Li4 Michaelmas 2024

• What is the observer's paradox in recorded data?

  It refers to the influence of the observer on data.
• Why can using existing corpora be challenging?

  Corpora may not align with your research goals.
• What is metalinguistic knowledge?

  The ability to understand linguistic structure separately.
• What does Hudson (1996) argue about studying languages in isolation?

  Languages cannot be studied without social context.
• How is language part of our identity?

  It facilitates communication and social interaction.
• What does multiple embedding in language indicate?

  It shows language's structure for human creativity.
• What is the difference between sociolinguistics and sociology of language?

  Sociolinguistics studies language in relation to society.
• What does macro-sociolinguistics examine?

  Societal attitudes towards languages.
• What does micro-sociolinguistics focus on?

  How social structure influences language use.
• Which approach is used in the course?

  Micro-sociolinguistics.
• How can sociolinguistic factors be visually modeled?

  • Using a Venn diagram
• What is stylistic variation?

  Context-dependent variation in language use.
• Why does mutual intelligibility not always differentiate languages and dialects?

  It exists on a degree, not binary.
• What is a dialect continuum?

  A chain of mutually intelligible varieties.
• Give an example of languages with mutual intelligibility.

  Hindi and Urdu.
• Give an example of languages with one-way intelligibility.

  Danes can understand Swedish.
• What can cause one-way intelligibility?

  Motive, opportunity, and phonology aspects.
• What is a preterite?

  A form of past tense with a clear ending.
• What is Haugen's standardisation process?

  • Selection
  • Codification
  • Acceptance
  • Elaboration
• Which language level is most affected by standardisation?

  Morphosyntactic level.
• What is the modern alternative to RP?

  SSBE (Standard Southern British English).
• What are the two main quantitative methods of studying variation?

  Experimental methodology and observational methodology.
• What counts as experimental methodology?

  Acceptability judgements and translation tasks.
• What is a pro of experimental methodology?

  Guaranteed solid base of data.
• What is a con of experimental methodology?

  Responses may be influenced by standard ideology.
• What counts as observational methodology?

  Corpora study.
• What is a pro of observational study?

  It shows language as actually used.
• What is a con of observational study?

  May not capture some vernacular usage.
• How did early dialectology work?

  It focused on conservative, regional dialects.
• What does NORM stand for?

  Non-mobile, older rural male.
• How did studies change in the early 1900s?

  Trained field workers were used.
• What is an issue with modern reporting methods?

  Self-reporting may be less accurate.
• What is the definition of variationist sociolinguistics?

  Understanding language requires variable and categorial processes.
• What is a linguistic variable?

  A general feature under research enquiry.
• What is linguistic variance?

  Different instantiations of the linguistic variable.
• What are categorical processes?

  Only one linguistic variant can occur.
• What did Kerswill and Williams study?

  The PRICE diphthong and its pronunciation.
• What are the two central components of social class?

  Objective economic measures and subjective prestige measures.
• What does Chambers' class model include?

  Working class and middle class divisions.
• What was the focus of Trudgill's Norwich study?

  Speakers' opinions on accents and usage.