H-Dropping as indicator of independent social variables

Table of Contents

1. INTRODUCTION

2. AIM OF STUDY

3. METHODOLOGY

4. H- DROPPING

4.1. GENERAL DEFINITION

4.2. THE HISTORICAL SITUATION

4.3. STIGMATISATION IN THE PAST AND PRESENT

5. INDEPENDENT SOCIAL VARIABLES

5.1. SOCIAL CLASS AND ITS CORRELATION WITH EDUCATION AND OCCUPATION

5.2. SOCIAL CLASS AND LINGUISTIC VARIATION

5.3. NETWORKS

5.4. AGE

5.5. GENDER AND SEX

5.6. MOBILITY

5.7. GEOGRAPHICAL MOBILITY

5.8. OCCUPATIONAL MOBILITY

5.9. SOCIAL MOBILITY

6. THE INTERVIEWEES

6.1. JACKIE

6.2. TONY

6.3. BRUCE

6.4. NICHOLAS

6.5. SUZIE

6.6. ANDREW

7. INTERVIEWEES REMARKS ON SOCIAL CLASS - A SELF-STYLISATION

8. METHOD OF DATA GATHERING

9. ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION

9.1. JACKIE

9.2. TONY

9.3. BRUCE

9.4. NICHOLAS

9.5. SUZIE

9.6. ANDREW

10. DISCUSSION

Research Objectives and Themes

This thesis investigates the social conditioning of h-dropping, a linguistic feature often stigmatized in English. By analyzing the longitudinal "Up!" documentary series, the research aims to correlate the frequency of h-dropping in six participants with independent social variables such as social class, education, mobility, and age to determine if h-dropping remains a significant marker of social identity in present-day England.

• The correlation between h-dropping and social background.
• The impact of education and occupation on linguistic variation.
• The role of social networks and individual mobility in language change.
• The persistence of linguistic stigmatization in British society.
• Comparative analysis of speech patterns across diverse socio-economic groups.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

1. INTRODUCTION: Provides context for the "Up!" documentary series and explains its role as a longitudinal resource for studying the development of British children from different socio-economic backgrounds.

2. AIM OF STUDY: Defines the research objective of investigating the hypothesis that h-dropping acts as an indicator of independent social variables.

3. METHODOLOGY: Details the rationale for using the "Up!" series as a sociolinguistic corpus and the criteria for selecting the six participants.

4. H- DROPPING: Explores the linguistic definition, history, and the long-standing stigmatization of h-dropping in English society.

5. INDEPENDENT SOCIAL VARIABLES: Analyzes the theoretical framework, discussing social class, networks, age, gender, and various forms of mobility as factors influencing speech.

6. THE INTERVIEWEES: Presents the socio-biographical profiles of the six selected study participants.

7. INTERVIEWEES REMARKS ON SOCIAL CLASS - A SELF-STYLISATION: Compiles the participants' own perspectives on the existence and influence of class in England.

8. METHOD OF DATA GATHERING: Describes the practical process of recording and calculating the percentage of h-dropping for each participant.

9. ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION: Evaluates the statistical data for each of the six subjects, correlating their h-dropping ratios with age, mobility, and education.

10. DISCUSSION: Summarizes the study's conclusions, confirming that h-dropping remains a reliable indicator of social status and social mobility in British English.

Keywords

h-dropping, sociolinguistics, social class, linguistic variation, longitudinal study, Up series, Received Pronunciation, social identity, social mobility, education, prestige, stigmatization, English dialects, phonology, language change

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary focus of this research?

This research focuses on h-dropping as a linguistic variable and its correlation with independent social factors in English society.

Which documentary series serves as the foundation for this study?

The study is based on the British "Up!" documentary series, which follows the lives of fourteen individuals starting in 1964.

What is the core research question?

The study examines whether h-dropping functions as an indicator of social status and how it is influenced by education, mobility, and social class.

What scientific methodology was employed?

The author employed a pragmatic quantitative approach, recording every instance of h-dropping in the participants' speech and calculating the frequency against total possible occurrences across different life stages.

What does the main part of the work cover?

The main body covers the linguistic definition of h-dropping, its historical and social context, an analysis of independent social variables, and a detailed evaluation of six specific case studies.

Which key terms characterize the study?

The study is characterized by terms such as social stratification, linguistic variation, longitudinal analysis, prestige forms, and social identity markers.

How does the author define the social impact of h-dropping?

The author defines h-dropping as a powerful social shibboleth that historically and presently marks speakers as lower-class or uneducated, contrasting sharply with Received Pronunciation.

How did the participants' mobility affect their linguistic development?

The analysis indicates that increased mobility, particularly for members of the middle class, often leads to linguistic change, whereas upper-class speakers maintain stable speech patterns regardless of mobility.