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Topic One Topic One

Introduction to SociolinguisticsIntroduction to Sociolinguistics

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What What dodo sociolinguistics sociolinguistics study study??

The relationship between language and societyThe relationship between language and society How does society (who people are, what they How does society (who people are, what they

do, who they are with) affect the ways people do, who they are with) affect the ways people speak?speak?

What social factors can account for What social factors can account for linguistic linguistic variation? variation?

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Examples of aspects of Examples of aspects of sociolinguisticssociolinguistics we will study in this we will study in this

module:module:

Why do you use English (or Cantonese) differently Why do you use English (or Cantonese) differently when you talk to me (your lecturer) from when you when you talk to me (your lecturer) from when you talk to a stranger or when you talk to another student?talk to a stranger or when you talk to another student?

Why do you use English (or Cantonese) differently Why do you use English (or Cantonese) differently when you talk to your fellow student in class from when you talk to your fellow student in class from when you talk to her in the hostel?when you talk to her in the hostel?

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Why do you sometimes switch from Cantonese to English in Why do you sometimes switch from Cantonese to English in the middle of a sentence?the middle of a sentence?

What are some of the differences between the ways men and What are some of the differences between the ways men and women use language?women use language?

Do people of different ages speak differently?Do people of different ages speak differently?

What can a language tell about the social background of a What can a language tell about the social background of a person?person?

Will a language die?Will a language die?

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How do languages change over time?How do languages change over time?

What languages should we use or teach in What languages should we use or teach in school?school?

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What determines language use?What determines language use?

Why do you use English (or Cantonese) Why do you use English (or Cantonese) differently when you talk to me (your lecturer) differently when you talk to me (your lecturer) from when you talk to another student?from when you talk to another student?

Why do you use English (or Cantonese) Why do you use English (or Cantonese) differently when you talk to your fellow differently when you talk to your fellow student in class from when you talk to her in student in class from when you talk to her in the hostel?the hostel?

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Factors determining language useFactors determining language use

The participantsThe participants The settingThe setting The topicThe topic The function (Holmes p.8)The function (Holmes p.8)Social dimensionsSocial dimensions Solidarity – social distance scaleSolidarity – social distance scale Status scaleStatus scale Formality scaleFormality scale Function scaleFunction scale

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What is a variety/code?What is a variety/code?

Spolsky (1998) Sociolinguistics:Spolsky (1998) Sociolinguistics:

‘‘Variety’ is a term we use to include any Variety’ is a term we use to include any identifiable kind of languageidentifiable kind of language

Example: Example:

1)1) Hakka and Cantonese are two varieties of Hakka and Cantonese are two varieties of ChineseChinese

2)2) Holmes p.19: Indoubil – based on Swahili, Holmes p.19: Indoubil – based on Swahili, drawing on French, English and Italiandrawing on French, English and Italian

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Read the following extract and decide how you Read the following extract and decide how you would call it: a language, variety or code?would call it: a language, variety or code?

Gary: day dreaming, haha, just feel bored and can’t Gary: day dreaming, haha, just feel bored and can’t concentrate. Dunno why –hahaconcentrate. Dunno why –haha

Phil: why can concentrate ar? Have ‘heart problem’?? Phil: why can concentrate ar? Have ‘heart problem’?? Work hard ar, u will have present on Friday wor, and Work hard ar, u will have present on Friday wor, and have 4 midterms. Don’t daydream la i will support have 4 midterms. Don’t daydream la i will support you mentally aryou mentally ar

Gary: thx. U make me feel warm studying in UST –Gary: thx. U make me feel warm studying in UST –university of stress and tension yes, there r many ppl university of stress and tension yes, there r many ppl watch me thru icq. I can be lazy and let them down!watch me thru icq. I can be lazy and let them down!

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Hong Kong as a multilingual speech Hong Kong as a multilingual speech communitycommunity

Bilingual individuals (individual bilingualism)Bilingual individuals (individual bilingualism)

Bilingual society (societal bilingualism)Bilingual society (societal bilingualism)

A speech communityA speech community

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What is the meaning of What is the meaning of bilingualism?bilingualism?

The ability to use two languages e.g. English & The ability to use two languages e.g. English & ChineseChinese

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Are you a bAre you a bilingualilingual??

one who possesses at one who possesses at least least one of the one of the language skillslanguage skills even to a even to a minimal degreeminimal degree in the in the second language.” second language.” (Macnamara 1967)(Macnamara 1967)

those who demonstrate those who demonstrate complete mastery of complete mastery of two different languages two different languages without interferencewithout interference between the two between the two linguistic processes.” linguistic processes.” (Oestreicher 1974)(Oestreicher 1974)

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Are you a bilingual?Are you a bilingual?

bilingualism is bilingualism is understood…to begin at understood…to begin at the point where the the point where the speaker of one language speaker of one language can produce can produce complete complete meaningful utterancesmeaningful utterances in the other language.” in the other language.” (Baetens-Beardsmore, (Baetens-Beardsmore, 1982).1982).

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What is individual bilingualism?What is individual bilingualism?

Focus on the linguistic competence of individual Focus on the linguistic competence of individual personspersons

What are your L1 and L2?What are your L1 and L2?

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What is an L1?What is an L1?

This term is used in different, overlapping This term is used in different, overlapping ways, and can mean a) the first language ways, and can mean a) the first language learnt; b) the stronger language; c) the mother learnt; b) the stronger language; c) the mother tongue; d) the language most usedtongue; d) the language most used

Encyclopedia of bilingualism and bilingual Encyclopedia of bilingualism and bilingual education, Colin Baker (1998)education, Colin Baker (1998)

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What is an L2?What is an L2?

This term is used in different, overlapping This term is used in different, overlapping ways and can mean a) the second language; b) ways and can mean a) the second language; b) the weaker language; c) a language that is not the weaker language; c) a language that is not the mother tongue; d) the less used language. the mother tongue; d) the less used language.

Second language is sometimes used to cover Second language is sometimes used to cover 33rdrd or further languages. or further languages.

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What is societal bilingualism?What is societal bilingualism?

Focus on the roles and functions of different Focus on the roles and functions of different languages in one societylanguages in one society

Is Hong Kong a bilingual society?Is Hong Kong a bilingual society? Must societal bilingualism come with Must societal bilingualism come with

individual bilingualism?individual bilingualism?