Linguistic variation in Indian English : a sociolinguistic study
The present study responds to the longstanding need within the field of applied sociolinguistics for a better understanding of L2 variability. The study is concerned with the nature of phonological variation in the use of English by Indians. It is an attempt to use sociolinguistic methodology In examInIng a second language situation and to investigate: 1. Whether L2 variability is conditioned by linguistic constraints, and 2. Whether there is any social significance associated with L2 variability. The study is based on the data collected from 44 educated speakers of English in Aligarh (North India). The data was analysed by means of a variety of statistical and computer based programmes. Forty five minutes long interview was conducted by means of a questionnaire. The tasks, ranging from the informal to the most formal, were: (i) casual speech, (ii) short responses or interview style, (iii) reading passage and sentences, and (iv) reading minimal paIrs. There was, of course, no way to eliminate completely the influence of the interview situation, which generally causes speech to be more formal than casual. However, a number of techniques were used to enable the informants to relax and speak more casually. The
Khan, Farhat
Linguistics
Linguistic variation in Indian English : a sociolinguistic study. The present study responds to the longstanding need within the field of applied sociolinguistics for a better understanding of L2 variability. The study is concerned with the nature of phonological variation in the use of English by Indians. It is an attempt to use sociolinguistic methodology In examInIng a second language situation and to investigate: 1. Whether L2 variability is conditioned by linguistic constraints, and 2. Whether there is any social significance associated with L2 variability. The study is based on the data collected from 44 educated speakers of English in Aligarh (North India). The data was analysed by means of a variety of statistical and computer based programmes. Forty five minutes long interview was conducted by means of a questionnaire. The tasks, ranging from the informal to the most formal, were: (i) casual speech, (ii) short responses or interview style, (iii) reading passage and sentences, and (iv) reading minimal paIrs. There was, of course, no way to eliminate completely the influence of the interview situation, which generally causes speech to be more formal than casual. However, a number of techniques were used to enable the informants to relax and speak more casually. The
linguistic_variation indian english sociolinguistic_study present_study respond longstanding need within_field apply sociolinguistics well variability study concerned_nature phonological_variation use english indians attempt use sociolinguistic examining second_language situation investigate whether variability condition linguistic_constraint whether social_significance associate variability study_base data_collect educated speaker english north india data_analyse mean variety statistical computer base programme forty long interview_conduct mean_questionnaire task range informal formal casual speech short response interview style iii reading passage sentence reading minimal course way eliminate completely influence interview situation generally cause speech formal casual however number technique_use enable informant relax speak casually