Aspects of Linguistic Variation
Aspects of Linguistic Variation

Author: Daniël Olmen

Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG

Published: 2018-12-03

Total Pages: 255

ISBN-13: 3110609878

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Linguistic variation is a topic of ongoing interest to the field. Its description and its explanations continue to intrigue scholars from many different backgrounds. By taking a deliberately broad perspective on the matter, covering not only crosslinguistic and diachronic but also intralinguistic and interspeaker variation and examining phenomena ranging from negation over connectives to definite articles in well- and lesser-known languages, the volume furthers our understanding of variation in general. The papers offer new insights into, among other things, the theoretical notion of comparative concepts, the social or mental nature of language structure, the areal factor in lexical typology and the diachronic implications of semantic maps. The collection will thus be of relevance to typologists and historical linguists, as well as to people studying variation within the areas of cognitive and functional linguistics.

Linguistic Variation in Research Articles
Linguistic Variation in Research Articles

Author: Bethany Gray

Publisher: John Benjamins Publishing Company

Published: 2015-12-15

Total Pages: 237

ISBN-13: 9027268045

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Linguistic Variation in Research Articles investigates the linguistic characteristics of academic research articles, going beyond a traditional analysis of the generically-defined research article to take into account varied realizations of research articles within and across disciplines. It combines corpus-based analyses of 70+ linguistic features with analyses of the situational, or non-linguistic, characteristics of the Academic Journal Registers Corpus: 270 research articles from 6 diverse disciplines (philosophy, history, political science, applied linguistics, biology, physics) and representing three sub-registers (theoretical, quantitative, and qualitative research). Comprehensive analyses include a lexical/grammatical survey, an exploration of structural complexity, and a Multi-Dimensional analysis, all interpreted relative to the situational analysis of the corpus. The finding that linguistic variation in research articles does not occur along a single parameter like discipline is discussed relative to our understanding of disciplinary practices, the multidimensional nature of variation in research articles, and resulting methodological considerations for corpus studies of disciplinary writing.

Linguistic Variation and Change
Linguistic Variation and Change

Author: Scott F. Kiesling

Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

Published: 2011-04-29

Total Pages: 208

ISBN-13: 074863763X

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The study of variation and change is at the heart of the sociolinguistics. Providing a wide survey of the field, this textbook is organised around three constraints on variation: linguistic structure, social structure and identity, and social and linguistic perception. By considering both structure and meaning, Scott F. Kiesling examines the most important issues surrounding variation theory, including canonical studies and terms as well as challenges to them.

Social Meaning and Linguistic Variation
Social Meaning and Linguistic Variation

Author: Lauren Hall-Lew

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2021-08-12

Total Pages: 405

ISBN-13: 1108633609

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The 'third wave' of variation study, spearheaded by the sociolinguist Penelope Eckert, places its focus on social meaning, or the inferences that can be drawn about speakers based on how they talk. While social meaning has always been a concern of modern sociolinguistics, its aims and assumptions have not been explicitly spelled out until now. This pioneering book provides a comprehensive overview of the central tenets of variation study, examining several components of dialects, and considering language use in a wide variety of cultural and linguistic contexts. Each chapter, written by a leader in the field, posits a unique theoretical claim about social meaning and presents new empirical data to shed light on the topic at hand. The volume makes a case for why attending to social meaning is vital to the study of variation while also providing a foundation from which variationists can productively engage with social meaning.

Using Corpora to Explore Linguistic Variation
Using Corpora to Explore Linguistic Variation

Author: Randi Reppen

Publisher: John Benjamins Publishing

Published: 2002-11-29

Total Pages: 289

ISBN-13: 9027296162

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Using Corpora to Explore Linguistic Variation illustrates the ways in which linguistic variation can be explored through corpus-based investigation. Two major kinds of research questions are considered: variation in the use of a particular linguistic feature, and variation across dialects or registers. Part 1: “Exploring variation in the use of linguistic features” focuses on the study of specific words, expressions, or grammatical constructions, to study variation in the use of a particular linguistic feature. Part 2: “Exploring dialect and register variation” describes salient characteristics of dialects or registers and the patterns of variation across varieties. Part 3: “Exploring Historical Variation” applies these same two major perspectives to historical variation. One recurring theme is the extent to which linguistic variation depends on register differences, reflecting the importance of register as a key methodological and thematic concern in current corpus linguistic research.

Analysing Sociolinguistic Variation
Analysing Sociolinguistic Variation

Author: Sali A. Tagliamonte

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2006-05-11

Total Pages: 263

ISBN-13: 1139451324

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The study of how language varies in social context, and how it can be analyzed and accounted for, are the key goals of sociolinguistics. Until now, however, the actual tools and methods have been largely passed on through 'word of mouth', rather than being formally documented. This is the first comprehensive 'how to' guide to the formal analysis of sociolinguistic variation. It shows step-by-step how the analysis is carried out, leading the reader through every stage of a research project from start to finish. Topics covered include fieldwork, data organization and management, analysis and interpretation, presenting research results, and writing up a paper. Practical and informal, the book contains all the information needed to conduct a fully-fledged sociolinguistic investigation, and includes exercises, checklists, references and insider tips. It is set to become an essential resource for students, researchers and fieldworkers embarking on research projects in sociolinguistics.

The Locus of Linguistic Variation
The Locus of Linguistic Variation

Author: Constantine Lignos

Publisher: John Benjamins Publishing Company

Published: 2018-09-06

Total Pages: 205

ISBN-13: 9027263663

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This volume explores how the patterning of surface variation can shed light on the grammatical representation of variable phenomena. The authors explore variation in several domains, addressing intra- and inter-dialectal patterns, using diverse sources of data including corpora of naturally-occurring speech and judgment studies, and drawing on lesser-studied varieties of familiar languages, such as Northwest British Englishes and varieties of Canadian French. Ultimately, the contributions serve to expand our understanding of the nature of the mental representations and abstract processes required to support variation in language. Originally published as special issue of Linguistic Variation 16:2 (2016)

Meaning and Linguistic Variation
Meaning and Linguistic Variation

Author: Penelope Eckert

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2018-07-05

Total Pages: 225

ISBN-13: 110712297X

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

An important new study of the social meaning of sociolinguistic variation.

Linguistic Universals and Language Variation
Linguistic Universals and Language Variation

Author: Peter Siemund

Publisher: Walter de Gruyter

Published: 2011

Total Pages: 481

ISBN-13: 3110238055

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The volume explores the relationship between linguistic universals and language variation. Its contributions identify the recurrent patterns and principles behind the complex spectrum of observable variation. The volume bridges the gap between cross-linguistic variation, regional variation, diachronic variation, contact-induced variation as well as socially conditioned variation. Moreover, it addresses fundamental methodological and theoretical issues of variation research. The volume brings together internationally renowned specialists of their fields while, at the same time, offering a platform for gifted and highly talented young researchers. The authors come from different theoretical backgrounds and through their work illustrate a rich array of scientific methods. All authors share a strong belief in empirically founded theoretical work. The contributions span a high number of languages and dialects from many parts of the world. They are extremely broad in their empirical coverage addressing an impressive selection of grammatical domains.