Language Attitudes

“Ultimately attitudes to language reflect attitudes to the users and the uses of language…”

“The is nothing intrinsically beautiful or correct about any particular sound.”

“They develop attitudes towards languages which reflect their views about those who speak the languages, and the contexts and functions with which they are associated.”

1/10Holmes, Janet. 2013. An Introduction to Sociolinguistics, 4th edition. London: Pearson, pp. 409-410.

Examples of Strong Views towards Languages Language riots in Belgium and India

Getting rid of English road signs in Wales

Change in attitudes towards English and

French in Quebec

Long delay in developing a script for written

Somali because of competing prestige

forms (Roman vs. Arabic alphabets)

2/10Holmes, Janet. 2013. An Introduction to Sociolinguistics, 4th edition. London: Pearson, pp. 410-411.

Ratings of RP Speakers vs. Regional-Accent Speakers

more intelligentmore industriousmore self-confidentmore determinedmore communicative effectivenessmore social statusmore general pleasantnessoften taken more seriouslymore persuasive

3/10

Holmes, Janet. 2013. An Introduction to Sociolinguistics, 4th edition. London: Pearson, p. 416.

Local Accents and Covert Prestige

“On the other hand, while RP tends to be rated highly on the status dimension, as in Britain, local [New Zealand] accents generally score more highly on characteristics such as friendliness and sense of humour, and other dimensions which measure solidarity or social attractiveness.”

4/10Holmes, Janet. 2013. An Introduction to Sociolinguistics, 4th edition. London: Pearson, p. 417.

Discrimination

“I have tried to show that the reasons people condemn vernacular forms are attitudinal, not linguistic. Children who use vernacular forms are not disadvantaged by inadequate language. They are disadvantaged by negative attitudes towards their speech— attitudes which derive from their lower social status and its associations in people's minds.”

5/10Holmes, Janet. 2013. An Introduction to Sociolinguistics, 4th edition. London: Pearson, p. 420.

A Note on Methodology

1. Societal treatment

2. Direct measures

3. Indirect measures

6/10Holmes, Janet. 2013. An Introduction to Sociolinguistics, 4th edition. London: Pearson, pp. 420-423.

A Note on Methodology

1. Societal treatment

Observing use in public domain

Examining government documents about status

Educational document

Employment advertisements

Dialect representation in novels

Cartoons (societal stereotypes)

Newspapers, books7/10

Holmes, Janet. 2013. An Introduction to Sociolinguistics, 4th edition. London: Pearson, pp. 420-421.

A Note on Methodology

2. Direct measures

Ask direct questions about attitudes

Written questionnaires (possible large scope)

Well-known problems with questionnaires

8/10Holmes, Janet. 2013. An Introduction to Sociolinguistics, 4th edition. London: Pearson, pp. 421-422.

A Note on Methodology

3. Indirect measures

Matched guise technique (less in your fact)

9/10Holmes, Janet. 2013. An Introduction to Sociolinguistics, 4th edition. London: Pearson, pp. 422-423.

Sociolinguists’ Potential Contribution to Society

Educate people in society about variation and varieties

In the classroom—gaining acceptance for vernacular language

Testing

Holmes, Janet. 2008. An Introduction to Sociolinguistics, 3rd edition. Harlow, England: Pearson-Longman, p. 420ff.

10/10