Lecture 13

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somila buyeye

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Sociolinguistics 
The study of how language and society are intimately related
Sociolinguistic variables
Linguistic features (e.g. accent, lexicon) that vary systematically along social dimensions such as gender, age, ethnicity, geographical region, social class, etc.
Key indicators of where the speaker is located in social space (language reflects social categories)
Language 
A linguistic variety that has emerged over time as having a distinct identity and which has acquired particular social values and meanings
Dialect 
A particular form or variety of a language that is peculiar to a specific region or social group
Standard language 
The linguistic variety that has been standardized or used for official purposes
Standard Xhosa 
"Ndibamba ngazibini ngxilimbela kaNtu. Xa ndichukumisa wena, ndiba nemihlali, kuba kaloku ndiyazi uba awusiyo dyongo kwaye unelunda ngesintu"
Urban Xhosa 
"Ndiabulela mntakwethu. Xa ndichukumisa wena ndiya vuya kakhulu kuba kaloku ndiyayazi uba awusingomntu uweak kwaye uyazingca ngesintu"
Characteristics of dialects 
Differ from each other in grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation
Mutually intelligible (speakers of one dialect can understand speakers of the other)
Dialects broadly grouped as 
Regional
Ethnolect
Sociolect
Accent
Idiolect 
Speech habits that are peculiar to an individual
Utterance 1 
Ek sê bafobethu! ... molweni ni alright? (Hi guys, how are you, are you alright?)
Utterance 2 
The thing qubula'ed out of the bush and landed oorkant over there ("The buck leapt out of the bush and landed on the other side over there")
Languages, though considered distinct identities, are not fixed or rigid
We use our languages or linguistic varieties in a wide range of ways, including mixing resources from different varieties in one utterance
With the movement of people across space, and resultant interactions, languages mix
Multilingualism is the norm and we are constantly mixing our languages