16.1402, Qs: Linguistically Significant Films;American Dialects

[LINGUIST List]

LINGUIST List: Vol-16-1402. Mon May 02 2005. ISSN: 1068 - 4875.

Subject: 16.1402, Qs: Linguistically Significant Films;American Dialects

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===========================Directory==============================

1)
Date: 29-Apr-2005
From: Michael Barrie < mike.barrie at utoronto.ca >
Subject: Linguistically Significant Films

2)
Date: 29-Apr-2005
From: Stan Anonby < stan-sandy_anonby at SIL.ORG >
Subject: American Dialects

	
-------------------------Message 1 ----------------------------------
Date: Mon, 02 May 2005 22:55:23
From: Michael Barrie < mike.barrie at utoronto.ca >
Subject: Linguistically Significant Films


A while ago, a list of linguistically significant films was posted on
Linguist List.

http://www.linguistlist.org/issues/7/7-1708.html

This was in Nov. 1996, thus in need of an update. I would be interested in
compiling a list of more recent films that we can add to this list (and
older films that were missed last time). Also, if anyone knows any
linguistically significant novels, I would be happy to receive those, as
well, as it fits in this general category. I will post a summary.

Linguistic Field(s): General Linguistics



	
-------------------------Message 2 ----------------------------------
Date: Mon, 02 May 2005 22:55:26
From: Stan Anonby < stan-sandy_anonby at SIL.ORG >
Subject: American Dialects

	

Hello All,

I have a question, which came to my mind while watching the TV
show "Home Improvements". The show is set in Detroit. Once in a while,
there are a group of Caucasian construction people who appear on the
show. They talk in what sounds like to me to be a southern accent. This is
obviously supposed to be very funny. I'm not American, so I don't
understand all the nuances of this. I've got some theories.

1) Uneducated Caucasians in the US talk like Southerners.
2) Caucasians who do manual labor are often Southerners.
3) Americans find it very funny to hear someone talk in a southern  dialect
on TV. So "Home Improvements" isn't portraying language as it is actually
spoken by Caucasian construction workers in Detroit. It's just a put-on for
laughs.

I realize it's not too easy to explain why something is funny, but does
anyone want to give it a shot?

Stan Anonby

Linguistic Field(s): Sociolinguistics

Subject Language(s): English (ENG)








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