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Status and Style in Language

Status and Style in Language This paper reviews recent literature on the linguistic expression of social status, particularly those studies relating forms of language use (social dialectology and style of speaking) to forms of social stratification . To place that literature in cross-cultural perspective, the principal question orienting the review is this: to what extent do the findings of sociolinguistic research on this topic in North America-notably the urban dialectology that has flourished in the past two decades-resemble or contrast with results for the rest of the world, especially the non-Western world? In other words, have studies of sociolinguistic patterns in American cities identified processes that occur in any or all societies exhibiting distinctions of social status, or have they identified processes that pertain only to a society of a certain kind (urban , industrial, class-based , speaking an Indo-European language)? I first summarize the relevant American work, then outline some of the problems in comparing these studies with studies of other settings; then I review some of the major forms of the linguistic expression of social status that have been discussed for the non-Western world: social dialects, language levels, and systems of honorifics. While language levels and honorifics may seem to pertain http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Annual Review of Anthropology Annual Reviews

Status and Style in Language

Irvine, J T
Annual Review of Anthropology , Volume 14 (1) – Oct 1, 1985
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Publisher
Annual Reviews
Copyright
Copyright 1985 Annual Reviews. All rights reserved
Subject
Review Articles
ISSN
0084-6570
eISSN
1545-4290
DOI
10.1146/annurev.an.14.100185.003013
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

This paper reviews recent literature on the linguistic expression of social status, particularly those studies relating forms of language use (social dialectology and style of speaking) to forms of social stratification . To place that literature in cross-cultural perspective, the principal question orienting the review is this: to what extent do the findings of sociolinguistic research on this topic in North America-notably the urban dialectology that has flourished in the past two decades-resemble or contrast with results for the rest of the world, especially the non-Western world? In other words, have studies of sociolinguistic patterns in American cities identified processes that occur in any or all societies exhibiting distinctions of social status, or have they identified processes that pertain only to a society of a certain kind (urban , industrial, class-based , speaking an Indo-European language)? I first summarize the relevant American work, then outline some of the problems in comparing these studies with studies of other settings; then I review some of the major forms of the linguistic expression of social status that have been discussed for the non-Western world: social dialects, language levels, and systems of honorifics. While language levels and honorifics may seem to pertain

Journal

Annual Review of Anthropology – Annual Reviews

Published: Oct 1, 1985

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