SReader

1- With reference from several authors and linguistics, how can the speaker-design approach be
applied in explaining individual expressions and identity?
Zhang is one researcher who have explained the application of the speaker-design approach.
According to him, this approach has been profound in breaking down the original dichotomy that
exists amid the variations in styles and the social expressions. The article that he wrote discusses on
the dynamism of identity as well as all the pertinent aspects that are permanent in the individual
identity.
2- In understanding why a speaker says something in a particular way at a specific time, why is the
style used important?
To gain an understanding of the expressions and words used by a speaker at a particular time, style
can be seen to be important as it reflects what the individual speaker does with a language in
relation to other people. Style is also important in this case as it reflects the association of the
linguistic features that exist within different social groups and as such, the speakers can choose
which one to use while communicating.
3- Audiences are known to have different designs that denote the way that these audiences speak.
Can you identify the different characteristics of the gist of an audience design?
The gist of the audience design can be highlighted to be having a particular style which is what the
individuals does with a language when speaking with other people. The view of style by individuals
typically relate to their view of personhood. Secondly, style derives its meaning from the
association of the linguistic features that prevail in different social groups. Thirdly, individuals
typically design their style to be able to respond to the audience. The audience design is also noted
to apply to all levels and codes of language types.
4- In explaining the monophtongization, how does the model developed by lindblom apply to
expound this phenomenon?
Lindblom model suggests that there exists a hypo and hyper speech. The speakers are identified to
make an adoption of a clear speaking style in different conditions whereby there could be issues in
perception. When the hearer has fewer obstacles to perception, then, a clear speech and all its
features will be seen to be absent. This is important in understanding the speech perception and
the frequency that then affects monophtongization.
Martínez, G. A. (2003). Perceptions of dialect in a changing society: Folk linguistics along the
Texas-Mexico border. Journal of Sociolinguistics, 7(1), 38-49.

1- What are the relevant theoretical issues for sociolinguistics?

The salient theoretical issue for the sociolinguistics include the porousness of the nation-state
boundary. Secondly, the paradoxical state of affairs between regions is also a matter of concern
among the sociolinguistics. In some contexts, the perception of a dialect area is also necessary
in denoting the theoretical issues.

2- What are some of the considerations to make to understand the border sociolinguistics?

First and foremost, it is important to shed light on the way in which border residents construct
the dialect perceptions. More importantly, it is also necessary to make a consideration for the
social values that make underpin for the constructions of the dialect perceptions. The
perceptions of a dialect are important than the perceptions of people and this is an important
consideration to make in understanding the sociolinguistics.

3- How are dialect perceptions formed in the society?

In most of the societies, the dialect perceptions are always couched in the different societal
notions. These include the notions of ethnic, the political and the territorial boundaries. But as
far as boundaries are concerned, these are constantly re-configured and challenged in those
environment that have a border. However, in these situations, there exists constant conflict as
well as resolution.

4- What are the dialect characteristics of the younger generations in most societies?

The younger generation are noted to be marking a different perception of new dialects. This
implies that they are more likely to view a greater degree of likeness of different languages.
More to that, the younger generations are also noted to be on the forefront for the perceptual
changes in the society and they are in the frontline for the social changes in the community. As
they have formed the explosive demographic growth in the city and this group takes the
dialects seriously as they join the workforces.

Baugh, J. (2004). Ebonics and its controversy. Language in the USA: Themes for the twenty-
first century, 305-318.

1- Briefly describe the origin of Ebonics

The links between the Americans and African Americans are formed in the legacies of slave
trade. The African Americans were educational legacies who wanted equal justice and
education to all. The first definition of the Ebonics was a continuum that included the
communicative competence of the West Africans, the Caribbean and US slave descendants of
all the African origin.
2- How did Ebonics gain a global attention?

Ebonics gained a global attention as of 18th December 1996. This was the day that the Oakland,
California school passed a resolution declaring Ebonics to be a predominantly primary language
of the many American students in the school. With the linguistic assertion that resulted, it set
off a wave of perception among the students and the African communities where they were all
speaking English. The ideology spread fast and the people even today, they try to speak through
Ebonics.

3- How the Oakland educators did adopt and promote Ebonics?

These educators adopted the strategies to adopt Ebonics. They did this by encouraging the
students to use the language that was spoken by the African American students. By doing this,
they tried to help the students in advancing the Standard English proficiency. They made sure
that the people who had heard of this term before were now ready to apply its meaning in their
daily interactions.

4- What are the different definitions of Ebonics?

Since there were only few people who had heard of the term Ebonics before it appeared in
Oakland, different definitions were hence used? Ebonics was a resolution that was genetically
based language favor and it became more than a mere dialect of English. The different
definitions started with recapping the major definitional trends as the language was developing
interest and capturing the attention of many people. Ebonics was also found to be an
Afrocentric language. It was found to be unrelated to English genetically and it was found to be
a mere synonym that meant Black English.