Scope of Sociolinguistics

What do sociolinguists Study

2 The Scope of
Sociolinguistics?
Sociolinguists study:
1. The relationship between
language and society.
2. Why People speak differently
in different social contexts.
3. The social functions and
methods of using language.

Abdulaziz Assanosi 27/06/36

 3 Example
 A: Why are you slowing down?
 B: That bastard asked us to stop. I think he’s gonna give us a ticket.
 A: He has arrived already.
 C: hello
 A: Hello sir, What can I do for you?

 ON TELEPHONE:
I am sorry sir, traffic patrols stopped us and I think I will be a little late

Abdulaziz Assanosi 27/06/36

4

 The way people talk is influenced by the social

context in which they are talking.
 Social context includes:
 Who can hear us.
 Where we are talking.
 How we are feeling.
C
 The rest of the conversation:

Abdulaziz Assanosi 27/06/36

5

 C: Can I see your license and registration please.

 A: Sure sir. Here you are. What is the problem sir?
 C: You ran the red light, don’t you know.
 A: I am not sure. I don’t think so.
 C: You did, I am sure.

Abdulaziz Assanosi 27/06/36

6

People are normally aware

of the social factors that
make them choose the
suitable language.
Sociolinguists study the
social context and its
influence on language.

Abdulaziz Assanosi 27/06/36

 7 That bastard rubbish
stopped us
This sentence suggest the
following:
The feeling of the speaker.
His relationship with the
participants.
The information (the situation).

Abdulaziz Assanosi 27/06/36

8 Social Identity

 Our language indicate our social identity as follows, It

tells others about:
 Where we come from.
 Who we are.
 What social/cultural experience we have.
 Language provides a variety of ways of saying the
same things.

Abdulaziz Assanosi 27/06/36

9 Example

 In one day, Margaret Walker was called the

following:
 At office : her partner: (good bye Margaret)
 Secretary: see you tomorrow.
 Caretaker: Bye, Mrs. Walker
 Her daughter: Hi, Mum
 Her mother: Hello dear, Have a good day?
 Her husband: You are late again.
 Customer service agent: Good evening, Mrs.
Walker.
 Her best friend : Hello Meg, Sut wyt ti?

Abdulaziz Assanosi 27/06/36

10 Checkpoint

 What do sociolinguists study?

 What does the social context include?
 how can our language indicate our social identity?
 What are the components of social identity?
 Give example of different way of saying the same
thing.

Abdulaziz Assanosi 27/06/36

11 Different Ways of Saying
Things
- ‫ شحالك‬- ‫ (مرحبا – كيفك – شلونك – ازيك – هال – مرحبا بِيك‬
)‫ كيف داير‬- ‫الباس عليك‬
)‫ (مع السالمة – باي – يلال – في امان هللا – وداعا – بسالمة‬
 Differences in saying the same thing occur at many
levels:
 At vocabulary level: (bastard – rubbish, sir – traffic
patrols)

Abdulaziz Assanosi 27/06/36

12 Different Ways of Saying
Things
 On phonology level”

 Sam drops the (letter H). This is the language of coal-

miners.

Abdulaziz Assanosi 27/06/36

 13 Different Ways of Saying

Things
On grammar and vocabulary level:
 Refuse should be deposited in the receptacles provided. (Directive, Passive,
Formal)
 Put your rubbish in the bin, Jilly. (Directive, Active, Informal)

 Please tender exact fare and state destination.

 Give me the right money and tell me where you are going.

Abdulaziz Assanosi 27/06/36

 14 Different Ways of Saying

Things
Sometimes the difference is in all levels.
 In this case the difference is considered as two different dialects:
 Examples:
 Norwegian has two dialects (Ranamal and bokmal)
 Ranamal is used for social interaction and bokmal for politics, academia, and with
strangers.
 Standard Arabic and Regional Arabic (Gulf, Moroccan, Nile countries Arabic)

Abdulaziz Assanosi 27/06/36

 15 Different Ways of Saying

Things
The term variety or code refers to different language used in different
situation.
 DEFINITION: Variety or Code is

Any set of linguistic forms

which patterns according
to social factors.

Abdulaziz Assanosi 27/06/36

16 Social Factors Influencing
Code Choice
The reason for choosing
certain dialect is one (or all)
of the following:
The participants.
The social settings.
The topic.
The purpose of the
interaction
Abdulaziz Assanosi 27/06/36
17 Checkpoint

 What are the levels of difference in saying the same

thing?
 Give example of difference in vocabulary level in
saying the same thing.
 What happens if the difference occur in all the levels
of the language?
 What is Variety or Code?
 What are the social factors influence variety choice?

Abdulaziz Assanosi 27/06/36

18 Social Dimensions

Beside the social factors

mentioned before, we have social
dimensions which also affect
variety choice as well.
These dimensions are:
Social distance Scale.
Status Scale.
Formality Scale
Abdulaziz Assanosi 27/06/36
19 Social distance Scale.

 Intimate use (names,

local dialect, simple
language) e.g. Meg.
rubbish)
Intimate  Distant use (title,
Distant standard dialect, High
High
solidarity Low language e.g. Mr.
Solidarity Walker, sir, Excuse me)

Abdulaziz Assanosi 27/06/36

20 Status Scale

 Superior use high

language, no dropping,
Superior standard dialect
High Status (English in Arabic
Discourse)
 Subordinate use simple
language (title, polite,
dropping, common
Subordinate language)

Low Status

Abdulaziz Assanosi 27/06/36

21 Formality Scale

 This scale relate to

Formal setting not to
participants.
High
Formality  In formal setting we use
formal language
language: (in college,
mosque, bank,
meetings,)
Informal  IN informal setting we
Low Formality use informal language
(home , chat with
friends)

Abdulaziz Assanosi 27/06/36

22 Checkpoint

What are the three scales that

form the social dimension.
What is difference between
superior and subordinate
language.
Explain the formality scale.
Give an example of formality
scale in Arabic.

Abdulaziz Assanosi 27/06/36

23 Blackboard Activity

 Make a list of all names YOU are called by

when you are greeted by people who
know you ( SEE PAGE 9)
 Include:
 Your family members
 Your friends
 Your classmate
 Your teachers
 While shopping
 In social gathering
 In the bank
 Etc.
 Upload your work in blackboard (Click on Assignments) Link

Abdulaziz Assanosi 27/06/36

24 Thank YOU

 End of Lecture 1.

Abdulaziz Assanosi 27/06/36