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LANGUAGE IN SOCIETY LANGUAGE AND ETHNICITY SOCIAL NETWORKS pattern of informal informal relationships people are involved in on a regular basis Density:: whether members of a person’ Density person’s netw etwork are in touch with each other Plexity:: measure of different types of Plexity transactions people are involved in with different individuals – uniplex uniplex:: link in only one area – multiplex multiplex:: interactions along several lines Mónos Katalin, Language in Society Lecture Course, Ethnicity 2/13 SOCIAL NETWORKS (CONT.) The more dense and multiplex, the more closed. The more closed, the more our speech (language (lang uage use/pattern use/pattern)) is affected by / reflects the language language used in the network. network. Most adults adults belong to more than one netw etwork. ork. Mónos Katalin, Language in Society Lecture Course, Ethnicity 3/13 ETHNICITY What is an ethnic group? Belonging can be physical and personal How does ethnicity and language use interrelate? Ethnic thnic group using its own language, language, e.g.: in Africa – OPTION A A:: E Language is a defining characteristic of ethnic group membership, groups distinguish themselves through language. – OPTION B B:: Ethnic groups speak an ethnic variety of the language of mainstream society / state e.g.: AfroAfro-Americans in US, gypsies in Hungary Ethnic group identity is signaled by an ethnic variety of same language.. language Mónos Katalin, Language in Society Lecture Course, Ethnicity 4/13 Why do ethnic varieties varieties exist exist? ? Do physical (genetic, biological) reasons for linguistic differences exist? exist? USA experiment demonstrates 2 things: 1. People assign others to diff different erent ethnic groups merely by hearing them speak - not necessary to see them. them. 2. Diff Differences erences between spoken varieties are socially determined, determined, entirely the result of learned behaviour,, result from social networks. behaviour networks. Mónos Katalin, Language in Society Lecture Course, Ethnicity 5/13 Why do ethnic varieties varieties exist exist? ? (Cont.) Because of ethnic differences (distances) and barriers between various groups of society Attitudinal factors: factors: ethnic groups are aware of ethnic group membership, membership, which they unconsciously emphasise through language lang uage use Mónos Katalin, Language in Society Lecture Course, Ethnicity 6/13 BLACK (VERNACULAR(VERNACULARAMERICAN) ENGLISH (BVE) Most striking example for linguistic ethnic group differentiation in English English speaking world In the past: past: differences held to be result of genetic, physical reasons variety held to be inferior because of inferiority of black people Mónos Katalin, Language in Society Lecture Course, Ethnicity 7/13 TERMS (BE, BAE) Problem: Terms ‘Black ‘Black English’, English’, ‘Black American English’ English’ suggest every black person (in America) speaks it, while no white does. does. Black Vernacular English (BVE): (BVE): distinguishes those blacks who do not speak standard standard Amer American ican from those who do. Still problematic problematic,, but better than B(A)E. B(A)E. Mónos Katalin, Language in Society Lecture Course, Ethnicity 8/13 Characteristic features of BVE 1. Phonology 2. Grammar – examples: It’s a girl name Shirley live in Washington. ’Most everybody like her, ‘cause she a nice girl. Shirley like a boy name Charles. But she keep away from him and he don’t hardly say nothing to her neither. He usually be around. They sometimes be rude. I asked her where did she go…. I wanted to know did she come… Mónos Katalin, Language in Society Lecture Course, Ethnicity 9/13 BVE and its users Functions today as a separate ethnic(ethnic(group) variety, variety, which identifies its speakers as blacks, rather than whites. whites. As the variety used in schools is the standard, tandard, children who are native speakers of BVE have difficulty, difficulty, can even face relative educational failure. failure. Mónos Katalin, Language in Society Lecture Course, Ethnicity 10/13 10 /13 Solving olving educational problems of BVE speaking children “elimination of nonnon-stand standard ard speech” Child is prevented from using his native, non--standard non standard variety. T Teacher eachers s correct all non--std features as bad or incorrect, while non Stand Eng is presented as correct and good,, model to attain. good Rather problematic for a number of reasons. Mónos Katalin, Language in Society Lecture Course, Ethnicity 11/13 11 /13 Solving olving educational problems of BVE speaking children (cont.) “bidialectalism” Child can use own vernac vernacular ular variety at home, with friends, and in certain situations at school, but is taught also to read and write in the standard. Also taught to switch code from one V to other, as appropriate, as situation situation demands. Still has problematic points Mónos Katalin, Language in Society Lecture Course, Ethnicity 12/13 12 /13 Solving olving educational problems of BVE speaking children (cont.) “appreciation of dialect differences” This view states that if children suffer because of their V at school, this is due to society’s and teachers’ negative attitudes →→ →→ society’s attitude shoul should d be changed, not the language. Mónos Katalin, Language in Society Lecture Course, Ethnicity 13/13 13 /13