Winter 2024 ANG-G32 V.

Copeland
Introduction to Like, Literally, Dude

Answer the following questions. You may brainstorm in pairs, but you must each hand in your own
answers under “travaux” using your own words.

1. How does the author define sociolinguistics? Describe how she connects her definition
to the word “what”?

p.4 She defines sociolinguistics as the study of how the background of a person influences their
speech pattern, even the subtle speech features can help us understand more. This study helps
us understand the background of the person talking and their intention depending on the
pronunciation of the word. She talks about how the pronunciation of the letter “t” at the end of
the word “what” and the different versions of this word can influence how they are viewed by
the listener.

2. What is Fridland’s central thesis (what she is writing about and why)?

p. 12 She wants to normalize the new words used by the new generation, and trying to show us
that this change is normal and positive. She’s defending the new use of old words and
explaining the reason behind this phenomenon. Linguistic elitism

3. What can the history of language change teach us?

p. 17 It can teach us the impact of the social status of a person on their accent and the way they
talk. (the example of arctic)

4. Why has “bro” been adopted by people, according to Fridland?

p.20

5. What are “familiar speech habits” and why do people adopt them?

6. Use the “Analyzing Essays” document on Lea to help you identify one technique or
device used by Fridland between pages 1-26. Quote an example with a page number
(MLA format) and discuss its effectiveness.