William Labov: NYC department store 1972

• What year was the New York Department Stores study conducted?

  1972
• What area of New York City was the study focused on?

  Lower East Side
• What does the study primarily investigate?

  The use of final or preconsonantal (r)
• How does the frequency of the final or preconsonantal (r) affect data collection?

  It allows for quick data collection
• In which stores were respondents' speech analyzed?

  Three Manhattan stores
• What was the response elicited from participants in the study?

  "Fourth floor"
• What was the purpose of pretending not to hear the response?

  To elicit the final preconsonantal (r)
• Which words were mentioned as examples of the variable final or preconsonantal (r)?

  Guard, bare
• Which department store showed the greatest upward shift in using (r)?

  Macy's
• What did the results from the department store study highlight?

  The frequency of the prestige variable (r)
• How did the use of final or preconsonantal (r) vary according to the study?

  It varied with formality and social class
• What are the main themes of Labov's New York Department Stores Study?

  • Use of final or preconsonantal (r)
  • Influence of social class on speech
  • Variation with level of formality
• 3 stores in the study:

  Saks- upper class

  Macy's- middle

  Kleins's- lower