Sociolect Theorist's
Accommodation Theory
- Giles
- Converge or Diverge their lexical choice, accent, systmatic structure, delivery, etc
In/Out Groups
- Giles and Coupland
- Identity is shaped based on the different social groups a person belongs and doesnt belong in.
Social Network Theory
- Milroy
- Web of Ties
- Where people are part of open and closed networks, where closed is where everyone knows eachother, and open is where they may not.
Restricted/Elaborated Codes
- Bernstein
- Elaborated: Gap/Boundry caused by explicit speech
- Restricted: Langauge gap is reduced
Hobbilect
- Specific lingusitc features to certain hobbies/past times.
- Relexicalisation and Neologisms
Anti-Languages
- Halliday
- Extreme versions of sociolect
- Used to communicate messages to other people who understand that particular anti-language.
Polari
- Lost language of gay men
- Used to conceal identitites and keep a higher class rating
Lexical classification of sociolect
- Coleman
- Slang (Colloquial lexis used by in group members)
- Jargon (Professional lexis used for precision)
- Cant (Lexis used to obscure meaning from the out group; usually with crimial intent)
Conversational Maxims
- Grices maxims
-Four maxims used for a successful and cooperative convesation
- Quantity (Dont say too much or too little)
- Quality (Dont say what you think to be false, or something with a lack of evidence)
- Relevance (Stick to the topic of the conversation)
- Manner (Avoid obscure expressions)
Teen Talk (S)
- Stenstrom
- Range of features in teen talk: Irregualr turn taking, indistinct articulation, shortenings or clippings, slang, taboo or vulgarisms, 'aint', language mixing, etc
Teen Talk (E)
- Eckert
- Use of 'like' and 'okay', rising intonation, multiplue negation.
Performativity
- Barker
- Performance of an identity to converge within a social groups language.
Social identity theory
- Tajfel and Turner
- When an in group identity becomes salient, the group will attempt to emphasise characteristics, such as their sociolect