FlashKeepers

Linguistics · College

Sociolinguistics Basics

Language variation and change in social context, including dialects, register, and language and identity.

35 cards · basic cards · AI-written, checked twice. Edit anything.

Study this set free Look inside first Get FlashKeepers for iPhone
What is sociolinguistics?
The study of language variation and change in relation to social factors such as class, gender, age, ethnicity, and context.
What is a speech community?
A group of speakers who share a set of linguistic norms and patterns of language use.
How does a dialect differ from a language?
Dialects are mutually intelligible varieties of a language, while languages are generally not mutually intelligible.
What is a sociolect?
A language variety associated with a particular social group or social class.
Define register.
A variety of language used in a particular social situation or for a particular purpose.
What is code-switching?
The alternation between two or more languages or language varieties within the same conversation or utterance.
What is diglossia?
A situation in which two language varieties coexist within a speech community with distinct social roles and contexts of use.
What does linguistic variation refer to?
Differences in language use across speakers, contexts, or time within the same language or dialect.
What is language change?
The process by which linguistic features evolve differently across time within a speech community.
How does language relate to identity?
Language serves as a marker of personal, ethnic, regional, and social identity and group membership.
What is linguistic prestige?
The social status and value attributed to a particular language variety or linguistic feature.
What is the standard language?
The variety of a language that is considered the norm for formal communication, education, and official use.
What is the linguistic marketplace?
The social context in which speakers must decide whether to use their native dialect or the standard variety based on social rewards.
What are language attitudes?
The beliefs and feelings speakers hold about different language varieties, often reflecting social stereotypes.
What is linguistic insecurity?
A speaker's feeling of anxiety or shame about their own language variety due to negative attitudes toward it.

20 more cards in the app