TEST BANK FOR LANGUAGE,
CULTURE, AND COMMUNICATION:
THE MEANING OF MESSAGES 7TH
EDITION BY NANCY BONVILLAIN
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Chapter 1 – Introduction
Chapter Objectives
After Reading This Chapter Students Should Be Able To:
1. Explain The Concept Of A Speech Community.
2. Explain The Goals And Methodologies Of Ethno Linguists.
3. Explain The Goals And Methodologies Of Sociolinguists.
4. Describe The Similarities And Differences Between Ethno
Linguistic And Sociolinguistic Approaches To Communicative
Behavior.
5. Define Discourse And Understand Its Importance In The Study Of Interaction.
6. Explain What Language Ideologies Are And How They Are Connected To
Language Use.
Chapter Overview
This Chapter Introduces The Student To The Basic Connections Between Language,
Identity, And Ideology As Well As Some Methodologies To Explore These Connections.
The Chapter Begins By Describing The Difference Between Situational, Social, And
Cultural Meanings, As Well As Stressing The Importance Of Context And Cultural
Models On Communicative Behavior. Next, The Author Introduces The Student To The
Ideas Of Speech Community And Speech Network, Noting The Differences Between
The Two Notions And How Both Affect Language Use. The Different Levels Of
Linguistic Pressures And Control In Dense And Weak Social Networks Are Also
Addressed. Following This, Students Are Presented With The Basic Assumptions, Goals,
And Methodologies Involved In Ethno Linguistics, Sociolinguistics And Language
Variation Studies, Discourse Analysis, And Critical Discourse Analysis. Finally, The
Chapter Defines Language Ideologies And Gives Basic Background Information About
The Dissemination And Effects Of Language Ideologies.
Technical Terms: Anthropologist, Critical Discourse Analysis, Cultural Meanings,
Cultural Model, Discourse, Discourse Analysis, Ethnographic, Ethnography Of
Communication, Ethno Linguist, Ethno Linguistic Approach, Language Ideologies,
Linguist, Linguistic Variation, Situational Meanings, Social Meanings, Sociolinguistic
Approach, Sociolinguistics, Speech Community, Speech Network
Chapter Outline
I. Introduction
• Speech Communities
• Ethno Linguistics
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• Sociolinguistics
• Discourse
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• Language Ideologies
II. Plan Of The Book
Discussion Questions
1. Labov States That Members Of Speech Communities Have Shared Language Norms
And Attitudes. Has A Member Of Your Speech Community Ever Corrected Your
Language Use, Or Have You Ever Corrected Someone Else? What Do These Corrections
Reveal About The Norms And Attitudes Of Your Speech Community?
2. Which Variables In Your Own Speech Are Tied To Certain Aspects Of Your
Identity? For Example, Are There Any Things You Say (Or Ways That You Say
Them) That Connect To Your Geographical Region, Gender, Sexual Orientation,
Race, Ethnicity, Religion, Political Orientation, Profession, Etc.?
3. Do You Think Your Speech Changes Based On The Situation—What You Are
Doing, Where You Are, Or Who You Are With? Does It Remain The Same? If It Does
Change, In What Ways Does It Vary?
4. Brainstorm Some Things That People ―Should‖ And ―Should Not‖ Do With Language.
What Do The Ideas Generated In The Brainstorming Session Reveal About The
Language Ideologies Of The Class Or The Larger Community?
Research Questions
1. Observe Coworkers Communicating At Work. Write Down Any Specialized
Terms You Hear The Employees Use. Write An Essay In Which You Describe The
Jargon Used In That Workplace Setting And Reflect Upon The Social Meanings Of
Those Terms.
2. Linguist Penelope Eckert Has Posited That There Are Three Waves Of Variation
Studies In Sociolinguistics. Read Her Article On This Subject And Write An Essay
Which Compares And Contrasts The Three Approaches To Linguistic Variation That
She Describes.
3. Choose A Social Factor That Affects Language Use—Gender, Race, Age,
Socioeconomic Class, Etc.—And Investigate Studies That Examine That Factor.
Write A Review Of The Literature You Find That Discusses The Linguistic Effects
Of That Particular Social Factor.
Other Readings:
Gumperz, John J. And Dell Hymes (Eds.). 1986. Directions In Sociolinguistics: The
Ethnography Of Communication. Oxford: Basil Blackwell, Ltd.
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