Language in use As a social identifier Varieties of speech Knowing what to say, and how and when to

say it◦ Linguistic competence◦ Cultural competence

1. Idiolect

2. Dialect Cockney.

Is there a Portland dialect?

In linguistics, distinguish between◦ Standard dialect (either accentless or considered

an acceptable accented variant)◦ Vernacular/non-standard dialects (what we often

mean by “dialect” colloquially)

The Beatles: speakers of “Scouse” English, or a dialect centered in Liverpool

Those people who share the same rules for the interpretation and production of speech

Ability to speak more than one language

There is more than one variant of a language

H/L◦ Arabic-speaking nations◦ Switzerland (Swiss German &Standard German)◦ Greece (standard and colloquial)

Not equal◦ Higher class/status are more likely to know H◦ Role of education◦ Lower class/status restricted to L◦ Class closely correlated to ability

Code-switching◦ The ability and/or tendency to switch between:a)One language and anotherb)The H or L form where there is diglossiac)One dialect and another (e.g. vernacular and

standard)

.. means how one phrases requests, opinions, responses and so on and so forth in an acceptable way

i.e. what is “polite” or what is “appropriate” Many languages and cultures prefer

INDIRECTION in speech interactions

Why study this?◦ Simple, short interactions◦ Very much governed by norms of politeness and

proper social interaction◦ Details are variable culture to culture and

language to language

Reciprocal Non-reciprocal

Closeness First name-First name Mom/Dad – First name

Distance

Last name-Last name

Title-titleTitle last name-Title last nameHonorifics between persons of same status

Sir/Ma’am to parent/kin term “son”

Title last name – last nameTitle last name – first nameHonorific – Title last name

Assertion and protest Discrimination and belittlement One curious example..

Competent use of language is not just following rules◦ It’s knowing how and when to meaningfully break

them