Topic > Study of Language: Phonological Variation - 1401

The study of linguistic variation has been a common area of ​​research for many linguists past and present. One specific reason was to collect and compile valuable data from both men and women in different institutional settings. For example, O'barr and Atkins (1980) used Robin Lakoff's essay on “women's language” to study linguistic variation in a specific institutional context such as the courtroom in America and their sex-related differences ( p. 451). On the other hand, Eckert (2011) focuses on sociolinguistic variation or is also often referred to as “accent”. He describes this concept as phonological variation or nuances of pronunciation that reflect significant information about characteristics of the speaker's social identity, class, age, ethnicity, and gender (p.57). In this study, the researcher incorporates and compares the above key characteristics through an analyzed thirty-minute conversation between three women and two men. Furthermore, participants in this study displayed and expressed their unique linguistic variations through tag questions, the use of so and very, and empty adjectives. This particular conversational study consisted of three women, Amanda, Ker, and Sarah, and two men, Carlos and Miguel. Amanda is 19 years old and identifies as Caucasian. She is a full-time student at Fresno State and is currently pursuing her education in social work. She is a student with special needs and is very shy in class, but sociable outside. Ker is 22 years old, a full-time student at Fresno State pursuing her studies in biology, identifies as Hmong, and is very traditional and family oriented. Sarah is 20 years old, a full-time student and... middle of paper ......thirty minute conversation between three women and two men. Furthermore, participants in this study displayed and expressed their unique linguistic variations through tag questions, the use of so and much, and empty adjectives in a one-on-one conversation through a specific institutional study of a diverse group with both males and females . This study demonstrated that institutional setting and context play an important role in the gender conversation evoked by social identity because both males and females were neutral in their conversations and neither the male nor the female believe they are establishing a dominance, but rather simply to establish a connection to perform a simple task. Some people may see males as promoting “helpless language,” but in the study, it was females who were the dominant users of this type of characteristic in conversations..