The aim of this paper is the examination of the word 'like' as a newcomer quotative in the English-speaking world and to test results from previous studies on 'like' as a quotative. Speakers always have several options to report something and they are free to choose from different quotatives or verba dicendi in order to be able to introduce dialogues. Over the last years the number of quotatives which are at speakers’ disposal increased as new quotatives came into being. This paper seeks to test latest findings and hypotheses about verba dicendi in general and the quotative like in particular. It does so using a qualitative analysis of subjects reporting a short scene from the TV show "Friends".
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Precautions for the Linguistic Study
2.1 How like was elicited in previous studies
2.2 The report of a short scene from a TV series to evoke the use of like as a quotative
2.3. The particular scene in detail
2.4 Reasons for choosing the scene
3. Description of the Linguistic Study
3.1 Procedure
3.2 The subject cohort
4. Results of the reports
4.1 Attitudinal Survey
5. Conclusion
6. References
Research Objectives and Thematic Focus
This paper examines the emergence and usage of the word "like" as a newcomer quotative in contemporary English, aiming to validate or refute existing sociolinguistic hypotheses through a qualitative study. By analyzing how native speakers report dialogues from a controlled TV series stimulus, the research investigates potential correlations between the use of "be + like" and variables such as gender, regional origin, and academic background, while also exploring speaker attitudes toward this linguistic innovation.
- The evolution and current prevalence of "like" as a verbum dicendi.
- Comparative analysis of "be + like" versus traditional quotatives like "to say".
- Sociolinguistic evaluation of gender and regional differences in usage.
- Subjective perceptions and stereotypes regarding users of "like" as a quotative.
- The impact of context, emotion, and dramatic effect on quotative choice.
Excerpt from the Book
2.3 The particular scene in detail
The chosen clip is a scene from ‘Friends’ season 8 episode 23. The episode is called: “The one where Rachel has a baby” and as the name already suggests one of the female characters, Rachel Green, is going to have a baby with her friend/boyfriend Ross Geller. The scene starts with Ross pushing Rachel, who is seated in a wheelchair, into the waiting hall of a hospital. Whereas he seems to be really excited about the fact, that they reached the hospital so quickly, Rachel appears to be slightly annoyed and mocks Ross by ironically saying that the hard part is truly over. He remains undisturbed and praises himself for being so quick. In the meantime their friends Monica and Phoebe come around the corner and express their joy that Ross and Rachel finally arrived. Ross is astonished and wants to know why his sister Monica and his friend Phoebe could be in the hospital so quickly. Monica then dryly says that she and Phoebe took a taxi and wants to know whether Ross and Rachel did walk. In that instant Chandler and Joey (some other friends of Ross and Rachel) come around the other corner of the waiting hall and also express their joy that Ross and Rachel finally arrived. Ross then is asking if there would be a magic tunnel to the hospital as he clearly cannot understand why everyone was in the hospital before him and Rachel. Rachel again is annoyed by him and wheels herself over to the reception saying that Ross can stand there and talk while in the meantime she would have the baby. He then accompanies her and introduces her and himself to the nurse at the desk. The nurse welcomes them and explains them that there would be a semi-private labor room prepared for them. Rachel interrupts her and tells her that she asked for a private room. The nurse then responds that she knows that but that they do not have any private rooms available at the moment.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter outlines the research aim to investigate "like" as a newcomer quotative and discusses the necessity of testing previous linguistic findings.
2. Precautions for the Linguistic Study: This section details the methodology used in previous studies and justifies the selection of a "Friends" episode as a stimulus to elicit natural speech.
3. Description of the Linguistic Study: This chapter explains the research procedure, including participant instructions and the structure of the qualitative interview and attitudinal survey.
4. Results of the reports: This section presents the empirical data gathered, analyzing the frequency of "like" as a quotative alongside regional and gender-specific trends, and discusses findings from the attitudinal survey.
5. Conclusion: This final chapter synthesizes the research findings, contrasts them with previous literature, and acknowledges limitations while suggesting directions for future studies.
6. References: This chapter provides a comprehensive list of all academic sources cited in the paper.
Keywords
Quotatives, verbum dicendi, English-speaking world, sociolinguistic variation, "like", "to say", reported speech, qualitative study, language attitudes, gender differences, regional variations, language change, "be + like", discourse marker, TV series.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper investigates the linguistic phenomenon of using "like" as a newcomer quotative (the "be like" construction) in English.
What are the primary areas of research?
The focus lies on usage patterns, the social and regional distribution of the quotative, and the attitudes native speakers hold toward it.
What is the main research question?
The study aims to determine if previous linguistic findings—such as gender-specific usage or the association of "like" with certain social groups—can be confirmed through a new qualitative investigation.
Which scientific method is employed?
A qualitative approach is used, involving native speakers who retell a scene from a TV series, followed by an attitudinal survey to collect self-assessments and perceptions.
What is discussed in the main part?
The main part covers the methodology of stimulus selection, the analysis of reported speech transcripts, and the interpretation of participant attitudes toward "like" as a verbum dicendi.
What key terms characterize the study?
Key terms include "quotative," "verbum dicendi," "sociolinguistic variation," "language attitudes," and "reported speech."
Why was the TV series "Friends" chosen for the study?
It was chosen because the scenes provide a realistic, conversational context that can elicit natural speech without requiring previous knowledge of the series.
How do the results compare with the work of Buchstaller?
While some trends were confirmed, such as the association of "like" with young people, the study notably contradicts certain stereotypes regarding the lack of social awareness among younger speakers.
- Citation du texte
- Isabelle Steinmetz (Auteur), 2014, The newcomer quotative 'like', Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/354243
