One hundred years ago, the quotative “be like” did not exist. Today, “like” ranks within the top ten words of linguistic corpora of teen language and “be like” is the most favored quotative of speakers younger than forty. Hence, the paper focuses on the quotative “be like” and its remarkable pathway of an emerging new linguistic feature of the mid-20th century to one of the core features of teen language and a potentially new standard quotative of the English language in general.
Linguistic evidence for the rise of “be like” presented in this paper is mainly based on the findings of Canadian linguist Sali A. Tagliamonte who analyzed teen language on the basis of several corpora over the past decades. Her 2016 publication Teen Talk sets her apart from many other sociolinguistic studies on the quotative “be like” as a majority of them have been published in the late 20th century, rendering them partly out of date as “be like” is still on the rise. Tagliamonte’s work not only offers an insight into historic data but also takes the linguistic developments of the early 2000s into account which allows a timely assessment of the seemingly ever-changing quotative “be like”. In the second section of this paper, other linguists’ recent study results will be taken into account to assess “be like’s” status as a quotative of the 21st century. In a third step, differing sociolinguistic implications regarding “be like” will be illustrated by examining the sociolinguistic implications of “be like”.
The paper hence aims at approaching possible answers to the question of how the rise of “be like” can be explained by illustrating different stages of development hinged on various generations of speakers based on Tagliamonte’s research. The current status of “be like” is assessed and put into context with popular culture and social media. The emergence of “be like” will be put into context with stereotypes about teenagers’ impact on language change as well as with the so-called Valley Girl phenomenon. By examining the sociolinguistic implications linked to “be like’s” current popularity, it will be shown that “be like” is not simply a phenomenon of teen language but might instead settle within the English grammar of the 21st century.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Evolution of the quotative be like based on Tagliamonte
- 2.1 Early use of be like by speakers born in the 1950s and 1960s
- 2.2 Be like on the rise: speakers born in the 1970s and the teenagers of the 1980s
- 2.3 Be like-natives: speakers born in the 1980s and 1990s
- 2.4 How can the rise of be like be explained?
- 3 The quotative be like in the 21st century
- 3.1 Assessment of be like's current status in the English language
- 3.2 Be like in slang and popular culture
- 4 Be like and language ideology
- 4.1 Teenagers are overusing be like
- 4.2 Be like stems from the Californian Valley Girls
- 5 Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to explore the rise of the quotative "be like" in English, focusing on its evolution across different generations and its sociolinguistic implications. It examines the historical development of this linguistic feature, its current usage, and its relationship to stereotypes surrounding teenage language.
- The historical evolution of "be like" as a quotative verb.
- The role of generational factors in the adoption and spread of "be like".
- The current status of "be like" in contemporary English.
- The sociolinguistic stereotypes associated with the use of "be like".
- The relationship between "be like" and popular culture.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1 Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the context for the study of the quotative "be like," highlighting its rapid rise in popularity, particularly among younger speakers. It introduces Sali A. Tagliamonte's research as the primary source of linguistic evidence and outlines the paper's objectives: to trace the development of "be like," analyze its current status, and explore its connection to sociolinguistic stereotypes.
2 Evolution of the quotative be like based on Tagliamonte: This chapter delves into Tagliamonte's research, focusing on her analysis of "be like" across different generations using data from various corpora. It examines the generational shift in the use of quotative verbs, showing a gradual increase in "be like" usage from the 1970s onwards, contrasting it with the prevalence of "say" in older generations. The chapter also notes the different ways "be like" is used, such as quoting sounds, gestures, or expressions, and highlights the importance of Tagliamonte's longitudinal approach to understanding the dynamic nature of language change.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
quotative be like, teen language, language change, sociolinguistics, generational differences, language variation, Sali A. Tagliamonte, popular culture, slang, language ideology, stereotypes.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Study of the Quotative "Be Like"
What is the main topic of this paper?
This paper explores the rise and evolution of the quotative verb "be like" in English. It examines its historical development across different generations, its current usage, and its relationship to sociolinguistic stereotypes and popular culture.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The key themes include the historical evolution of "be like," the role of generational factors in its adoption and spread, its current status in contemporary English, sociolinguistic stereotypes associated with its use, and its connection to popular culture.
Whose research is central to this study?
The research of Sali A. Tagliamonte serves as the primary source of linguistic evidence for this paper, providing data on the use of "be like" across different generations.
How does the paper trace the evolution of "be like"?
The paper traces the evolution of "be like" by examining its usage across different generations, from speakers born in the 1950s and 1960s to those born in the 1980s and 1990s. It utilizes Tagliamonte's research to analyze this generational shift and the changing contexts in which "be like" is employed.
What is the current status of "be like" in English?
The paper assesses the current status of "be like" in contemporary English, examining its prevalence in slang, popular culture, and everyday speech. It analyzes how its usage might be perceived and interpreted within different social contexts.
What sociolinguistic stereotypes are associated with "be like"?
The paper explores sociolinguistic stereotypes associated with the use of "be like," particularly the common perception of it as "teenager slang" and its association with specific groups or regions (e.g., Californian Valley Girls).
What is the significance of Tagliamonte's longitudinal approach?
Tagliamonte's longitudinal approach is crucial because it allows for the analysis of language change over time, providing a detailed picture of the gradual increase in the use of "be like" across different generations.
What are the chapter summaries provided?
The chapter summaries offer a concise overview of each section of the paper. Chapter 1 introduces the topic and outlines the objectives. Chapter 2 delves into Tagliamonte's research on the generational evolution of "be like". The paper concludes with a summary of findings.
What are the keywords associated with this study?
Keywords include: quotative be like, teen language, language change, sociolinguistics, generational differences, language variation, Sali A. Tagliamonte, popular culture, slang, language ideology, and stereotypes.
- Citar trabajo
- Leona Sedlaczek (Autor), 2020, The rise of the quotative "be like" and sociolinguistic stereotypes amongst young speakers, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/977019
