social dialects - psau · explanations of women linguistic behavior why do w use more standard...

Social Dialects THE EFFECT OF SOCIAL CLASS, GENDER AND AGE ON LANGUAGE.

Social DialectsLike geographical barriers, social divisions affect the language of groups.

The language of high class members differ from that of lower class members.

High class members tend to use more standard forms than members of low classes.

RP was used by members of high class who originated from different areas of England. i.e. (Regions here have no influence)22/06/36 ABDULAZIZ ASSANOSI 2

Social DialectsStandard English is a dialect of educated people from allover the world.

Within community, low class members also used different dialects which are (vernacular).

Socioeconomic reason causes the use of vernacular. (it is easy to learn, learnt at home, do not mark high prestige).

Variation in low class is affected by geography, standard dialect users from different regions may use the same [standard] dialect.

22/06/36 ABDULAZIZ ASSANOSI 3

Social Dialects


Highest Class: Standard Dialect

Lowest Class: Vernacular Dialect

Regional Variations

Soci

al

Var

iati

on

Checkpoint How do social division affect language of different groups.

What is stronger regional or social affect? Prove.

How can socio-economic factors causes language variations?


GenderDo men and women speak differently?

If yes, on what levels? (phonology, morphology, semantic, pragmatics)?

Is there are some words in your language which looks odd if you use because it is (the language of the other sex)?


Gender

Men and Women speak differently in all speech communities.The degree of difference varies from a community to another.

The difference occur in two level:◦ The linguistic forms.◦ The linguistic behavior.


GenderIn any speech community of the world, using certain linguistic structure may be odd because it the language of either men (M) or women (W).

These differences are of two types:◦Gender Exclusive Differences.

◦Gender Preferential Differences.

Generally W tend to use more polite forms than M do


Gender Exclusive DifferencesOccur when particular linguistic forms occur only in M or W speech.

Usually the difference between the forms is small.

If a person uses the wrong form it sounds odd.


MeaningMen’s formWomen’s form

Deerba-naba

Personyaa-nayaa

Fire?au-na?au

He might go awaynisaaklu-?inisaaklu

Example from Yana, a North American Indian Language

Gender Exclusive DifferencesThe W forms are more polite.

Some language signal the gender of the speaker in pronoun system (Arabic for example)


MeaningMen’s formWomen’s form

Father oyajiotoosan

Stomach haraonaka

Delicious umaiOishii

Eat kuutaberu

Example from Japanese language

Gender Exclusive DifferencesLanguage difference between M and W reflect gender difference.

If a community have a sharp difference between M and W, e.g. M are powerful than W, then there will be language difference.

Gender exclusive speech forms mean gender-exclusive social roles.


Gender Preferential DifferencesOccur when M and W do not use completely different forms.

In this case, both use the same forms but the difference is in the frequency of use of these forms.

e.g. in English M use more [in] for [ing].

M use [d] for [th] more than W do.

W use more intensifier words than M do.


Gender Preferential DifferencesGender Preferential Differences occur when the social status and roles of M and W overlap as in the western communities.

In both cases (gender-exclusive and gender-preferential) W tend to use more standard variety than M.


Gender and Social ClassIn the lowest and the highest group, W speech is closer to that of M of the group than to W from other groups.

The influence of social class is stronger than the influence of gender.

Across all social groups W use standard forms and M use vernacular form of the same language.

M uses dropping more than W.

W use polite language more.


Explanations of Women Linguistic Behavior

Why do W use more standard forms than M do?

There are four explanation suggested by researchers:1. The social status explanation.

2. Women’s role in the society.

3. Women status in the society.

4. The function of speech to identify gender.


The social status explanation.

W are more status-conscious than M.

They are more aware that the way they speak signals their social class background.

This is especially in non-employed W.

Women who have no social status acquire it by using standard forms.


Women’s role in the society.

Society expect better behavior form W than from M.

W role in the society is a guardian of its morals and ethics.

They are models for their children.

Girls are corrected more than boys.

Mistakes from girls are considered more serious than of boys


Women status in the society.

People who are subordinate must be polite.

In most communities in the world W are subordinate.

W avoid offence to others so they use more polite language.

Although standard language can offensive and vernacular can be polite but standard is more polite generally.22/06/36 ABDULAZIZ ASSANOSI 18

The function of speech to identify gender.

Vernacular forms express machismo.

W avoid language which carry macho connotations.

Words of details, color, emotions can be explained better in standard form. So W use them to express their femininity.


Checkpoint In what way do the dialect/language of M and W differ?

What are the level of difference between M and W language?

What are the types of difference between W and M language?

Explain gender exclusive differences.

Explain gender preferential differences.

What are the explanations of the use of women of more standard forms


Age-Graded Features of SpeechOne of the most obvious difference between M and W is the pitch of their voice.

When they are children it may difficult to differentiate between male and female.

Boys voice change at puberty. (become lower in pitch).

This is the (physiological) difference between W and M language.


Age-Graded Features of SpeechIn schools, both boys and girls tend to use appropriate (standard) forms.

Teachers and parents can control and encourage them to do so.

Swear words change with time until they disappear.


Age-Graded Features of Speechthe use of slang by different age group can be represented by the following curve .


pre

stig

e

0 30 50 +70age

Age-Graded Features of SpeechThe curve suggest that people between 0 -30 uses mor slang.

From 40 to 50use standard more.

After 70 they again use more slang.


pre

stig

e

0 30 50 +70age

Checkpoint State whether each of the following is TRUE or FALSE if it is false CORRECT it:

Women may say the expression (I av left den he call me).

A man who is 37 is likely to use more slang than a man who aged 74.

Little boys use more polite language than little girls.

A woman from a lower class speak just like another woman from a higher class.

It is easy to differentiate between a girl and a boy aged 6 when any of them talk on phone.


Thank you


social dialects - psau · explanations of women linguistic behavior why do w use more standard...

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