Jeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcJeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcSlide 1

About me, you and this lecture – What do you hope to gain from this lecture?

Jeff Conn’s Webpage: web.pdx.edu/~connjc

Jeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcJeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcSlide 2

SociolinguisticsThe study of language in its social contextsSpeech community - group of people who share some set of social conventions (socioling norms) regarding language use - EXAMPLES?Accent - pronunciationDialect - includes pronunciation (phonological/phonetic), but also includes grammatical, lexical and usage - MFL exampleSome examples of homophones for some -- hock/hawk, caller/collar, cot/caught, calm/com, Don/Dawn Variety - used as a more neutral term for dialect or language

1) Mary = merry = marry 2) Mary = merry marry3) Mary merry = marry4) Mary = marry merry???

Jeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcJeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcSlide 3

Linguistic variation and change – dialect (and language) differences due to linguistic change over time

Some social factors interacting with linguistic variation: (how people identify themselves and others)

REGION* - what are the major dialects/accents spoken in America?Sex/GenderSocial class*AgeEthnicity*Style

Sociolinguistics

Jeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcJeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcSlide 4

Linguistic variation and change – Social ClassRegional difference is post-vocalic r (car, card, guard, etc)William Labov - NYC - listen to a New YorkerStyle – attitudes about varieties

Coffee shop with a sign:“We’re sorry - no blended drinks today.The blender is broke.”

This sign was in Portland area – where would you expect to see it (based on stereotypes – not your opinion if they’re real) [stereotypes based on class/education/income]

Jeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcJeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcSlide 5

Linguistic variation and changeSome dialects in North America have no r at the ends of words (car, card, guard, etc). For them, r can only be the beginning of a syllable.

Includes New York City, Boston, New England and some older southern styles (like Savannah, GA, Charleston, SC, Richmond, VA)American Tongues Chapter 17, 44:24

post-vocalic r (car, card, guard, etc)

William Labov - NYC - listen to a New Yorker

Jeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcJeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcSlide 6

Linguistic variation and changeStyle and ling change interacts with social class

William Labov’s department store study

Jeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcJeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcSlide 7

Linguistic variation and change – dialect (and language) differences due to linguistic change over time

Some social factors interacting with linguistic variation: (how people identify themselves and others)

REGION* - what are the major dialects/accents spoken in America?Sex/GenderSocial class*AgeEthnicity*Style

Sociolinguistics

Jeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcJeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcSlide 8

Dialect Study BackgroundLinguistic variation and change

Regional varieties described in terms of lexical choices done through Linguistic Atlas creationDialectologists looked at NORMs =

old men in the sticks! (non-mobile old rural men)

Asked what is the word you use for...Plotted variation on a map and drew lines – isoglosses (see image )Now sociolinguists look at urban populations and exam different regions in terms of what is happening (lang change) in the cities

Jeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcJeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcSlide 9

Linguistic variation and change - RegionCraig Carver, 1987 – Used Dictionary of American Regional English (DARE) which looked at lexical variation to identify dialects of N. American English

Now sociolinguists look at urban populations and exam different regions in terms of what is happening in the cities with respect to language changeLabov, Ash and Boberg, 2005: Lingusitic Atlas of North American English = large scale phonological survey of North American English

American Tongues – Chapter 10

Jeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcJeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcSlide 10

What are the different regional accents in your opinion?

http://www.pbs.org/speak/speech/mapping/map.html

Jeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcJeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcSlide 11

O’Grady, et al., 2010

Jeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcJeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcSlide 12

Based on lexical variation: O’Grady, et al., 2010

Jeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcJeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcSlide 13

Dialect regions according to some dialectologists/sociolinguists

American Tongues – Chapter 5

Jeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcJeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcSlide 14

O’Grady, et al., 2010

Jeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcJeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcSlide 15

Dialect regions according to some dialectologists/sociolinguists

O’Grady, et al., 2010

Jeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcJeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcSlide 16

Non circled vowels = lax vowels

Jeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcJeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcSlide 17

Linguistic variation and changeRegional difference by vowel production shifts (language change) over timeNorthern Cities Shift (play Chicago sample - 3mins)

O'Grady, W., Archibald, J., Aronoff, M., Rees-Miller, J. (2010). Contemporary Linguistics: An Introduction (6th edition)

Jeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcJeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcSlide 18

Based on lexical variation: O’Grady, et al., 2010

Jeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcJeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcSlide 19

Linguistic variation and changeRegional difference by vowel production shifts (language change) over timeNorthern Cities Shift (play Chicago sample - 3mins)

O'Grady, W., Archibald, J., Aronoff, M., Rees-Miller, J. (2010). Contemporary Linguistics: An Introduction (6th edition)

Jeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcJeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcSlide 20

Linguistic variation and changeThe Southern Shift (Play Arkansas 2mins; play Eng 3mins;

O'Grady, W., Archibald, J., Aronoff, M., Rees-Miller, J. (2010). Contemporary Linguistics: An Introduction (6th edition)

Jeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcJeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcSlide 21

Based on lexical variation: O’Grady, et al., 2010

Jeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcJeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcSlide 22

Linguistic variation and changeThe Southern Shift (Play Arkansas 2mins; play Eng 3mins;

O'Grady, W., Archibald, J., Aronoff, M., Rees-Miller, J. (2010). Contemporary Linguistics: An Introduction (6th edition)

Jeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcJeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcSlide 23

Linguistic variation and changeThe California/Canada Shift (Play Cali - 1:45; Ontario 2:15)

O'Grady, W., Archibald, J., Aronoff, M., Rees-Miller, J. (2010). Contemporary Linguistics: An Introduction (6th edition)

Jeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcJeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcSlide 24

Based on lexical variation: O’Grady, et al., 2010

?

Jeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcJeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcSlide 25

Linguistic variation and changeThe California/Canada Shift (Play Cali - 1:45; Ontario 2:15)

O'Grady, W., Archibald, J., Aronoff, M., Rees-Miller, J. (2010). Contemporary Linguistics: An Introduction (6th edition)

Jeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcJeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcSlide 26

California different from Canada – Is Seattle/Portland different from Vancouver BC?

Jeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcJeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcSlide 27

Portland

C = syllable closed by Cons; F = free – vowel final; V = closed by voiced Cons or final; 0 = closed by voiceless Cons

Jeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcJeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcSlide 28

Linguistic variation and change – cot vs. caughtFrom Linguistic Atlas of N American English

Jeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcJeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcSlide 29

Melissa, 28

‘caught’

‘cot’

Cot/Caught Merger

Jeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcJeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcSlide 30

Cot/Caught Merger

‘off’

Dorothy, 89

Jeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcJeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcSlide 31

The Fronting of /ow/

Jeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcJeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcSlide 32

350

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80090010001100120013001400150016001700180019002000210022002300

eyF

eyC

e

ow

ow-N

owN

owL

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80090010001100120013001400150016001700180019002000210022002300

eyF

eyC

e

ow

ow-N

owN

owL

The Fronting of /ow/ in Pdx

Stacy, 14 ???

Jan, 53

Daisy, 56

Kenneth, 53

Sabrina, 28

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80090010001100120013001400150016001700180019002000210022002300

eyF

eyC

e

ow

ow-N

owN

owL

350

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80090010001100120013001400150016001700180019002000210022002300

eyF

eyC

e

ow

ow-N

owN

owL

Jan, 53

Kenneth, 53

Jeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcJeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcSlide 33

The Canadian Shift

Jeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcJeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcSlide 34

500

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110012001300140015001600170018001900200021002200230024002500

short-o F2 <

1275 Hz.

short-a F2 < 1750 Hz.

short-e F1 > 650 Hz.

500

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110012001300140015001600170018001900200021002200230024002500

The Canadian Shift

Robbie, 14

Melissa, 28

Jeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcJeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcSlide 35

“Do You Speak American” –video of examples of regional linguistic variation

The website here: http://www.pbs.org/speak/

Conn article on Portland speech is here:

http://www.pbs.org/speak/seatosea/americanvarieties/pacificnorthwest/

Jeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcJeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcSlide 36

Linguistic variation and change - AttitudesThere are many different varieties - what is correct?Standard English is just one of many different varieties

Linguistics try to describe these varieties and all the varieties are equal in linguistics terms

Are other dialects mutually intelligible – here some sounds here from the Northern Cities area: Northern Cities Shift (not #5)

Jeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcJeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcSlide 37

Linguistic variation and change - Attitudes

What are the consequences of speaking a non-standard dialect?

What is standard American English? Is there a standard pronunciation?

Listen to clips from American Tongues – Funny Accents track, Chapter 12 (negative feelings toward southern American), American Tongues Chapter 17, 44:24

Jeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcJeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcSlide 38

Linguistic variation and changeEthnicity - Chicano English, African American Vernacular English, Native American English; etc.AAVE - shares features with other English dialectsPhonological features part of other varietiesHabitual be, copula deletion - more elaborate than standard EnglishThe coffee cold today. (One time event) The coffee be cold here. (Habitual)

Jeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcJeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcSlide 39

Linguistic variation and changeEthnicity - African American Vernacular English,

From O’Grady, et. al. 2010.

Jeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcJeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcSlide 40

Linguistic variation and change – Listen to clips from DYSAEthnicity - African American Vernacular English,

From O’Grady, et. al. 2010.

Jeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcJeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcSlide 41

•What does this information mean in terms of Cascadia?

•How would language form a part of this emerging identity?

Jeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcJeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcSlide 42

Video and Internet Sources:

American Tongues video - http://www.cnam.com/non_flash/language/american.html

Nice examples of different American dialects, mostly regional dialects, some profanity, a little outdated, good examples of how every day people feel about dialects

Do You Speak American – website and video http://www.pbs.org/speak/

Nice examples of a lot of different American Englishes, regional differences as well as ethnic differences, linguist viewpoint (very descriptive with little information on attitudes toward language), a little long and not all is relevant, good web resources that can be used with video including teacher’s guide

Conn article on Portland accent: http://www.pbs.org/speak/seatosea/americanvarieties/pacificnorthwest/

International Dialects of English Archive - http://web.ku.edu/~idea/

Great examples of many types of English, a little hard to find some good accent productions (not all speakers have strong regional accents)

Project on English in the Pacific NW – http://www.artsci.washington.edu/NWenglish/

Site with a lot of information (not created by linguist) - http://aschmann.net/AmEng/

Resources

Jeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcJeff Conn web.pdx.edu/~connjcSlide 43

Some Useful Books:

Labov, W. (1994) Principles of Lingusitic Change, Volume 1: Internal Factors. Oxford: Blackwell. (Very technical information about language change)

Labov, W. (2001) Principles of Lingusitic Change, Volume 2: Social Factors. Oxford: Blackwell. (Very technical but detailed including Labov’s Philadelphia Study.)

Milroy, L. and Gordon, M. (2003) Sociolinguistics: Method and Interpretation. Oxford: Blackwell. (Good information about field and methodology of sociolinguistics – some technical linguistic knowledge required, not a lot of actual examples)

O'Grady, W., Archibald, J., Aronoff, M., Rees-Miller, J. (2009). Contemporary Linguistics: An Introduction (6th edition). Bedford/St. Martin’s.

Wells, John C. (1982) Accents of English 1: An Introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ Press.

Wells, John C. (1982) Accents of English 2: The British Isles. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ Press.

Wells, John C. (1982) Accents of English 3: Beyond the British Isles. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ Press. (Good descriptions of different accents, focuses on pronunciation, mainly descriptive and not as theoretical as others)

*Wolfram, W. and Schilling-Estes, N. (2006) American English. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. 2nd Edition. (Best choice for beginners – assumes some linguistic technical knowledge, many specific examples)

Resources