Outline
Theories mentioned in essay pertaining to women
Explanation of TRAP and DRESS vowels-Woods
Explanation of quote
Explanation of MOUTH vowel- Figure 1c
Critical evaluation of the methodology
Explain theories used in the article
Decrease in openness of MOUTH diphthong explained - Woods versus Labov
Sociolinguistics: Formation and Development of New Zealand English
Theories mentioned in essay pertaining to women
It was evident that the author attempted an eclectic theoretical approach into interpreting the emergence of changes affecting formation and development of New Zealand English patterns, and roles of females in this evolution. Precisely, the claim that heterogeneous structure is implicit in language change, formed the premise of all theoretical representations within the article thereafter (Woods, 1997). Importantly, women speakers are classified theoretically as being more linguistically insecure; conservative and they utilize linguistic variations which are more orthodox .Consequently, they play the leading role in linguistic change (Woods, 1997).
Explanation of TRAP and DRESS vowels-Woods
Woods continues to argue that the development of TRAP and DRESS vowels is a situation of rising instead of “failure to lower’ (Woods, 1997) because they are not innovations, but colonial lag and evidence provided in an analysis of their diachronic development is supportive of this hypothesis.
Explanation of quote
The traditional method of using "the present to explain the past" is inappropriate for the examination of “contact varieties" (Woods 1997:119); relates to the difference of sociolinguists as a science apart from social sciences, especially, sociology which takes into account historical data to inform present day phenomenon. Contact varieties are culturally distinct groups that are not limited to time, but rather affected by cultural diversity as in dialect and accent formation.
Explanation of MOUTH vowel- Figure 1c
Figure 1c reveals that men have a higher MOUTH index than women during a second generation analysis. From Woods’ (1997) interpretation this represents a ‘reversal of gender related trends across the generation’ (Woods, 1997). Speculations are that ‘the MOUTH diphthong’ (Woods, 1997) might have gained momentum over the years indicative of first generation women being the main initiators of linguistic changes in New Zealand during that era of development (Woods, 1997).
Critical evaluation of the methodology
The aim of this research is to assess roles of men and women in the formation and development of English as a language used in New Zealand over time. A theoretical framework was established to guide and interpret data retrieved. Woods (1997) adapted an eclectic approach by referencing a number of theoretical perspectives in the comparative analysis of male and female contributions over generations.
Explain theories used in the article
Early in the introduction Woods references Weinreich, Labvo and Herzog (1968) to explain the theoretical assumption that problems relating to linguistic progression and language orientation can be altered if the association between structure and homogeneity is destroyed (Woods, 1997). Subsequently, drawing from Labvo it was confirmed that ‘generational change’ rather than ‘communal change’ (Woods, 1997) was the main theoretical perspective advanced by the researcher.
Decrease in openness of MOUTH diphthong and stigmatized variants explained -
Woods versus Labov
Woods explains that decrease in openness of MOUTH among females is ‘a product of innovative rising’ (Woods, 1997). Further it has been clarified that vowels in TRAP and DRESS when viewed from the perspective of innovation becomes easier to articulate. Prevailing social conditions were not exempted from influencing the decrease.
Labov’s (1980) stigmatized variants posit that while innovation may be a leading factor influencing gender changes, it was important to identify the social determinants of such gender differences, since the variation pattern observed represents an analysis of mouth; the use of TRAP vowel and relativity of change emerging form DRESS (Woods,1997). From Woods(1997) point of view this was irrelevant for the purpose of the research.
References
Woods Nicola (1997). “The formation and development of New Zealand English: Integration of
Gender- related variation and linguistic change.” Journal of
Sociolinguistics 1(1), 95- 125
