Bibliography: leaves 337-353. / xvi, 353 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Examines the effects of cultural interaction in ethnically plural societies on personal cultural systems, cultural identity and cultural core values. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Education, 1998?

This study brings together two approaches to linguistic variation, Hallidayan systemic-functional grammar and Labovian variation theory, and in doing so brings together a functional interpretation of language and its empirical investigation in its social context. The study reports on an empirical investigation of the concept of text. The investigation proceeds on the basis of a corpus of texts gathered in sociolinguistic interviews with fifty adult speakers of Australian English in Sydney. The total corpus accounted for in terms of text type or genre numbers 420 texts of varying length, 125 of which, produced in response to four narrative questions, are investigated in greater detail in respect both of the types of text they constitute as well as of some of their linguistic realisations. These largely narrative-type texts, which represent between two and three hours of spoken English and total approximately 53000 words, are presented in a second volume analysed in terms of their textual or generic structure as well as their realisation at the level of the clause complex. The study explores in some detail models of register and genre developed within systemic-functional linguistics, adopting a genre model developed by J.R. Martin and others working within his model which foregrounds the notion that all aspects of the system(s) involved are related to one another probabilistically. In order to investigate the concept of text in actual discourse under conditions which permit us to become sufficiently confident of our understanding of it to proceed to generalisations about text and its contextual conditioning in spoken discourse, we turn to Labovian methods of sociolinguistic inquiry, i.e. to quantitative methods or methods of quantifying linguistic choice. The study takes the sociolinguistic interview as pioneered by Labov in his study of phonological variation in New York City and develops it for the purpose of investigating textual variation. The question of methodology constitutes a substantial part of the study, contributing in the process to a much greater understanding of the very phenomenon of text in discourse, for example by addressing itself to the question of the feasibility of operationalising a concept of text in the context of spoken discourse. The narrative-type texts investigated in further detail were found to range on a continuum from most experientially-oriented texts such as procedure and recount at one end to the classic narrative of personal experience and anecdote to the increasingly interpersonally-oriented exemplum and observation, both of which become interpretative of the real world in contrast to the straightforwardly representational slant taken on the same experience by the more experientially-oriented texts. The explanation for the generic variation along this continuum must be sought in a system of generic choice which is essentially cultural. A quantitative analysis of clausal theme and clause complex-type relations was carried out, the latter by means of log-linear analysis, in order to investigate their correlation with generic structure. While it was possible to relate the choice of theme to the particular stages of generic structures, clause complex-type relations are chosen too infrequently to be related to stages and were thus related to genres as a whole. We find that while by and large the choice of theme correlates well with different generic stages, it only discriminates between different genres, i.e. generic structures in toto, for those genres which are maximally different. Similarly, investigating the two choices in the principal systems involved in the organisation of the clause complex, i.e. the choice of taxis (parataxis vs. hypotaxis) and the (grammatically independent) choice of logico-semantic relations (expansion vs. projection), we find that both those choices discriminate better between types more distant on a narrative continuum. The log-linear analysis of clause complex-type relations also permitted the investigation of the social characteristics of speakers. We found that the choice of logico-semantic relations correlates with genre and question, while the choice of taxis correlates with a speaker's sex and his membership of some social group (in addition to genre). Parataxis is favoured by men and by members of the group lowest in the social hierarchy. Age on the other hand is not significant in the choice of taxis at all. In other words, since social factors are clearly shown to be significant in the making of abstract grammatical choices where they cannot be explained in terms of the functional organisation of text, we conclude that social factors must be made part of a model of text in order to fully account for its contextual conditioning. The study demonstrates that an understanding of the linguistic properties of discourse requires empirical study and, conversely, that it is possible to study discourse empirically without relaxing the standards of scientific inquiry.

Thesis (PhD) -- University of Western Sydney, Nepean, 1997. / Bibliography : p. 253-267.

Thesis (M. Ed.)--University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 128-137).

Thesis (M.Ed.)--University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 128-137). Also available in print.

<p>From Labov's (1963) finding that the centralization of the /ay/ and /aw/ diphthongs in Martha's Vineyard was emblematic of resistance to local economic and social change, to Mendoza-Denton's (2008) finding that variation in the realization of the /I/ vowel corresponds to gang affiliation among Latina girls in a Northern California high school, identity has been at the center of sociolinguistic analysis and theory for nearly a half century. Despite the centrality of this construct, sociolinguists have rarely stopped to ask about the epistemological, theoretical, and even political implications of identity. This dissertation offers a sustained, interdisciplinary critique of identity, both in linguistics and more generally in contemporary social theory. Through engagements with cultural anthropology, feminist theory, cultural studies, and linguistics, this critique calls attention to identity's epistemological baggage (e.g. collusion with neo-liberalism and Englightenment-era humanism) and theoretical tendencies (e.g. overestimation of agency) and suggests a turn to poststructuralist theory of subject formation. The dissertation is organized around three sections: historiography, theory, and empiricism, as follows.</p><p> The study begins with historiography, tracing the relationship between language and social analysis in a limited archive that includes the work of 19th and 20th Century language scholars, including William Dwight Whitney, Leonard Bloomfield, and Noam Chomsky. Focusing specifically on the relationship between Labov's variationist sociolinguistics and Chomsky's generative program, the historiography analyzes the conditions that led sociolinguistics to a form of social theory scaffolded around identity. </p><p>Poststructuralist theory of subject formation is introduced, with an emphasis on the work of Judith Butler (1990, 1997, 2004) and Michel Foucault (1975, 1976, 1981). A set of terms that animate this framework are introduced, including interpellation, subjectivization, discourse, subjectivity, subject position, subject type, power, and identity.</p><p>Two empirical studies of adolescent language are introduced and the findings are considered in light of the constellation of terms introduced in the prior section. The first is a case study focusing on the speech of one adolescent Mexican American female, "María," whose language use underwent reorganization over a three-year period coinciding with a change in community and school. Segmental and suprasegmental variables were analyzed from data collected from two time periods, T1 and T2. In order to account for modifications in "María's" vocalic production, two vowel variables were selected for acoustic analysis: pre-nasal and non-pre-nasal allophones of /æ/. These variables were selected because of their saliency in both Latino varieties of English (Thomas, Carter, & Coggshall 2006; Fought 2003; Thomas 2001). Midpoint measurements were taken for F1, F2, and F3 for a minimum of 25 tokens of each variable from T1 and T2 using PRAAT phonetics software (Boersma & Weenink 2009). Maria's production of prosodic rhythm was also analyzed using the Pairwise Variability Index (Lowe & Grabe 1995). Changes in F1 and F2 for both vocalic variables were statistically significant--both allophones of /æ/ were lowered and backed from T1 to T2. Conversely, no statistically significant difference was found in prosodic rhythm. These findings are analyzed in the context of the poststructuralist framework already set forth.</p><p>The second study is an intensive ethnographic investigation of a `majority minority' middle school in North Carolina that took place over a five-month period. Detailed ethnographic fieldnotes and unscripted interviews with 50 African American, white, and Latino speakers in social groups identified during observation constitute the data for this study. The analysis focuses on the subjectivizing effects of the institution, particularly the institutional discourses of `choice' and `value,' on the cultural and linguistic practices of its students. Using discourse analytic methods, the analysis shows that talk by students across all major social divisions (grade level, popularity status, gender, and ethnicity) is inflected by institutional discourses. </p><p>A complementary analysis considers the subjectivizing function of language ideology in the middle school context. Analysis of interview and ethnographic field data show three distinct discursive formations about language: `proper talk,' `ghetto talk,' and Spanish.</p> / Dissertation

Thesis (MPhil )--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: With the advent of the information age, government ministries in Lesotho, as well as nongovernmental agencies, are trying to gain publicity in terms of services they offer to the general public. The Ministry of Employment and Labour (MEL), for example, resorted to using radio programmes in order to inform the public about the services it offers. These range from career guidance and counselling, pre- and post-employment advice, information about occupational health and safety and HIV/AIDS, providing facts about what type of vacancies are available locally and internationally, to instilling the spirit of dialogue among relevant stakeholders in matters related to labour, employers and employees. During various weekly radio presentations, presented in Sesotho, several departments are able to go on-air and present services that their departments offer to the general public and what the public can do in the event they are given a disservice by the concerned department. In the process of doing so, many technical terms are used. These often take the form of code switches into English, translations from English into Sesotho and borrowings from English. The purpose of this thesis is to examine whether the use of code switching, translation and borrowing makes it possible for factory workers in Lesotho to understand the message that is being delivered to them in a clear and unmistakable manner that will influence a change of behaviour on the part of factory workers. In order to ascertain the level of comprehension of technical terms, participants completed a questionnaire in which they gave their understanding of various technical terms selected from transcribed MEL radio broadcasts. The findings of this study show that the use of code switching, translation and borrowing from English limit the understanding of what is being communicated, making the radio broadcasts less effective in disseminating information on matters related to HIV/AIDS, the plight of factory workers according to the ratified conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO), legal terms related to contracts of employment, their commencement and termination, conditions of work, the level of the unemployed versus the employed, skills needed to venture into the country’s labour market and occupational health and safety guidelines as reflected in the Labour Code of Lesotho. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Met die aanbreek van die inligtingsera probeer staatsministeries in Lesotho, asook nieregeringsorganisasies, om publisiteit te verkry vir die openbare dienste wat hul lewer. Die Ministerie van Werksverskaffing en Arbeid (MWA) het byvoorbeeld besluit om gebruik te maak van radioprogramme om die publiek in te lig aangaande sy dienste. Hierdie dienste wissel van beroepsvoorligting en -berading, voor- en na-indiensnemingsadvies, inligting oor bedryfsgesondheid en -veiligheid en HIV/VIGS, die verskaffing van feite oor beskikbare plaaslike en internasionale vakaturetipes, tot die kweek van ’n dialoog-gees onder relevante belanghebbendes in arbeid-, werkgewer- en werknemersake. Tydens verskeie weeklikse radio-aanbiedings, aangebied in Sesotho, kan ’n aantal departemente hulle openbare dienste adverteer, asook die prosedure wat gevolg kan word deur lede van die publiek wat veronreg is deur die gegewe departement. Hierdie boodskappe bevat verskeie tegniese terme, dikwels aangebied in die vorm van kodewisselings na Engels, vertalings uit Engels na Sesotho, asook Engelse leenwoorde. Die doel van hierdie tesis is om vas te stel of die gebruik van kodewisseling, vertaling en woordleen fabriekswerkers in Lesotho daartoe in staat stel om die boodskap wat gekommunikeer word te verstaan in ’n duidelike, ondubbelsinnige wyse wat tot ’n gedragsverandering onder die fabriekswerkers sal lei. Ten einde die begripsvlak vir tegniese terme vas te stel, het deelnemers ’n vraelys voltooi waarin hulle hul begrip van verskeie tegniese terme (geselekteer uit getranskribeerde MWA-radiouitsendings), weergegee het. Die bevindinge van hierdie studie dui daarop dat die gebruik van kodewisseling, vertaling en woordleen uit Engels die begrip van wat gekommunikeer word, beperk. Dít maak die radiouitsendings minder effektief in die verspreiding van inligting oor HIV/VIGS; die saak van fabriekwerkers (met inagname van die gesanksioneerde konvensies van die Internasionale Arbeidsorganisasie); regsterme wat verband hou met arbeidskontrakte, spesifiek hul aanvang en terminasie, asook werksomstandighede; die vlak van werkloses teenoor werkendes; die vaardighede wat benodig word om die land se arbeidsmark te betree; en bedryfsgesondheid en –veiligheidsriglyne, soos gereflekteer in die Arbeidswet van Lesotho.

Orientador: Luciani Ester Tenani / Banca: José Sueli Magalhães / Banca: Gladis Massini-Cagliari / Resumo: O presente trabalho descreve o comportamento variável das vogais postônicas nãofinais nos nomes na variedade da região de São José do Rio Preto, noroeste do Estado de São Paulo. Neste contexto, observa-se a realização dos processos fonológicos de apagamento das vogais postônicas não-finais e de alçamento das vogais [e] e [o] postônicas não-finais. Neste estudo, verificou-se que há (i) comportamento variável quanto ao processo de apagamento da vogal [o] e [e] postônica não-final (a.bó.b[o].ra ~ a.bó.bra; pê.s[e].go ~ pés.go) e (ii) comportamento variável quanto ao processo de alçamento da vogal [o] e [e] postônica nãofinal (a.bó.b[o].ra ~ a.bó.b[u].ra; pê.s[e].go ~ pê.s[i].go). Em outras palavras, podemos identificar as seguintes possibilidades: (1) abób[o]ra, abób[u]ra, abobra e (2) pêss[e]go, pêss[i]go, pêsgo. Como corpus de pesquisa, são utilizados: (i) dezenove inquéritos de fala espontânea retirados do Banco de Dados IBORUNA, resultado do Projeto ALIP - Amostra Lingüística do Interior Paulista (IBILCE/UNESP - FAPESP 03/08058-6); e (ii) dois experimentos elaborados para a análise de cunho fonológico. A análise é realizada segundo os princípios da Teoria da Variação e Mudança Linguística e das Fonologias não-lineares: Fonologia Métrica, Fonologia da Sílaba e Fonologia Autossegmental. Como um resultado, tem-se que o percentual de aplicação do apagamento das vogais postônicas não-finais é baixo: 8%. Já os percentuais de alçamento da vogal [e] postônica não-final são: (i) 59%, nos dados de fala espontânea; e (ii) 44%, nos dados de fala dirigida. A aplicação do processo de alçamento da vogal [o] postônica não-final apresentou altos índices de aplicação: (i) 62%, nos dados de fala espontânea; e (ii) 92%, nos dados de fala dirigida. Dos resultados estatísticos, obteve-se que as consoantes líquidas... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: This work describes the variable behavior of the non-final posttonic vowels in the names in the variety of the region of São José do Rio Preto, northwest of São Paulo State. In this context, there are the phonological processes of: (i) syncope of non-final posttonic vowels; and (ii) raising of the non-final posttonic vowels [e] and [o]. In this work, it is observed that (i) there is a variable behavior in relation to the process of syncope of the nonfinal posttonic vowels [o] and [e] (a.bó.b[o].ra ~ a.bó.bra; pê.s[e].go ~ pés.go) and (ii) there is a variable behavior in relation to the process of vowel raising of the non-final posttonic [o] and [e] (a.bó.b[o].ra ~ a.bó.b[u].ra; pê.s[e].go ~ pê.s[i].go). In other words, two possibilities can be identified: (i) abób[o]ra, abób[u]ra, abobra; and (ii) pêss[e]go, pêss[i]go, pêsgo. The corpus of this research is formed of: (i) nineteen interviews with spontaneous speech samples of the Banco de Dados Iboruna, a result of the ALIP Project - Amostra Lingüística do Interior Paulista (IBILCE/UNESP - FAPESP 03/08058-6); and (ii) two experiments elaborated for the phonological analysis. The analysis is made following the principles of the Theory of Linguistic Variation and Change and the nonlinear phonological models: Metrical Phonology, Syllable Phonology and Autosegmental Phonology. As a result, the percentage of application of the process of syncope in the non-final posttonic vowels is low: 8%. The percentages of vowel raising in the non-final posttonic vowel [e] are: (i) 59%, in the spontaneous speech data; and (ii) 44%, in the directed speech data. The application of the vowel raising of the non-final posttonic vowel [o] had the biggest rates: (i) 62%, in the spontaneous speech data; and (ii) 92%, in the directed speech data. From the statistical results, it is observed that the liquid consonants and the sibilants /s/ and /z/... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Quelle place accorder à la variation, en particulier diatopique, dans l’enseignement / apprentissage de la L2 ? Malgré une réflexion abondante et de longue date en Français langue étrangère, ou plus discrète en Italiano lingua straniera, l’introduction d’un discours variationnel de type sociolinguistique en classe de L2 reste encore aujourd’hui un exercice délicat, d’autant que l’évocation de la diatopie est un excellent déclencheur des opinions et des stéréotypes sur la langue. Partant de la notion de communauté linguistique comme communauté de normes partagées par l’ensemble des membres, on a considéré 3 types de contextes sociolinguistiques : 1. l’espace français, fortement monocentrique, et dont le modèle de langue largement diffus à travers l’Hexagone tend à la neutralité du point de vue diatopique, 2. l’espace francophone européen, hors Hexagone, en marge de la langue mais dans lequel on assiste malgré tout à l’émergence récente d’un lent phénomène d’auto-légitimation des communautés francophones périphériques, 3. l’Italie et le Tessin, puisque cette même dimension diatopique y constitue la toile de fond de l’italien contemporain et qu’elle est omniprésente dans les pratiques langagières de tout locuteur. Sachant que l’institution scolaire est le principal agent de reproduction, de diffusion et de reélaboration constante de l’idéologie linguistique du standard et de l’unilinguisme, on a voulu enquêter en direction des attitudes et des opinions des enseignants d’ILS en contexte francophone européen et de leurs collègues de FLE en contexte italophone. Un questionnaire a été réalisé en deux langues et a fait l’objet entre 2013 et 2014 d’une diffusion en ligne systématique auprès de tous les établissements scolaires de niveau équivalent lycée – gymnases, athénées, scuole superiori, etc. – de Belgique francophone, de France, de Suisse romande, d’Italie et du Canton du Tessin. Cette enquête, à laquelle plus de 1100 enseignants de FLE et d’ILS ont participé, a fourni un grand nombre de données ayant requis une analyse plusieurs étapes.On a d’abord pu comprendre dans quelle mesure l’appartenance de l’enseignant à un contexte sociolinguistique plus ou moins ouvert à la diatopie est susceptible d’influencer sa perception de cette variation et de ses propres pratiques didactiques. Ensuite, les informations recueillies nous ont permis de mieux appréhender la dialectique existant, au sein de l’imaginaire linguistique de la profession, entre vécu langagier individuel et adhésion à l’idéologie linguistique dominante du standard. Enfin, l’analyse et la confrontation des données quantitatives et textuelles ont permis de mettre finalement en évidence que les enseignants des différents contextes sociolinguistiques considérés partagent des représentations linguistiques tout à fait semblables mais surtout un seul et même imaginaire professionnel / Quale ruolo dare alla variazione, in particolare diatopica, nell’insegnamento / apprendimento della L2 ? Malgrado una riflessione abbondante e pluridecennale in Français langue étrangère o più discreta in Italiano lingua straniera, l’introduzione del discorso variazionale di tipo sociolinguistico in classe di L2 rimane a tutt’oggi assai delicata, tanto più che accennare alla diatopia permette di fatti di innescare dibattiti nei quali osservare opinioni e stereotipi sulla lingua. Partendo dalla nozione di comunità linguistica intesa come comunità di norme condivise da tutti i membri, abbiamo considerato 3 tipi di contesti sociolinguistici: 1. lo spazio francese, fortement monocentrico, il cui modello di lingua largamente diffuso all’interno dei confini dello Stato tende alla neutralità dal punto di vista diatopico; 2. lo spazio francofono europeo, fuori dalla Francia, ai margini della lingua sebbene vi si possa osservare in tempi recenti l’emergere di un lento fenomeno di auto-legittimazione delle comunità francofone periferiche; 3. l’Italia e il Ticino, dove la dimensione diatopica fa da sfondo al continuum dell’italiano contemporaneo ed è omnipresente negli usi linguistici quotidiani dei parlanti.Considerato che l’istituzione scolastica è il principale agente di riproduzione, diffusione e rielaborazione costante dell’ideologia dello standard e dell’unilinguisme, abbiamo voluto indagare in direzione degli atteggiamenti e delle opinioni degli insegnanti d’ILS in contesto francofono europeo e dei loro colleghi insegnanti di FLE in contesto italofono.Un questionario realizzato in due lingue è stato diffuso online tra il 2013 e il 2014 presso tutte le scuole superiori o di livello equivalente – gymnases, athénées, lycées, etc. – del Belgio francofono, di Francia, della Svizzera francofona, d’Italia e del Cantone del Ticino. Questa inchiesta, alla quale più di 1100 insegnanti di FLE e di ILS hanno partecipato, ha permesso di raccogliere un gran numero di dati che hanno necessitato un’analisi in più tappe.Abbiamo potuto in primo luogo cogliere in quale misura l’appartenenza dell’insegnante ad un contesto sociolinguistico più o meno aperto alla diatopia è suscettibile di influenzare la sua percezione di questa variazione e delle proprie abitudini didattiche. Poi, le informazioni raccolte ci hanno consentito di meglio capire la dialettica che esiste, all’interno dell’immaginario linguistico della professione, tra vissuto linguistico individuale e adesione all’ideologia linguistica dominante dello standard. Infine, l’analisi ed il confronto dei dati quantitativi e testuali hanno permesso di mettere finalmente in evidenza il fatto che gli insegnanti dei differenti contesti sociolinguistici presi in considerazione condividono delle rappresentazioni linguistiche del tutto simili ma soprattutto un solo e unico immaginario professionale

La thèse présente une analyse sociolinguistique du rôle des langues français et italien dans le cadre migratoire, notamment auprès de la communauté sénégalaise immigrée à Brescia (Italie). Dans la première partie, le premier chapitre est dédié au Sénégal, qui est décrit dans ses traits historiques, culturels, ethniques et religieux, et dont on examine la situation linguistique et sociolinguistique actuelle par rapport aux langues française, wolof et d’autres langues locales. On y décrit également la diaspora sénégalaise en Europe et en Italie dans ses différentes étapes. Le deuxième chapitre se focalise sur Brescia, ville d’élection des migrants sénégalais en Italie, à cause de ses caractéristiques socioéconomiques qui la rendent un territoire particulièrement favorable à la création de réseaux de solidarité entre Sénégalais et autochtones. La deuxième partie est entièrement dédiée à l’analyse sociolinguistique des langues en jeu dans ce contexte, notamment le wolof ainsi que d’autres langues nationales du Sénégal, le français et l’italien. L’enquête se base sur vingt interviews faites à un échantillon de Sénégalais résidents à Brescia, desquelles émergent les pratiques et les représentations linguistiques des sujets par rapport aux langues connues et parlées. Pour amplifier l’éventail de l’enquête on a choisi d’inclure également un échantillon de Sénégalais immigrés à Milan, dont les réponses ont été insérées dans l’analyse générale des pratiques et des représentations linguistiques en question. Les conclusions de la thèse consistent dans un bilan d’ensemble de la recherche et dans une relecture de la méthode adoptée pour l’enquête. / This thesis presents a sociolinguistic analysis of the role of French and Italian language in the migration context, notably in the community of Senegalese immigrants in Brescia (Italy). In the first part, the first chapter is dedicated to Senegal, which is described in its historical, cultural, ethnic and religious features and depicted as far as its current linguistic and sociolinguistic situation is concerned, referring to French, Wolof and other local languages. The evolution of the Senegalese diaspora in Europe and Italy, in its different stages, is treated as well. The second chapter focuses on Brescia, elective hometown of the Senegalese in Italy, because of its socio-economic features which make it a territory particularly favorable to the creation of solidarity networks between Senegalese and Italian people. The second part is entirely dedicated to the sociolinguistic analysis of the languages involved in this context, notably Wolof, along with other national languages of Senegal, French and Italian. The survey is based on twenty interviews made with a sample of Senegalese immigrants in Brescia, from which the linguistic practices and representations of the subjects, about the languages known and spoken, emerge. To expand the scope of the survey, a sample of Senegalese immigrated in Milan has been included as well, and their interviews have been inserted in the general analysis of the linguistic practices and representations under focus. In the conclusions of the thesis, a global view on the research carried out and on the method adopted for the survey will be given.