What your speaking style, like, says about you | Vera Regan | TEDxDublin

Summary

In this insightful talk, a sociolinguist explores the dynamic nature of language, emphasizing that it's not static but evolves with society. She highlights how young women often drive language change and discusses the importance of word order as an invariant aspect of language. The speaker delves into the variable use of the word 'like' and its social significance, showing how it varies across different English dialects. She also examines how Polish migrants adapt their language use to reflect their evolving identities, demonstrating that language is a powerful tool for expressing identity and aspirations.

Takeaways

• 👂 Sociolinguists are like professional eavesdroppers, focusing on how people use language rather than what they say.
• 🌐 Language is always changing and sociolinguists accept that it has a life of its own, with new elements constantly emerging.
• 👧 Young women are often the innovators in language, driving changes and setting trends in speech.
• 🧠 Babies come 'wired' with an innate sense of word order for their native language, which is a fundamental and unchanging aspect of language.
• 🔍 Variation in language, such as different ways of saying the same thing, is where sociolinguists find the most interest and value.
• 🌐 The word 'like' is used differently in various English dialects, showing both global and local variations.
• 🇮🇪 In Ireland, the use of 'like' varies among different social groups, reflecting age, gender, and regional identity.
• 🇵🇱 Polish speakers in Ireland adapt their use of 'like' to mirror the patterns of native speakers, showing language as a tool for identity and integration.
• 🇫🇷 In France, Polish migrants' use of negation in French reflects their level of identification with French culture and their personal aspirations.
• 🏆 Individuals' language use can be highly variable and telling, reflecting their backgrounds, identities, and life choices.

Q & A

What is a sociolinguist?

A sociolinguist is a professional who studies the role of language in society, focusing on how people use language rather than what they say.

Why do sociolinguists consider language to be meaningful?

For sociolinguists, language is meaningful because it reflects social dynamics and can indicate aspects of a speaker's identity, social context, and attitudes.

What is an example of language variation mentioned in the script?

An example of language variation is the use of the word 'like' in different ways, such as clause marginal ('You know, like?') and clause medial ('He was, like, way tall').

How do young women influence language according to the script?

The script suggests that young women are often the innovators of language, driving changes and introducing new linguistic trends.

What is an invariant aspect of language mentioned in the script?

Word order is mentioned as an invariant aspect of language, with English speakers having an innate understanding of subject-verb-object structure.

Why do linguists not disapprove of language changes?

Linguists do not disapprove of language changes because they recognize that language is dynamic and has a life of its own, and because they understand that language change is a natural part of societal evolution.

What did the study on the use of 'like' among Polish speakers in Ireland reveal?

The study revealed that Polish speakers in Ireland were adopting the use of 'like' similar to native speakers, with some using it in a way that reflected a global identity and others using it to align with a local Irish identity.

How does language variation help in expressing identity?

Language variation, like the use of 'like', can act as a tool to project an identity, similar to how accessories or body language might, and can indicate a person's aspirations, stances, and attitudes.

What was the significance of the study's findings on the use of negation among Polish speakers in France?

The study's findings on the use of negation among Polish speakers in France showed that their language use reflected their evolving identities and their level of identification with French culture.

Why did the script mention the tale of the basketball player and the book seller?

The tale of the basketball player and the book seller illustrates how individuals' language use can vary significantly even among a similar demographic, highlighting the importance of personal narratives and aspirations in language variation.

What is the main takeaway from the script regarding language and identity?

The main takeaway is that language is not just a tool for communication but also a powerful indicator of identity, reflecting and performing who people are and who they aspire to be.

Outlines

00:00

🗣️ Sociolinguistics: The Study of Language in Society

The speaker, a sociolinguist, explains that sociolinguists are like professional eavesdroppers, focusing on how people use language rather than what they say. They study language as a meaningful aspect of society, not as something that is inherently good or bad. The speaker recounts an anecdote about overhearing young girls on a bus using language in a casual, innovative way, highlighting that language is always evolving and that young women are often the driving force behind these changes. The importance of word order as an invariant aspect of language is also discussed, contrasting with the variable aspects that sociolinguists find fascinating.

05:02

🌐 Language Variation and Identity

The speaker delves into the rules governing the use of nonstandard language, particularly the word 'like'. Despite its seemingly chaotic use, 'like' is subject to strict syntactic and social constraints. Language variation is compared to fashion accessories, projecting identity. The study then shifts focus to migrants and transnationals, examining how Polish speakers in Ireland use 'like'. The findings reveal that Polish speakers adopt the local 'like' usage, mirroring native speakers, which is intriguing given that 'like' does not exist in Polish. This suggests that language is a powerful tool for identity and belonging.

10:05

🌍 Language and Global Identity

This section explores the linguistic patterns of Polish speakers in Ireland and France, focusing on the use of 'like' and negation. The study finds that Polish speakers in Ireland use 'like' in a similar pattern to native speakers, reflecting their aspirations and identities. In France, the study examines the dropping of the negation particle 'Ne' by Polish speakers. The speaker hypothesizes that this linguistic feature is related to the speakers' identification with French culture. The analysis reveals that individuals' language use is tied to their personal stories and identities, showing that language is not just a reflection of social categories but also an expression of personal agency and evolving identities.

15:06

🚀 Language as a Tool for Identity and Evolution

The speaker concludes by emphasizing that language use, particularly by young women, is not lazy or superficial but a significant indicator of their identities and aspirations. The use of 'like' is a sign of their innovative role in language evolution. The speaker encourages the audience to view these linguistic choices as indicative of the future's 'movers and shakers', suggesting that language is a dynamic and powerful tool for expressing identity and change.

Keywords

💡Sociolinguist

A sociolinguist is a scholar who studies the role of language in society. In the video, the speaker clarifies that sociolinguists are akin to professional eavesdroppers, focusing on how people communicate rather than what they say. The concept is central to the video's theme as it sets the stage for understanding how language varies and evolves within different social contexts.

💡Eavesdropping

In the context of the video, eavesdropping refers to the act of listening in on others' conversations, which sociolinguists do to study language use. The speaker humorously describes sociolinguists as professional eavesdroppers, emphasizing their interest in the manner of speaking over the content of conversations.

💡Language variation

Language variation refers to the differences in language use among individuals or groups. The video discusses how sociolinguists study these variations, such as the use of the word 'like' by young women, to understand social dynamics. It is a key concept as it illustrates how language is not static but changes with social influences.

💡Innovators

In the video, young women are referred to as the 'movers and shakers' or 'innovators' of language, indicating that they often lead in language change and innovation. This term is crucial as it challenges the stereotype that women's language use is inferior, instead positioning them as influential in linguistic evolution.

💡Word order

Word order is the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language. The video mentions that word order is invariant, meaning it remains constant and is not subject to variation. It uses the example of the English subject-verb-object structure to illustrate the fixed nature of word order.

💡Variable aspects

Variable aspects of language refer to elements that can change based on social factors or personal choice. The video highlights that sociolinguists find these aspects 'fun' because they offer insights into social identity. An example given is the different ways of saying the same thing, like using 'Ya wha'?' instead of 'I have not the pleasure of understanding it'.

💡Transnationals

Transnationals, or migrants, are individuals who move across national borders. The video discusses how these individuals work hard at constructing their identities through language, especially in the context of using the word 'like'. It shows how language use can reflect one's aspirations and sense of belonging.

💡Clause marginal 'like'

Clause marginal 'like' refers to the use of 'like' at the beginning or end of a sentence, which is characteristic of Irish English. The video contrasts this with 'clause medial like' used in other English dialects, highlighting regional linguistic differences and how they can signify identity.

💡Identity focus

Identity focus relates to how individuals position themselves in terms of their social identity. The video uses the example of Polish speakers in Ireland who use 'like' in different ways depending on whether they identify more with local Irish culture or have aspirations to move to other English-speaking countries.

💡Qualitative analysis

Qualitative analysis involves studying and interpreting non-numerical data, such as personal stories or narratives. The video mentions how qualitative analysis of Polish speakers' use of 'like' provided deeper insights into their identities and aspirations, beyond what quantitative data could reveal.

💡Performing identity

Performing identity refers to the active construction and expression of one's identity through actions and behaviors, including language use. The video illustrates this with the stories of Mariusz and Anna, showing how their use of language reflects and shapes their evolving identities in their new cultural contexts.

Highlights

Sociolinguists study how language operates in society, focusing on how people say things rather than what they say.

Language changes constantly, and young women are often the innovators of new language trends.

Word order, such as subject-verb-object in English, is invariant, but many aspects of language are variable.

Different ways of saying the same thing can convey the same referential meaning but different social significance.

Nonstandard language use, like the frequent use of 'like' by young speakers, follows strict syntactic and social rules.

Language variation is a tool for projecting identity, much like fashion or body language.

Transnationals and migrants use language variation to navigate their identity in different cultures and contexts.

Polish speakers in Ireland adopt local and global patterns of the word 'like,' reflecting their integration into Irish society.

Speakers who use clause-medial 'like' tend to have global aspirations, while those using clause-marginal 'like' are more locally focused.

Polish migrants in France who drop the French negation particle 'ne' reflect their level of integration into French society.

Mariusz, a Polish bookseller in France, maintains high linguistic standards and uses 'ne,' reflecting his intellectual identity.

Anna, a Polish basketball player in France, drops 'ne' more frequently, reflecting her social integration and future plans in France.

Language use reflects both a speaker's personal trajectory and aspirations, not just their social category.

Young women using nonstandard language aren't lazy or careless; they are shaping their identities and reflecting societal changes.

Sociolinguists focus on these language choices as they provide insight into who people are and who they are becoming.

Transcripts

Translator: Shanshan (Alice) Lin Reviewer: Denise RQ

As John said, I'm a sociolinguist.

What does that mean?

Sociolinguists study the role of language in society.

Yeah, but what does it mean?

What do they do?

Sociolinguists are professional eavesdroppers.

But unlike other eavesdroppers,

they're not so much interested

in what the people are saying, but how they're saying it.

For sociolinguists, language is neither good nor bad.

It's meaningful.

I was on the bus the other day,

and I heard two young girls chatting behind me.

So I was eavesdropping as usual.

And this is what I heard.

"And I was like, 'No way!'

And he was like, 'Well, it's only, like, two miles."

And the other one said,

"OMG. In your killer heels! Amazeballs!"

(Laughter)

And the first one goes, "Yeah, like, totes."

(Laughter)

There was an elderly lady sitting nearby,

and she's looking very disapproving indeed.

Us, linguists however,

we don't bother disapproving about language.

There are two reasons for this.

First of all, we can't stop language changing.

Language has a life of its own.

New stuff comes in, it moves. Nothing to be done.

The second reason is

that lady, when she was a young woman,

she was very likely the young woman who was using

the new cool stuff coming in.

Because research has shown that young women

are the movers and shakers when it comes to language.

They're the innovators.

They're the ones we should be listening to.

So, language is always changing.

However, not everything is variable.

Some things are invariant.

And word order is one of those things.

So, this baby, there,

let's say he's an English-speaking baby.

He comes wired.

His little brain is wired,

with an idea of word order in his language, whatever that is.

In this case, it's English.

Let's say he's an English-speaking baby.

So, he knows that it's subject, verb, object.

So, as English speakers,

if we see something like this or like that,

or like that

(Laughter)

Not good.

Something's wrong.

Because we know that the word order should be subject, verb, object.

We don't have a choice here.

However, there are many aspects of language where we do have a choice.

These are the variable aspects.

And these are the fun bits for the sociolinguists.

Just take two ways of saying the same thing.

So if you see a sentence like this

[ I have not the pleasure of understanding it ]

you could also say it like this

[Ya wha'?]

(Laughter)

It means the same.

You could say that means the same.

Well, some of the meaning is the same.

The referential meaning is what's similar.

The social significance is different.

And it's that social significance

that makes such a difference and gives us such knowledge

of the speaker, on the one hand, the hearer, on the other,

the social context they're living in, on the third.

And we really need to tune in to this stuff.

When I was studying at the University of Pennsylvania,

with William Labov, who's the founder of the field,

I was excited to think what we could do when we came back to Ireland

and looked at what we use here in terms of language.

So with my group of postgraduate students,

we decided to study the little word "like".

So, with a bunch of PhD students, we sat round the table,

and we said, "OK, we're going to do 'like'.

We're going to bring a little magnifying glass down on this

and we're going to see what it's like.

Not this 'like', "She was like her sister,"

which is standard 'like'.

But this 'like', "She was like, 'Cheers'."

They're the "likes" of the young women on the bus.

You might say that nonstandard "like" is all over the place.

That it's got no rules, it's lazy, it's chaotic, it's disorderly.

However, in fact, there are rules.

And there are very strict rules, in fact, around how nonstandard "like" is used.

Where it comes in the sentence, - syntactic constraints, as we call it -

the social context in which it's used,

all of that is very strictly controlled.

Now, these variable bits of language

are the stuff that actually does a lot of work for us.

So just as accessories, clothes, handbags, body language even,

is able to project an identity,

so language variation patterns do the same thing.

And they're very powerful tools, in fact,

in our identikit, as we call it.

One group for whom identity is very important

is the group of migrants or transnationals.

Transnationals work very hard at identity

because they're moving from place to place throughout the globe.

So we wanted to see

what transnationals or migrants do with this little word "like".

And we thought we'd look at the group in Ireland,

which are Polish speakers.

We've lots of Polish speakers here, I'm sure there's some in the audience.

So, imagine you're a Pole, you learn English in Poland,

you're in classroom, you learn nice standard English,

you come to Ireland and you hear this stuff.

What is it?

Well, it's Irish English.

What's "like" like in Irish English?

Well, first of all, it's clause marginal, we said, in our best variation as voices.

What's clause marginal?

It's at the beginning or at the end,

like this, at the beginning

[Sure these things happen like]

(Laughter)

or like this, at the end

[Like, he's never there]

OK, so, we do it different from the others.

Of course, we do, we're Irish.

So in other Englishes, Australian, Canadian,

British, American, they do something different.

They do clause medial.

Like this

[He was, like, way tall]

like this

[He was, like, never there]

or even like this

[Her fake tan was, like, really messed-up?]

(Laughter)

So now we've two sorts of "like".

We've this one, which is the global "like",

used by our valley girls all over the world,

not just in California.

And we have the local, which is the Irish "like".

At the beginning, at the end, "You know, like?"

The picture is more complicated within Irelanders' variation,

and what we find is that the people who use

a clause marginal, "You know, like?",

tend to be older, male, rural,

and local in outlook, at times.

Although, that we have to be careful about.

The global users, the ones in the middle,

"She'd like a Gucci bag", this is more female, East coast,

young, Dublin, even south Dublin

(Laughter)

and, as well as that, it's used as a tool to divide our city.

And those of us who are Dubliners know

that we have this imaginary line between the north side and the south side,

need I say more.

So, our Polish speaker arrives.

He wants to know what to do with all of this complexity.

We decided that we would do as good variationists do.

We would sit, we'd listen, we would record,

and we would analyze.

What did we find?

Our quantitative results were very interesting.

First of all, we found the Polish people were using "like".

Now this was interesting

because not only had they never heard "like" before in their classroom

but there was no equivalent of "like" in Polish.

So we found that they were looking at both.

They were looking at the Irish use, that's native Irish speakers,

what are they doing, they're doing Irish "like",

the green stuff on the left.

And they're doing a little bit of clause medial, the purple stuff.

And here are the Polish.

So the Polish people were doing something very interesting.

Not only were they using "like"

but they were actually patterning like the native speakers.

Now, the story wasn't quite as simple as that.

Some of them were doing clause medial, and we wondered why this was.

We dug down, we did qualitative analysis, we listened to their stories.

And we discovered that those people who were using the clause medial "like"

were more likely to have their eyes fixed on global worlds.

They wanted perhaps to move to another world,

an English speaking country outside.

The local "like" users were people

who were strongly identified with Irish people.

They were locally focused

and they had long term plans to stay in Ireland.

So by triangulating the two,

we were getting an interesting picture of the people and their identity focus.

In either case, whichever they used,

language was reflecting

their aspirations, their stances, their attitudes.

This isn't a one solved case.

We're going to move from Ireland to France.

In France, we looked also at some Polish people living in France.

And this is the tale of two people.

I call it the tale

of the basketball player and the book seller.

First of all, when French people are relaxed and talking quickly,

they tend to drop the first particle of negation.

My hypothesis was when Polish people are relaxed, identifying with the French,

they, too, will drop negation.

I was right, our hypothesis was confirmed,

the people were losing the "Ne".

Here are the figures

for the probabilities of people losing "Ne".

Two people stood out.

One was Mariusz,

and the other was Anna.

Mariusz deleted very little. Well, so did other people.

However, given his length of residence and given his proficiency,

he should have been deleting more.

Anna, given her length of residence and her proficiency, which was less,

should've been deleting much less.

As natural scientists, the tendency is to forget these outliers.

Just forget them and treat them as anomalies.

But I didn't want to do this,

I was intrigued by the difference.

I wanted to find out why these people were behaving linguistically in such a way

so, qualitative analysis [stood] for again,

we listened to their ethnographic details, their stories,

and something very interesting emerged.

Mariusz presented as a very well educated speaker.

He was somebody who took language seriously,

who took standards in language seriously, whether Polish or French.

He ran a Polish bookshop,

he was very standardsy, he liked good speech.

Anna, on the other hand, was the mother of two young children.

She was very fixed on their future in France,

and she had invested heavily in sports.

Where Mariusz had invested in intellectual and cultural domains

in his particular trajectory through migration,

she had invested in basketball, in fact.

She had, in fact, won a scholarship to the West.

The two people had very different, contrasting profiles.

And it was those stories which told us

why they were using language as they were using it.

Their use of "Ne" was both reflecting their profiles,

and it was also performing their profiles.

They were using language to express their evolving identities.

The lesson we took from it was

that people aren't simply representatives of social, structural categories.

And if you were a sociologist, no age, sex, social class,

but agencies involved as well.

Choices involved.

People work on identity,

on the place they are,

on the plans they have.

So these two little bits of speech that seem so unimportant

is expressing a lot

in terms of reflecting and performing.

So getting back to our young women in the bus.

Instead of saying they're lazy,

or sloppy, or superficial,

or whatever we tend to say about young users of speech,

we need to know that these young women are using language

to show lots of stuff about who they are,

who they are becoming.

And next time you hear somebody saying "like",

you can say,

"Oh, it's like here're the movers and the shakers.

They're our future, like."

Thank you.

(Applause)