Dimensions in variationist sociolinguistics : a sociolinguistic investigation of language variation in Macau
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Authors
Botha, Werner
Issue Date
2011-11
Type
Dissertation
Language
en
Keywords
Language variation , Macau Cantonese , Social network approach , Constructionist approach , Linguistic variants , Variation in Chinese
Alternative Title
Sociolinguistic investigation of language variation in Macau
Abstract
At the very heart of variationist Sociolinguistics is the notion that language has an underlying
structure, and that this structure varies according to external linguistic variables such as age,
gender, social class, community membership, nationality, and so on. Specifically, this study
examines variation in initial and final segments, as well as sentence final particles in
Cantonese in Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR). Results of this study indicate that
external linguistic constraint categories play a role in the realization of how and when initial
and final segments, as well as sentence final particles are used in Macau Cantonese. Finally,
this dissertation illustrates that pragmatic functions in the systematic use of linguistic
variables requires explanations that draw from variationist sociolinguistic research that has an
ethnographic and interpretive basis.
Description
Citation
Botha, Werner (2011) Dimensions in variationist sociolinguistics : a sociolinguistic investigation of language variation in Macau, University of South Africa, Pretoria, <http://hdl.handle.net/10500/5724>