Basic concepts and approaches

Question 1.

Explain the theory of Edward sapir on Language.

Edward sapir gave a definition of language that it’s purely human, non-instinctive, a combination of
symbols and sounds to communicate. Language is symbolic.

Question 2.

Explain the Language Acquisition Device (LAD) of Chumsky.

LAD- is purported instinctive mental capacity which enables an infant to produce language.

Question 3.

Explain the process of language standardization.

Standardization – a codified form of a language, accepted by, and serving as a model to, a larger
speech community , it is not a pure language. It is a model of standard language which is used
by authority and elite class.

Part 2. ?

Part 3. Social Dialectology

Question 1.

Explain the importance of the study of labov (1960s) regarding the post vocalic “Y” in New York city.

 He picked 3 large department stores:

1. High status store Saks Fifth Avenue (high-fashion district)

2. Macy’s: middle-class and middle-priced

3. Klein’s: cheap serving to poor costumers

 Pretended to be a customer, who asked the question ‘Excuse me, where are the women’s shoes?’
or whatever item knowing that the answer was: THE FOURTH FLOOR (so he could hear them
 pronounce the postvocalic ‘r’-s) He pretended to be hard-hearing, and then leaned forward with
‘Excuse me’ (so he could hear them again)

 When he came at the fourth floor, he asked the salespersons ‘What floor is this?’

 As soon as he received the answers, he moved out of sight and wrote down the pronunciation and
details like sex, probable age, and race of the sales assistant.

 R-pronunciation is the norm after the second ‘Excuse me’ question

 SAKS’ store: Most R

 KLEIN’s store: least R

Part 4. Language variation and change.

Question 1.

Explain the language diffusion model in language change .

Language diffusion is a theory that proposes that sound sound changes occur word by word. In other
words, sound changes do not occur in all words simultaneously

PLUS QUESTIONS

1.EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SYMBOLS INDEXES AND ICONS

1. A symbol: arbitrary relationship between the sign and the object (green traffic light)

2. An index: logical relation between sign and object (e.g. cause – effect)

3. An icon: sign replicates characteristics of the object

2.EXPLAIN THE CONCEPT OF LANGUAGE AS SOCIAL CONSTRUCT IN LIGHT OF

YOUR KNOWLEDGE DIALECTS AND VARIETIES

Language is denotational- socially stratified

Indexical-sounds are connected to a social class.

3.EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REGIONAL AND SOCIAL DIALECTOLOGY

Regional dialectology is the study of how language differs from one region to next.
Social dialectology is the way language is influenced by different social factors ,
class,education,religion,age ,gender…

4.EXPLAIN THE VARIANTIONIST MODEL OF LANGUAGE CHANGE

1) language change is preceded by language variation (a) in the system and (b) across
different social groups

5.EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CODE-MIXING AND SWITCHING

code switching is the ability to switch or change elemets from one language to another

Code-mixing is the mixing of two or more languages or language varieties in speech. 

6.WHAT ARE ISOGLOSSES ?

a boundary line between two distinct linguistic regions

7.EXPLAIN THE PROCESS OF DIALECT LEVELING

1) Linguistic features of the wider area are adopted – DIALECT MIXING: a blend of features of
other dialects

2) Broad regional variants are avoided and replaced by less localized sounds – FOCUSING: The
stabilizing of a new variety out of the wide range of antecedent (previous) varieties .