and covert prestigeOvert and covert prestige

continuedcontinued

African-Americans distinctiveAfrican-Americans distinctive Do not participate in the Northern Cities Do not participate in the Northern Cities

vowel shiftvowel shift British Asians – regional varietiesBritish Asians – regional varieties Afro-Caribbeans – revival of patoisAfro-Caribbeans – revival of patois

Stylistic VariationStylistic Variation Fixed – e.g. /n/ vs /ng/, post-vocalic /r/Fixed – e.g. /n/ vs /ng/, post-vocalic /r/

Graded – e.g. types of glottalisationGraded – e.g. types of glottalisation

Part of a stylistic repertoire ranging from Part of a stylistic repertoire ranging from formal to casualformal to casual

Gender, Class and LanguageGender, Class and Language

Explanation of class and gender patternsExplanation of class and gender patterns Women’s status dependent on male partner Women’s status dependent on male partner Women can choose partners freelyWomen can choose partners freely Status marked by linguistic featuresStatus marked by linguistic features Women’s status can improve by adopting certain Women’s status can improve by adopting certain

featuresfeatures Does this apply everywhere?Does this apply everywhere?

ConclusionConclusion Language is closely linked to social classLanguage is closely linked to social class

Traditional patterns may be replaced by Traditional patterns may be replaced by phonological variation within a language or phonological variation within a language or dialectdialect

What is happening in SE Asia?What is happening in SE Asia?

QuestionQuestion

Are there social dialects in Are there social dialects in Asian languages?Asian languages?