Cartographie sociolinguistique et variations dialectales

Introduction to Sociolinguistics

Sociolinguistics is the study of the relationship between language and society, focusing on how language is used in a given community and the choices individuals make when using language. It examines various linguistic variations and the social factors that influence these variations.

Origins: Dialect Geography

The origins of sociolinguistics can be traced to dialect geography, which studies regional variation in language. This involves mapping the distribution of linguistic features like differences in pronunciation, word choices, forms, and syntax to show their geographical origin.

• Dialect vs. Accent: While both relate to variations, a dialect encompasses differences in vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation, whereas an accent primarily refers to pronunciation differences.
• Mapping Linguistic Features: Researchers use maps to visualize where specific linguistic features are prevalent. For example, whether an area pronounces the 'r' in "car" or "cart," or the preferred past tense of "drink."

Examples of such mapping projects include the Schnässen App for Luxembourgish variations and the Digital Wenker-Atlas (DiWA) for German dialects. Georg Wenker's 1876 "Sprachatlas des Deutschen Reiches" was an early significant work in this field, using postal questionnaires sent to teachers to collect data.

Key Terminology in Dialect Geography

• Dialect Atlas: A collection of maps showing the geographic distribution of linguistic features.
• Isogloss: A line drawn on a dialect map that marks the boundary of an area where a particular linguistic variant is used. Isoglosses can apply to phonological, grammatical, and lexical boundaries. For instance, the use of "paper bag" versus "paper sack" in different regions of the American Midwest.
• Bundle of Isoglosses: When several isoglosses coincide, they often form a dialect boundary. The Rhenish Fan, a transitional area between High German and Low German, is a classic example of such a boundary defined by a series of diverging isoglosses.
• Dialect Continuum or Dialect Chain: Refers to a range of dialects spoken across a geographical area, differing only slightly between adjacent areas but considerably between the ends of the continuum, where speakers might not understand each other.

Methods and Evolution of Dialect Geography

Traditional methods include postal questionnaires, trained observers, and recording consistent phonetic notation. Notable atlases include the Atlas Linguistique de la France (ALF) by Jules Gilliéron and Edmond Edmont, and the Linguistic Atlas of the United States and Canada (LAUSC). The Digitaler Luxemburgischer Sprachatlas (LuSA) is a modern digital initiative.

Informant selection traditionally focused on "non-mobile, male and older" rural speakers, considered the norm. However, this approach often overlooked a significant portion of the population, leading to the emergence of social dialectology, which emphasizes a broader range of social and geographical information.

Sociolinguistic Variation and Influencing Factors

Sociolinguists describe and explain sociolinguistic variation, which can occur at various levels of language, including vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar, politeness, and register. To conduct a sociolinguistic study, two key steps are necessary:

1. Clearly identify the linguistic variation involved (e.g., specific words, sounds, grammatical structures).
2. Clearly identify the social or non-linguistic factors that lead speakers to choose one linguistic form over another.

Janet Holmes highlights several social factors influencing language use:

• Participants: Who is speaking and to whom.
• Setting or social context: Where the interaction takes place.
• Topic: What is being discussed.
• Function: Why people are speaking (e.g., to ask for information, express emotions).

These "W-questions" provide clues to a speaker's social identity and influence the choice of language variety or code, a term sociolinguists use to refer to language in context.

Awareness and Appropriacy

Language offers multiple ways to express the same idea, such as using "lift" or "elevator," or variations in pronunciation like [h]-dropping, or grammatical differences like double negatives. The choice of which language variety to use in different situations is governed by an awareness of appropriacy and social norms.

Key Takeaways

• Sociolinguistics explores the intricate relationship between language and society, analyzing how social factors shape linguistic choices.
• Dialect geography, a foundational aspect, maps regional language variations through tools like isoglosses and dialect atlases.
• Modern sociolinguistics has broadened its scope beyond traditional rural informants to include a wider range of social and geographical data.
• Linguistic variation is influenced by "who," "to whom," "where," "what," and "why" of an interaction, dictating the appropriate language variety or code.