Jenny Cheshire: Reading 1982

• Who studied the relationship between dialect and group norms in Reading?

  Jenny Cheshire
• What did Jenny Cheshire record in her study?

  How often certain grammatical features were used and the relationship between use of dialect and adherence to peer groups
• What is one example of a non-standard grammatical feature studied?

  Non-standard has
• How many non-standard grammatical features did Cheshire identify?

  11
• What does "ain’t auxiliary have" refer to in Cheshire's study?

  A non-standard grammatical feature used in dialect
• How did Cheshire categorize the girls in her study?

  By their identification with the group
• What were the attitudes of Group A girls towards group activities?

  • Negative attitudes towards carrying weapons
  • Disapproval of fighting and minor criminal activities
  • Preference for conventional job, dress, and hairstyle
  • Avoidance of swearing
• What were the attitudes of Group B girls towards group activities?

  • Positive attitudes towards carrying weapons
  • Approval of fighting and minor criminal activities
  • Use of swearing
• What was the frequency index of non-standard 'was' for Group A girls?

  63.64
• What was the frequency index of negative concord for Group B girls?

  58.7
• What conclusion did Cheshire draw about group language?

  It is integral to group identity
• What did Cheshire's findings suggest about linguistic variation?

  It is socially determined within communities
• What did Cheshire find about boys who conformed to group conventions?

  They used the linguistic standards of the group
• How did the use of linguistic standards differ between boys and girls?

  Conforming boys conformed the most
• What is one example of a non-standard feature used by the children?

  “You was with me, wasn’t you?”
• What does the phrase "I ain’t seen my Nan for nearly seven years" illustrate?

  A non-standard use of 'ain't'
• What does the phrase "You just has to do what the beachers tell you" demonstrate?

  Non-standard use of 'has'
• What is the significance of the phrase "They calls me all the names under the sun"?

  It shows non-standard verb agreement
• What does "Course I ain’t going to the Avenue" illustrate about dialect?

  Use of non-standard 'ain't'
• How does Cheshire's study contribute to understanding linguistic variation?

  It highlights social influences on language