22.1015, Diss: Socioling: Bakht: 'Lexical Variation and the Negotiation of ...'

Wed Mar 2 16:07:03 UTC 2011

LINGUIST List: Vol-22-1015. Wed Mar 02 2011. ISSN: 1068 - 4875.

Subject: 22.1015, Diss: Socioling: Bakht: 'Lexical Variation and the Negotiation of ...'

Moderators: Anthony Aristar, Eastern Michigan U <aristar at linguistlist.org>
            Helen Aristar-Dry, Eastern Michigan U <hdry at linguistlist.org>

Reviews: Veronika Drake, U of Wisconsin-Madison  
Monica Macaulay, U of Wisconsin-Madison  
Rajiv Rao, U of Wisconsin-Madison  
Joseph Salmons, U of Wisconsin-Madison  
Anja Wanner, U of Wisconsin-Madison  
       <reviews at linguistlist.org> 

Homepage: http://linguistlist.org/

The LINGUIST List is funded by Eastern Michigan University, 
and donations from subscribers and publishers.

Editor for this issue: Mfon Udoinyang <mfon at linguistlist.org>
================================================================  

To post to LINGUIST, use our convenient web form at
http://linguistlist.org/LL/posttolinguist.cfm.

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

1)
Date: 01-Mar-2011
From: Maryam Bakht [maryam.bakht at gmail.com]
Subject: Lexical Variation and the Negotiation of Linguistic Style in a Long Island Middle School

-------------------------Message 1 ---------------------------------- 
Date: Wed, 02 Mar 2011 11:04:43
From: Maryam Bakht [maryam.bakht at gmail.com]
Subject: Lexical Variation and the Negotiation of Linguistic Style in a Long Island Middle School

E-mail this message to a friend:
http://linguistlist.org/issues/emailmessage/verification.cfm?iss=22-1015.html&submissionid=4500035&topicid=14&msgnumber=1

Institution: New York University 
Program: Department of Linguistics 
Dissertation Status: Completed 
Degree Date: 2010 

Author: Maryam Bakht

Dissertation Title: Lexical Variation and the Negotiation of Linguistic Style
in a Long Island Middle School 

Dissertation URL:  http://www.maryambakht.com/research

Linguistic Field(s): Sociolinguistics

Subject Language(s): English (eng)

Dissertation Director(s):
John Victor Singler
Mary Bucholtz
Gregory R. Guy
Ray C. Dougherty
Renee Blake

Dissertation Abstract:

For many American youths, school is not only an academic endeavor, but a
social one. This study identifies the ways in which speakers use lexical
choices in the creation of their linguistic identity and style. This
dissertation centers on a group of students at Henry Fleming Middle School,
located on the eastern end of Long Island. The students, aged 12-14, were
observed in school from the beginning of seventh grade to eighth grade
graduation. 

This study focuses on two lexical features in American English: quotatives
(particularly the use of 'like' and 'all') and adverbial intensifiers
('very', 'really', and 'so'). The reasons for choosing these particular
linguistic features are twofold: 1) both adverbial intensifiers and
quotatives are lexical features that are stylistic markers for the students
at HFMS in that they are both socially salient and have social meanings
associated with their use; 2) both variables are representative of what are
called linguistic changes in progress.  (Among the intensifiers, the
increased frequency of 'so' represents the innovation.) Such changes carry
the sociolinguistic assumption that younger generations will be 'leaders'
in adopting the new variants of the feature.

This dissertation highlights the ways in which different variationist
frameworks, when considered in concert, can give a fuller, more integrative
sociolinguistic analysis. Using the data for quotatives, I utilize
different frameworks, addressing the ways that the speakers are organized
and considered. Rather than argue that the frameworks arrive at different
sociolinguistic conclusions, I draw on the data to show that the differing
frameworks are, in fact, compatible.

In discussing linguistic styles in this school, I assert that the ways in
which students use these linguistic practices stylistically are both
locally and socially situated. Popularity and the linguistic practices that
accompany it are a consequence of the orientation to what I call a
'lifestyle index', which regards the idealized embodied personae to which
the students aspire as well as factors such as place identity. Using
contrastive linguistic styles, the students assert group identity in ways
that create solidarity among the members of the group and index social
meaning interpretable by the population at large. 

<pre>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This Year the LINGUIST List hopes to raise $67,000. This money will go to help 
keep the List running by supporting all of our Student Editors for the coming year.

See below for donation instructions, and don't forget to check out Fund 
Drive 2011 site!

http://linguistlist.org/fund-drive/2011/

There are many ways to donate to LINGUIST!

You can donate right now using our secure credit card form at  
https://linguistlist.org/donation/donate/donate1.cfm

Alternatively you can also pledge right now and pay later. To do so, go to: 
https://linguistlist.org/donation/pledge/pledge1.cfm

For all information on donating and pledging, including information on how to 
donate by check, money order, or wire transfer, please visit: 
http://linguistlist.org/donation/

The LINGUIST List is under the umbrella of Eastern Michigan University and as 
such can receive donations through the EMU Foundation, which is a registered 
501(c) Non Profit organization. Our Federal Tax number is 38-6005986. These 
donations can be offset against your federal and sometimes your state tax return 
(U.S. tax payers only). For more information visit the IRS Web-Site, or contact 
your financial advisor.

Many companies also offer a gift matching program, such that they will match 
any gift you make to a non-profit organization. Normally this entails your 
contacting your human resources department and sending us a form that the 
EMU Foundation fills in and returns to your employer. This is generally a simple 
administrative procedure that doubles the value of your gift to LINGUIST, without 
costing you an extra penny. Please take a moment to check if your company 
operates such a program.

Thank you very much for your support of LINGUIST!
</pre>

-----------------------------------------------------------
LINGUIST List: Vol-22-1015	
----------------------------------------------------------