This paper is going to deal with the social differentiation in lexical choice in the context of apologising. More precisely, its purpose is the analysis of the correlation of social class and the use of the lexical variants 'pardon', 'sorry', 'excuse me' and 'what'. Another aim of this paper is to prove that at least two groups, in this case members of social classses in England, are distinctly different in their usage of apologies. Apart from that, it is going to figure out whether the variant 'pardon' is socially stigmatised as an underclass utterance, as stated in the popular book "Watching the English" by Kate Fox.
The first chapter is dedicated to explain why some words are related to social classes. This is going to be approached with two important anthropological works that deal with the issue. Further, it is going to examine why speakers behave class-conscious in conversational situations or not, and how this is linked to their active language planning. Following this, the method of social stratification is explained. This chapter focuses on the division of society into classes and on defining a class scheme which could serve as the most reasonable for the analysis. Chapter 3 is going to introduce the method of research of the present study, a quantitative analysis, and explain why this approach had been chosen. Further, it is going to present the layout of the questionnaire. In chapter 4, the results of the quantitative analysis are going to be presented and interpreted in order to approach the research question of this paper. For reasons of simplification, this term paper is going to use the male form of a speaker and a participant.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Theoretical Background
- U- and Non-U-words
- Class-conscious Speech Behaviour
- Class-Stratification
- Method of Research
- Results and Interpretation
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper analyzes the correlation between social class and lexical choice in apologies within English-speaking society, specifically focusing on the words "pardon," "sorry," "excuse me," and "what." The study aims to demonstrate distinct differences in apology usage between social classes in England and investigate whether "pardon" is socially stigmatized as a lower-class utterance, as suggested by Kate Fox.
- Social class differentiation in lexical choice.
- The social stigma associated with specific vocabulary (e.g., "pardon").
- Class-conscious speech behavior and its impact on language use.
- Analysis of apology language as a marker of social class.
- Comparison of historical and contemporary perspectives on class and language.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the research paper, establishing the premise that spoken language reveals information about a speaker's social class. The chapter highlights the central research questions: analyzing the correlation between social class and lexical choice in apologies (specifically "pardon," "sorry," "excuse me," and "what") and determining whether "pardon" is socially stigmatized as a lower-class expression. It briefly outlines the structure of the paper, previewing the upcoming chapters dedicated to theoretical background, methodology, results, and interpretation.
Theoretical Background: This chapter delves into existing sociolinguistic research on the connection between social factors and lexical choice. It begins with Alan C. Ross's 1959 essay, "U and Non-U," which categorizes words as either upper-class ("U") or lower-middle-class ("Non-U"). The chapter critically examines Ross's classification of "pardon" as a Non-U word, comparing it to Kate Fox's contemporary observations in "Watching the English." Fox's work presents a more nuanced view, acknowledging that class distinctions in language are not always binary and that the use of certain words can signal subtle class aspirations or even backfire. The chapter establishes a theoretical foundation for the study, highlighting the complexities of class-based language use.
Class-Stratification: This chapter (implied from the Table of Contents, details not provided in text) would likely focus on establishing a framework for classifying social class in the context of this study. It would define the methodology for categorizing participants into social classes, outlining the criteria used and explaining the rationale for choosing a specific class scheme. The importance of defining social class and the challenges in doing so accurately would likely be emphasized. This chapter is crucial for providing the context for the analysis of the data collected in later stages.
Method of Research: This chapter (implied from the Table of Contents, details not provided in text) would describe the research methodology employed in the study. Given the mention of a quantitative analysis, this section would explain the specific quantitative methods used, including the design and structure of the questionnaire. The rationale behind the chosen approach, the target population, the data collection methods and the procedures for data analysis would be detailed. The chapter would justify the quantitative approach and address potential limitations or biases.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Sociolinguistics, social class, lexical choice, apologies, U and Non-U words, class-conscious speech, language variation, social stratification, quantitative analysis, Kate Fox, Alan C. Ross, "pardon," "sorry," "excuse me," "what."
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Social Class and Lexical Choice in Apologies
What is the main topic of this research paper?
This research paper analyzes the correlation between social class and lexical choice in apologies within English-speaking society. It specifically focuses on the words "pardon," "sorry," "excuse me," and "what," aiming to demonstrate differences in apology usage between social classes in England and investigate the potential social stigma associated with "pardon."
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
Key themes include social class differentiation in lexical choice, the social stigma associated with specific vocabulary (like "pardon"), class-conscious speech behavior and its impact on language use, apology language as a marker of social class, and a comparison of historical and contemporary perspectives on class and language.
What theoretical framework does the paper utilize?
The paper draws upon existing sociolinguistic research, particularly Alan C. Ross's "U and Non-U" classification of words and Kate Fox's contemporary observations on class distinctions in language. It critically examines the categorization of "pardon" as a Non-U word and considers the complexities of class-based language use.
What is the methodology employed in the research?
While specifics aren't detailed in the provided preview, the research involves a quantitative analysis. The preview mentions a chapter dedicated to the "Method of Research" which would explain the specific quantitative methods, questionnaire design, data collection procedures, and data analysis techniques.
What are the main findings (as previewed)?
The preview doesn't present specific results. However, it sets the stage for an analysis demonstrating differences in the use of the four apology words ("pardon," "sorry," "excuse me," and "what") across different social classes and investigating whether "pardon" carries a social stigma.
What is the structure of the research paper?
The paper is structured into several chapters: an Introduction, a chapter on Theoretical Background (including U and Non-U words and class-conscious speech), a chapter on Class-Stratification, a chapter detailing the Method of Research, and finally, a chapter on Results and Interpretation. The preview provides summaries of the Introduction and Theoretical Background chapters.
What are the keywords associated with this research?
Keywords include Sociolinguistics, social class, lexical choice, apologies, U and Non-U words, class-conscious speech, language variation, social stratification, quantitative analysis, Kate Fox, Alan C. Ross, "pardon," "sorry," "excuse me," and "what."
Who are the key researchers referenced?
The paper primarily references Alan C. Ross (for his work on U and Non-U words) and Kate Fox (for her contemporary observations on class and language in England).
What is the target audience of this research?
Given the academic nature of the text and its focus on sociolinguistics, the target audience is likely academics, researchers, and students in fields such as linguistics, sociology, and sociolinguistics.
- Quote paper
- Diana Kiesinger (Author), 2015, Lexical Choice in Apologies as Markers of Social Class in England, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/313937