LNGS1002 2024 2 - Social DialectologyPython

Java Python LNGS1002 2024 Assignment 2 - Social Dialectology

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DUE Sunday 8^th September, 11:59 pm via Turnitin

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Design a simple experiment on the model of Labov’s pioneering Department Store study in New York City. In this assignment, you only design the experiment; you do not actually run it. Here is what you need to do:

1. Identify a sociolinguistic variable that is binary i.e. has two possible values (e.g. the variable (r) in NYC has two variants): this can be in any language, in any speech community. Describe this variable in linguistic terms, and give at least five examples of words (or other relevant structures of the language) in which the variable can be observed (e.g. the words ‘fourth floor’ in the Labov study). If you chose to study a phonetic variable (and you do not have to), you must use IPA correctly. If you use a language other than English, you must provide translations and a version in Romanised script. (e.g. pinyin). Do not use second language speakers in your experiment.

2. State a hypothesis as to a social distinction (also binary: i.e., with only two possible values, e.g., older than 50 vs. younger than 50 or middle cla LNGS1002 2024 Assignment 2 - Social DialectologyPython ss vs. lower class, etc) that you think might correlate with the variable you identify in (1).

Clearly state your hypothesis (a) in informal prose, and (b) more formally in a 2x2 table, as in the following (again, based on Labov’s Department Store study):

	Middle class speakers	Lower class speakers
Post-vocalic [r] present	Majority of speakers	Minority of speakers
Post-vocalic [r] absent	Minority of speakers	Majority of speakers

3. Give clear and specific instructions for another person so that they could carry out the study themselves. This should include a precise description of the set-up of your experiment. Make sure that your experiment design avoids or minimises the observer’s paradox