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HI-LING
LINGUISTICS IN THE HIGH SCHOOL
Module 5: Sociolinguistics
Sociolinguistics is a branch of linguistics which looks at social facts that impact language. Examples are regional differences and how social class influences language use.
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Sociolinguistics focuses on the social context, on social structures and processes, in which language use and language ideology are relevant.
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In this lesson, we present an overview of various outcomes of language contact, that is, what happens when speakers of different languages (or varieties of it) interact intensively.
In this lesson we will have a closer look at dialectology, learning how language varies across regions and social groups.
One area of sociolinguistics that plays into many other areas of the field is the connection between language and identity.
In this lesson, you will gain insight into this sub-area and you will reflect on your own language use and identity.
In this lesson, you will learn what language ideology is and how it influences the way we judge people according to how they speak, and what ideas and prejudices are connected with language.
Final Quiz
Test what you have learned by answerig these questions:
1. Give an instance of language divergence.
2. Do you think English Creoles should still be considered English or new languages?
3. Name a feature in which people’s speech can vary and name your own example.
4. In your own words explain what mutual intelligibility refers to.
5. Imagine an old woman tells you her life story. She explains that she lived in London for her whole life and never left the city for more than a short vacation. While she is telling you everything about her life, something strikes you as somewhat funny. You notice that the woman speaks in a broad American English accent.
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Try to describe the situation with the linguistic terms you just learned (cultural identity, narration, coherence).
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Can you find an explanation for the behavior of the old woman?
6. What can the consequences of language ideology look like?
7. Can you think of an example of language ideology in a film or a series?
