Language Variety

1
Language Variety

• All speakers of a language have a linguistic
  repertoire to negotiate through
• languages, dialects, registers
• The appropriate usage is determined by the speech
  situation and the speaker's illocution
• speaker tries to match situation and usage,
  unless the inappropriate usage adds to the
  speaker's intended meaning

2
Registers

• Register is monolingual language use that fits a
  specific situation
• can be used to mark formality, familiarity,
  social class, social group, profession, etc
• Most obvious marker of register is lexicon also
  noticeable is syntax and pragmatic discourse
  markers

3
Jargon

• Lexicon specific to profession or activity
• Reflects specialized knowledge
• CPU, mother board, CDR/W
• Context specific meaning
• what is the difference between significant in
  the social sciences vs. the humanities?
• Meaning doesn't change easily
• more often new jargon is added to make
  distinctions

4
Slang

• Informal language that marks a social group
• Constantly changing, both meaning and lexicon
• meanings of cool
• words meaning something positive
• Often word play or resignification
• cuts, confuckulated, bitchin'
• Can be incorporated into formal registers, but
  then loses it's in-group function

5
Taboo Language

• Language use that is stigmatized within a society
• Profanity using sacred language in
  inappropriate situations
• damn, bloody
• Vulgarities using uneducated language to refer
  to socially sensitive topics
• shit, cock, cunt, piss, fuck
• Expletives using either profanity or vulgarity
  to express internal state of mind

6
Euphemisms

• Replacing word or phrase with a more socially
  acceptable word or phrase
• Used often when addressing socially sensitive
  topics
• human reproduction death
• Also tend to have more positive connotation
• let go vs. fired collateral damage vs.
  unintended civilian causalities
• More they are used, they tend to loose positive
  connotation, but still considered polite

7
Familiarity Markers

• Familiarity Marker marks social relationships
  between speakers
• Terms of address
• the use of a title (Mr., Dr., Rev., Esq.)
• being on a first name basis with someone
• nicknames
• Teasing/Bantering/Sarcasm
• Flirting/Giving complements