This paper deals with the social meaning of language, social categorization and covert reaction. It also goes into detail with the question if the use of the variable ING is linked to a perception of the speaker as intelligent or educated. Furthermore it will be discussed if the indexical field is a useful tool for understanding the use of a variable like –ING and its social interpretation. Afterwards the methods and results of Campbell-Kibler’s study are portrayed which include a discussion of the indexical field.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
a. social meaning of language
b. social categorization
c. matched guise technique
2. Main part (contains also the main results of the study)
a. How the use of the variable ING is linked to a perception of the speaker as intelligent/ educated
b. Other perceptions of speakers using -in instead of -ing
c. Why the -in variable is associated with an easy-going/ younger speaker and -ing with a more intelligent/ credible/ older speaker
d. Definition of the indexical field and explanation why it is a useful tool for understanding the relation between the use of a variable like -ING and its social interpretation
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines how linguistic variation, specifically the use of the variable ING, influences the social perception of speakers. It explores the relationship between dialectal features and the attribution of characteristics such as intelligence, education, and social background, while utilizing the concept of the indexical field to interpret these sociolinguistic connections.
- Social meaning of language and linguistic markers
- Mechanisms of social categorization and stereotypes
- Experimental results of the matched guise technique regarding ING usage
- The sociolinguistic impact of regional differences (California vs. South Carolina)
- Theoretical application of the indexical field in sociolinguistics
Excerpt from the Book
What is the matched guise technique?
The matched guise technique is a method, which involves experimental candidates listening to apparently different speakers, who represent guises in two or more languages. The informant, listener of guises, does not know that the speaker is actually a bilingual and his reactions are that the different guises of one speaker cannot be identified and each guise is supposed to be the speech of an individual.
There is total control over the variable ‘voice’, with the removal of all features of speed, volume, timbre, tone, etc. Nonetheless, the importance of this technique lies in manipulating the linguistic features of the oral stimulus material, rather than in manipulating the recorded voices.
The current study used the software package Praat to “cut and paste” tokens of ING into recordings.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter defines the foundational concepts of sociolinguistics, including the social meaning of language, the cognitive process of social categorization, and the methodological application of the matched guise technique.
2. Main part (contains also the main results of the study): This section provides a detailed analysis of how the ING variable affects speaker perception, investigates regional and class-based interpretations, explains the historical and social stigma of variants, and discusses the indexical field as a theoretical framework for social meaning.
Keywords
Sociolinguistics, Linguistic Variation, ING variable, Matched Guise Technique, Social Categorization, Indexical Field, Speaker Perception, Regional Dialects, Social Meaning, Speech Styles, Intelligence, Education, Stereotyping, Socioeconomic Scale, Language Perception
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper explores how linguistic variations, particularly the usage of the -ing and -in variants, carry social meaning and shape how listeners perceive a speaker's intelligence, education, and class background.
What are the primary themes discussed in the study?
Key themes include the social significance of language, the cognitive efficiency of social categorization, the influence of regional origins, and how specific speech tokens lead to the attribution of social traits.
What is the main research objective?
The objective is to determine if the use of the variable ING correlates with listener perceptions of a speaker's education or intelligence and to evaluate the indexical field as a tool for understanding these social interpretations.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The study relies on the matched guise technique, a psychological method used to elicit authentic listener reactions by presenting manipulated linguistic stimuli, alongside data from regional interviews.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main section covers the analysis of experimental data regarding ING usage, the influence of regional variations (California vs. South Carolina), the impact of ethnicity on linguistic performance, and the theoretical definition of the indexical field.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
The work is characterized by terms such as sociolinguistics, linguistic variation, indexical field, matched guise technique, and social meaning.
How does the indexical field help in interpreting language?
The indexical field allows researchers to map out a wide variety of meanings associated with a single linguistic variable by identifying context-dependent attributes, such as age, class, or credibility.
What role does the listener's background play in the study?
Listener background, specifically their perception of the speaker's region and class, is crucial because the social interpretation of the ING variable is often restricted to specific speaker-listener pairings.
How does the "suburban wannabe" concept relate to the indexical field?
It describes a specific indexical field where young speakers from the South use the -ing variant to project a higher socioeconomic status, which is often interpreted by listeners as lacking credibility or being forced.
- Quote paper
- Kevin Theinl (Author), 2010, Language and Society - The nature of sociolinguistic perception. Language Variation and Change, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/179372
