What is linguistics Linguistics is the scientific study

What is linguistics? • Linguistics is the scientific study of language • Are any of the following sentences incorrect? o We ain’t got no money. o Money have any we don’t. o We’ve no money. • Linguists don’t judge language; we study how people actually use language. o This is a social science class, not an English class! o We are all linguistic experts!

What is language? Language is something people DO! ◦ It’s a practice and a form of human action, not just a set of rules or a neutral way of communicating thoughts. ◦ Language changes ◦ Language varies ◦ Language isn’t just language. It’s also about our bodies, our clothes, and other symbols and material resources

Language and different kinds of cool How cool is this video? IS it cool? What kinds of cool does Taylor “do” in this video? What styles? ◦ How many different styles do you notice? ◦ How does she use language to perform these different styles? ◦ How does she use other resources (clothes, movements, even people) to do these different styles?

Hella cool And to the fella over there with the hella good hair Won't you come on over baby we could shake, shake

Linguistic variation in California Draw and write on your map ◦ How would you divide it up? ◦ How would you describe the ways people use language in each part of California?

From http: //www. pbs. org/speak/speech/prejudice/attitudes/

What is a community? A group of people who: ◦ Participate in shared, repeated activities ◦ Share practices and some values COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE (Co. Ps) ◦ Use language in similar, specialized ways

Linguistic variation in your life Zoom in ◦ Sketch some kind of map or picture of the different spaces and Co. Ps in your life ◦ How do you use language in each space and each Co. P?

Assignment: Linguistic landscapes For Monday: Bring in a picture, word, phrase, instagram, artifact, or anything else that you think shows one of your linguistic styles or how you use language in one of your Co. Ps ◦ Be prepared to talk a bit about what you brought. Why did you choose it? What kind of language does it represent?