Style

Summary

This video delves into the concept of 'style' in linguistics, distinguishing between style and stylization. It explores the foundational work of sociolinguist William Labov, who studied speech variation through different social contexts. Labov's research in Martha’s Vineyard and New York highlights how speech changes based on factors like social class, occupation, and attention to speech. The key idea is that language style is tied to the level of attention given to speech, offering a framework for understanding intra-speaker variation and the systematic patterns behind different speaking styles.

Takeaways

• 😀 Style refers to how we speak, while stylization is the process of adapting language to specific forms or conventions.
• 😀 Before modern linguistics, literary scholars studied 'stylistics', focusing on how language was used in literary texts, not in spoken language.
• 😀 In modern sociolinguistics, style refers to variations in speech tied to social factors like age, occupation, and socioeconomic status.
• 😀 William Labov’s foundational research focused on how different social groups speak differently, showing language variation is systematic and linked to social categories.
• 😀 Labov's study on Martha's Vineyard identified distinct vowel shifts (like 'a' and 'o'), which varied by social category, such as age and occupation.
• 😀 Labov’s theory of style emphasizes that style is defined by the amount of attention a speaker gives to their speech in different contexts.
• 😀 Sociolinguistics challenges the idea of a 'standard' English, showing that speech variations are systematic, not substandard.
• 😀 Labov’s New York study demonstrated that pronunciation of the *r* sound (rhoticity) varied by social class and context, with higher socio-economic groups more likely to pronounce it.
• 😀 The idea of 'attention to speech' is central to Labov’s work—formal speech is a result of more attention paid to speech, and informal speech happens when less attention is given.
• 😀 Speech style can be measured along a spectrum, from informal to formal, based on how much attention the speaker pays to their language.
• 😀 Labov’s research shows that intra-speaker variation is a key feature of speech—individuals can shift between different styles depending on context and social factors.

Q & A

What is the difference between 'style' and 'stylization' as discussed in the script?

The script distinguishes between 'style' as a noun, which refers to the way language is used, and 'stylization' as a verb or noun, which refers to the process of giving something a particular style. 'Style' is used in the context of speech, while 'stylization' refers to the artistic or deliberate shaping of language or form.

What is the main focus of literary stylistics compared to modern linguistics?

Literary stylistics focuses on analyzing the use of language in literary texts, studying genres, periods, authors, and text groups. Modern linguistics, particularly variationist sociolinguistics, is more concerned with the variations in speech across different communities and social factors.

What key contribution did William Labov make to sociolinguistics?

William Labov's key contribution was developing the theory of stylistic variation. He showed that different ways of speaking could be categorized and measured by the amount of attention speakers paid to their speech. He demonstrated that speech style could vary systematically based on social and linguistic factors.

What is the significance of Labov's study on Martha's Vineyard?

Labov's study on Martha's Vineyard revealed that local residents had a distinct way of pronouncing certain vowels, specifically the diphthongs 'a' and 'o'. He used this to show that speech patterns are not random but rather systematic and related to social factors such as age, occupation, and ethnicity.

How does Labov's methodology allow for the study of speech variation?

Labov's methodology involves collecting a large amount of speech data and categorizing it accurately to identify patterns. This approach helps researchers show that speech differences are systematic and not random, linking linguistic factors to social categories like occupation, age, and ethnic group.

What does Labov's definition of 'style' in speech refer to?

Labov defines 'style' in speech as the amount of attention a speaker pays to their language. He suggests that style is a form of intra-speaker variation, meaning the same person can speak in different styles depending on their focus or context.

How does Labov define 'formality' in the context of speech?

Labov defines formality as the degree of attention paid to speech. The more formal the speech, the more attention the speaker gives to the accuracy and clarity of their language.

In Labov's New York study, what linguistic feature did he focus on?

In Labov's New York study, he focused on the pronunciation of the 'r' sound. He compared how people in different socio-economic settings pronounced this sound, revealing that higher socio-economic status was associated with more frequent use of the 'r'.

What role does socio-economic status play in Labov's studies?

In Labov's studies, socio-economic status influences speech patterns. Higher socio-economic status tends to correlate with more 'standard' forms of English, while lower status groups may be more likely to use non-standard variants.

What method did Labov use to collect data in his New York study?

Labov used a controlled environment in department stores, selecting stores that represented different levels of socio-economic status. He then asked store employees predictable questions about the location of items to observe how often they pronounced the 'r' sound in their responses.