LI 2023 NATHALIE F. MARTIN L ANGUAGE V ARIATION

Outline of Today’s Class Today’s : Linguistic Community Linguistic Variation Geography Through time Social variation Situational Variation

Linguistic Variation A language, within a same community, is never quite _____________. We speak of _______________ when we determine the differences between individual speech.

Linguistic Variation In spite of all the variation found between speakers, there are ______________in the way that speakers of a certain community speak, which _______________ them from other linguistic communities (e.g. Canadian English, British English, Newfoundland English, etc.)

Invariability (Core) Variability Linguistic Variation

To say that there is in fact a “linguistic community”, the language must present a certain _________. Vocabulary, phonetic, syntax and grammar should be __________ the same within the community. Let’s mention, though, that certain differences pertaining to vocabulary and accent, for example, are tolerated.

Linguistic Community A Linguistic Community:  is a fuzzy concept since it can be very large (e.g. _______________, _____________) or considerably small (for example, a ____or ______, or even a _______________ ).

Linguistic Community Definition of a linguistic community according to Joshua Fishman: “A linguistic community exists as soon as all members have at least one linguistic variety in common, as well as rules governing the proper use of this variety.”  _______________  NOTE: Communities, as well as individuals, have more than one Variety of language.

Classification of Linguistic Variation We generally speak of four types of language variation factors. 1. Geolinguistic variation 2. Temporal (or historic) variation 3. Social variation 4. Situational variation

1. GEOLINGUISTIC VARIATION 2. TEMPORAL (OR HISTORIC) VARIATION 3. SOCIAL VARIATION 4. SITUATIONAL VARIATION Linguistic Variation Factors

Video : Learning not to Tawk Like a New Yorker on/ /you-talkin-to-me.html on/ /you-talkin-to-me.html

Let’s Share L ET ’ S SHARE DIFFERENT WORDS OR EXPRESSIONS USED IN OUR OWN REGION :

Linguistic Variation Factors Geolinguistic Variation Geolinguistic Variation Geolinguistique Variation “ Massachusetts Hold Em’ ”

Atlas of North American English Phonetics, Phonology and Sound Change Website:

Examples of Different Language Varieties Video and Internet Sources:  American Tongues video - n.html n.html  Do You Speak American – website and video *  International Dialects of English Archive  Watch clips of video in class – the website here:

Linguistic Variation and it’s Factors Temporal (or Historic) Variation Temporal (or Historic) Variation Temporal (or Historic) Variation

Temporal Variation Temporal variation is __________ and manifests itself through _______________ differences. The case of North American French:  In North America, a good number of archaic words that are no longer used in France (though they are sometimes used in certain areas) have been conserved.

Linguistic Variation and it’s Factors Social Variation Social Variation Social Variation

Languages are to be seen through the eyes of _____. A language changes socially. It needs to come to a certain consensus; that is why it is often heterogeneous, conflictual and dynamic. Social linguistics variation corresponds to different social classes. For example: the variation of /r/ in New York.  Linguists often use the more neutral term _______ rather than dialect.

Social Variation Social variation :  Allows speakers to be a part of a language community (feeling of _______________ );  Sets and maintains _________ between social classes;  Can emphasize different contexts (if we choose to speak a certain way in a certain context, this can be seen as a political choice).

Linguistic Variation and it’s Factors Situational Variation Situational Variation Situational Variation

We do not speak the same way to everyone – we adapt our speech according to the “ __________ ” Speakers adopt a certain way of speaking according to the _______________.

What kind of variation is this? « What’shu talking ‘bout, Willis? »