A Level English Language AQA

This subject offers 119 topics in 10 modules:

  1. Accent and Dialect 15 topics
  2. Socioloect 14 topics
  3. Basics 9 topics
  4. Child Language Development 14 topics
  5. Ethnicity and language 13 topics
  6. Language Change 9 topics
  7. Language Diversity 5 topics
  8. Occupation 20 topics
  9. Social Groups 12 topics
  10. Textual Variations and Representations 8 topics
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  • 10
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  • 119
    topics
  • 44,522
    words of revision content
  • 5+
    hours of audio lessons

This page was last modified on 28 September 2024.

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English Language

Socioloect

Introduction to Sociolinguistics: Origins and Principles

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Introduction to Sociolinguistics: Origins and Principles

Introduction to Sociolinguistics: Origins and Principles

Origins of Sociolinguistics

  • Sociolinguistics emerged as a discipline in the mid-20th century.
  • It combines the study of language from both a linguistic and a sociological perspective.
  • American linguist William Labov is often regarded as its founding father.
  • Labov's study of New York City department store clerks in the 1960s demonstrated that speech variation is systematic and socially determined.
  • This research was ground-breaking as it highlighted the importance of studying language in its social context.

Introduction to Principles

  • Sociolinguistics examines how language and society interact.
  • It investigates how social categories like age, gender, ethnicity, and social class can influence the way we use language.
  • Key themes in sociolinguistics include language variation and change, language and identity, bilingualism and multilingualism, and language policy.

Language Variation and Change

  • Language variation deals with how language use differs within a community.
  • Factors including geography (dialects) and social factors (sociolects) can influence language variation.
  • Language change refers to the historical shift of speech patterns, including alterations to words, pronunciations, and grammar.

Language & Identity

  • Language plays a significant role in crafting our identity and group membership.
  • The way we talk can give hints about our regional origin, social status, ethnicity, gender, and age.
  • Some sociolinguistic theories, like accommodation theory, suggest we adjust our speech to either converging or diverging from others to assert our identity.

Bilingualism and Multilingualism

  • Bilingualism (knowledge of two languages) and multilingualism (knowledge of multiple languages) have sociolinguistic significance.
  • How languages are used in a bilingual or multilingual community reveals much about the status and function of each language.

Language Policy

  • Language policies determine the use of languages in official settings, such as education, law, media, and public administration.
  • Policies can either promote or restrict the usage and status of certain languages, impacting a community's linguistic rights and identity.

Remember, sociolinguistics invites us to appreciate the rich diversity of language in our daily social interactions and to understand how it shapes and reflects our social identities. Sociolinguistics is not just about observing language use in society but also about examining underlying ideologies that drive these language practices.

Course material for English Language, module Socioloect, topic Introduction to Sociolinguistics: Origins and Principles

English Language

Ethnicity and language

Impact of Bilingualism or Multilingualism on Ethnic Language Use

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Impact of Bilingualism or Multilingualism on Ethnic Language Use

Impact of Bilingualism or Multilingualism on Ethnic Language Use

Bilingualism and Multilingualism Definition

  • Bilingualism and multilingualism refer to the ability to speak two or more languages respectively. These conditions are often predominant in multicultural societies where multiple ethnic groups exist.

Impact on Ethnic Identity

  • In many instances, second language acquisition, bilingualism, or multilingualism, is a result of societal pressures such as integration, globalisation, or improved opportunities.
  • However, the inherent risk is that it may lead to the gradual loss of ethnic language and influence what is referred to as linguistic assimilation.
  • Given that language is a key determinant of ethnic identity, losing the ability to communicate in an ethnic language may create a sense of disconnect or loss of ties with one's cultural heritage.

Dialect Continuum

  • In some scenarios, the ethnic language merges with a dominant language creating a chain of dialects which gradually change from one geographical area to the next. This phenomenon is known as dialect continuum.
  • An example of this is the Romani variants across Europe, where the dialect changes in accordance with the host country's language.

Bilingualism and Code-switching

  • Code-switching, the practice of alternating between two or more languages or varieties of language in conversation, is common in bilingual or multilingual individuals.
  • Code-switching serves different functions such as signalling identity, allowing secret communication, or expressing group solidarity. It also indicates the complex cognitive abilities of bilingual or multilingual individuals.
  • However, overreliance on this tactic can lead to what is termed as language attrition, the loss of a native or first language.

Policy Impact

  • Language policies have a significant impact on bilingualism and multilingualism, as well as the continued use of ethnic languages.
  • For instance, in postcolonial societies where English or French is now the dominant language, the less supported ethnic languages are gradually becoming extinct.
  • Conversely, countries that have robust language policies of promoting their ethnic languages alongside international languages help preserve their cultural heritage.

Understanding the impacts can facilitate more insightful discussions about language diversity, ethnicity, and the importance of maintaining cultural heritage in a multitongued world.

Course material for English Language, module Ethnicity and language, topic Impact of Bilingualism or Multilingualism on Ethnic Language Use

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