Language Variation

now browsing by category

 

Extra Credit Dialect Quiz

My results were spot on! The first location suggested was the city that I was born and raised in, San Jose, CA! I am not really surprised to be honest, but some of the questions in the quiz were dead gives a ways to places I am not from. I have never heard anyone in California call a soda “pop” except for when I lived with a guy from Mississippi. They other two cities mentioned were Fremont and Fresno. I can understand Fremont because I have family there and it seems fairly similar to San Jose. But Fresno kind of came out of no where. When I think of Fresno, I think of hot dead wastelands because Fresno blows chunks of lameness. It is like where they grow cows or something, totally lame. But overall, I am pleased with my results and incredibly surprised by how accurate they are. This was pretty cool.

#dialect #sanjose #california #baylingo #lignuistics #sj

Discussion 2: Language differences I have noticed…

What differences have you noticed in the ways people use language?

Think first about regional differences, then fill in the other major social categories: age, gender & sexuality, ethnicity & race, social class (working class, middle class, upper class).

Then think about broader “community” categories– categories likeĀ surfer, stoner, prep, jock, drama/theater kid, band geek, hipster, princess, dork/nerd/geek, meathead, etc.

Are there any groups that stick out in your mind as people who use language in a specific or unique way? What– exactly– are they doing with their language that seems different to you?

To get fullest possible credit, comment on the main post (this one) and at least two other classmates’ posts as well. Make sure to use tags in your responses along with any other media (images, maps, audio or video clips) that you think might help illustrate your point.

This will be available until Thursday morning. Go a-linguisting!

 

-doug