Theories
a sociolinguistic framework explaining how speakers adjust their language—accent, dialect, or speed—to manage social distance during interaction.
Communication accommodation theory. (CAT) Howard Giles
guideline principles which are generally adopted in conversation
Grice's maxims.
non-standard English terms. Relates to technical words and phrases used by specialist groups.
Jargon
Language that assumes a shared understanding among the speakers.
Restricted code.
when we make our language style more similar to those speakers around us
Convergence
Language shapes the ways in which a person forms a view of the world.
Sapir Whorf Hypothesis
the image that a person has of themselves as a conversationalist.
Conversational face.
Erving Goffman.
An accent linked with a high social status rather than being linked to a specific geographical location.
Received Pronunciation (RP)
the idea that the structure of a language determines the thought processes of its speakers.
Linguistic Determinism
When we make our language more distinctively different from those around us.
divergence.
in theory, every thought can be expressed in language but the languages differ in the types of information they require the speakers to mention when they use the language. Opposing Sapir Whorf Hypothesis.
Boas-Jakobson principle
3 different contexts for language use. (situations where different language is used depending on the situation)
1.Formal/ Standard English
2. Colloquial/casual
3.Slang/non-standard.
unusual, direct and sometimes offensive language. Not standard.
Slang
the idea that language reflects the thoughts and ideas of a culture. Opposite of linguistic determinism.
Linguistic Reflectionism
the degree of respect and value given to a particular style of language by a speech community.
linguistic prestige
certain minorities in a society have much less power than other, and as a consequence of this lack of power, they are silenced as no one wishes to listen to them.
The muted group theory. Cheris Kramarae
investigated language and social class. Found that working class women were more aware of the more prestigious forms of language.
Peter Trudgill, 1974 Norwich study
speakers usually mean what they say and that the hearers accept this in trying to work out the meaning.
Cooperative Principle
language used more broadly in society, which is more complete in lexis and syntax.
Elaborated code
avoiding offense to any group of people who may be seen to be at a disadvantage because of their race, gender, disability or any social disadvantages.
Political correctness
Language is a reflection of human thoughts and that all languages are similiar with shared patterns and concepts.
Universalism.
Name 3 of Grice's Maxims
Maxim of quantity
Maxim of Quality
Maxim of Manner
Maxim of Relation
A particular variety of speech used by a group which may be regarded as having a low status
Patois.
The overall idea that the structure of language affects a person's view of the world, either very directly, as in linguistic determinism or as a much more indirect and weaker influence.
Linguistic relativity.
Other question
Which theory initially investigated and related to language skills of early years primary school children.
Restricted vs Elaborated code. Basil Bernstein.