Article Evaluation [[1]]

  • Everything in article seems relevant accept for critique.
  • Article seems neutral accept maybe it should be more apparent that the critique section is made up of critiques from the linguistic community, and not the Wikipedia writer. A simple heading change might help. Also the use of the word "probably" in the critique section implies conjecture. Maybe a critique section isn't appropriate at all.
  • All viewpoints seem well represented.
  • Well sourced, however, citations needed in language variation section and speech community overview.
  • Citations are from scholarly sources.
  • Sources from 2010 to present could be added.
  • Talk page conversations center around article clean up, topic confusion, and generalizations. Conversations are about 10-years-old.
  • This article is part of the Wikiprojects Linguistics
  • This article is rated c-class.
  • This article differs from our class reading assignment because it includes Chomsky, Practice Theory and an overall critique.

Ideas For assigned article Stub: Change from above Ideas for what I can add (also post some ideas to article's talk page):

  • definition or definitions
  • origin of theory or theories (history)
  • specific examples
  • key players
  • Further examine references already used in stub:

Ash, Sharon. "Social Class."" The Handbook of Language Variation and Change, 402-422. Malden, Mass: Blackwell. Labov, William. "Transmission and Diffusion." Language.Volume 83, Number 2, June 2007, 344-387. Linguistic Society of America.

Compile a list of sources (post bib to talk page of article):

Change From Above (Article Outline)

  • Definition of Labov's Change from above:

Google scholar: An introduction to Sociolinguistics p.216-218 and social dimensions of language change lev Micheal p.16-19

  • Specific example of change from above:

(Martha's vineyard) (New York Study) (or hypothetical example)

  • William Labov:

Labov, William. "Transmission and Diffusion." Language.Volume 83, Number 2, June 2007, 344-387. Linguistic Society of America.

  • Walt Wolfram:

text book-Dannenburg another source: Principles of Linguistic Change social factors

Erika's Review comments

  • make sure labov comes after definition-comes before description of study
  • mention the concept of prestige
  • Post vocalic R
  • The role of women as leaders of social change


Change from above

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Change from above is linguistic change that enters the language from above the level of consciousness; that is, speakers are generally aware of the linguistic change and implement its use in order to sound more dominant.[1] It stands in contrast to change from below.

In change from above, the change usually enters formal speech, not the vernacular.[2] This change usually begins with speakers in higher social classes and diffuses down into the lower classes. The upper classes use these new linguistic forms in order to differentiate themselves from the lower classes, while lower classes use these forms in order to sound more formal and similar to the upper class. However, it is important to keep in mind that the concepts of change from above and below refer to consciousness and not social class.[3]

Diffusion

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Diffusion is one of the major kinds of change from above. It includes changes of words, sounds, mergers, and reassignment of words to different categories. A person would pick-up on these changes over a lifetime.[4] Women usually tend to lead in these kinds of variation and in change from above in general. This is also the case for change from below.[5]

William Labov's Work

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William Labov (1927-) is a linguistic professor at the University of Pennsylvania who specializes in language change. He is generally considered to be the father of sociolinguistics.[6] Change from above is seen in Labov's New York Department Store study exhibiting the social stratification of New York City, where the upper classes reintroduced the word-final pronunciation of /r/ as a prestige form.[7]

  1. ^ Ash, Sharon. "Social Class."" The Handbook of Language Variation and Change, 402-422. Malden, Mass: Blackwell.
  2. ^ Labov, William. "Transmission and Diffusion." Language.Volume 83, Number 2, June 2007, 344-387. Linguistic Society of America.
  3. ^ Wolfram,Walt and Schilling-Estes, Natalie. American English: Dialects and Variation. Blackwell Publishers. p.4. 1998.
  4. ^ http://linguistics.berkeley.edu/~levmichael/pubs/l_michael_soc_lang_chng_web.pdf
  5. ^ http://linguistics.berkeley.edu/~levmichael/pubs/l_michael_soc_lang_chng_web.pdf
  6. ^ http://www.ello.uos.de/field.php/Sociolinguistics/WilliamLabov
  7. ^ Ash, Sharon. "Social Class."" The Handbook of Language Variation and Change, 402-422. Malden, Mass: Blackwell.