Research Task

Task One

Eckert Study

Eckert study was a focused on her observational research on the social practices which are the ways in which people in groups habitually behave. She done this study of American high-school students.

In order to study language usage, she identified two distinct groups, the jocks and burnouts.

Jocks – Students who participated enthusiastically in school life such as sport and social events.

Burnouts – Students who were rebellious and refused to take part in school activities

She found that people tended to speak more like those with whom they shared social practices and values.

The ‘burnouts’ used exaggerated pronunciations associated with the urban accents of their Detroit neighborhood, while the ‘jocks’ were more concerned with speaking in a socially prestigious way- sometimes reflecting their middle class backgrounds.

Eckert also studied attitudes to language- the ‘jocks’ were critical of the ‘burnouts’ for their ungrammatical language, lack of articulation and frequent swearing, whilst the ‘jocks’  were seen as sounding like their parents. 

Cheshire Study

She used long-term participant observation to gain data about the relationship between use of grammatical variables and adherence to peer group culture by boys and girls in Reading. She gained acceptance from three groups (two of boys, one of girls) in two adventure playgrounds in Reading and recorded how often they used each of eleven variables

For the girls she made a distinction between the girls who did not have positive attitudes to such group activities as carrying weapons, fighting, participation in minor criminal activities, preferred job, dress and hairstyle and use of swearing (Group A) and those who approved of these features and activities (Group B).

Similar findings when boys against boys and when boys against girls were compared, showed clearly that those who conformed to the conventions of the group also used the linguistic standards of the group - and that conforming boys conformed most of all.

Eckert study within school

To a certain extent I agree that the Eckert study is within each school in the UK. In these schools there are many different social groups and friendship groups within each year. People more likely now become friends by personalities not sport groups like in America.

Cheshire Study within school

Within school this is relatable as people often change their language depending on the different social groups they are with. This can be done due to the person changing their voice, words and grammar to feel more like they are fitting in with the specific group.

Task 2 – Research Task

Investigate the following academic linguistic research blog and write notes about any interesting pieces of research you find.

http://linguistics-research-digest.blogspot.co.uk/p/about.html

Accent and Dialect

What is a dialect?

•      A dialect is a specific variety of English that differs from other varieties in three specific ways which are lexis, grammar and phonology (pronunciation or accent).

•      English dialects may be different from each other, but all speakers within the English-speaking world can still generally understand them.

•      Birmingham - words are heavily emphasized and dragged out, the largest emphasis tends to be in the middle of each word.

•      The Essex accent is very rural, most people seem to think that people from Essex have a cockney accent. Nowadays due to the East London overspill. For example people from Essex say ‘gunna go’ instead of ‘going to go’.

What is an accent?

•      An accent is a distinctive way of pronouncing words in a language, especially one associated with a particular country, area or social class.

•      For example, a speaker from Newcastle-upon-Tyne may say something such as gan from someone in Essex would say “to go”

Overview

•      Accent only relates to pronunciation and intonation rather than grammar and vocabulary.

•      Listeners can make judgements on peoples’ intelligence, ethnic and warmth socioeconomic and geographical background purely by listening to a recorded accented speech.

•      Listeners can also make judgements on others’ intelligence

•      Two people speaking the same language, who use the same grammar and word choices will give different cues about their social and regional origins, ethnic group membership or class

•      Engagement with TV programmes, radios etc. seems to have an influence on young’s people speech as they can pick up from the presenter’s accent and pronunciation.