Idiolect Sociolect Presentation

Idiolect
LO – To examine and compare the way we

use individual language features
GROUP TASK
 What does a person’s biography have to do with

the way they speak?
 On your tables, try to list 10 biographical

features that you think would affect language
WHAT IS IDIOLECT?
 As every person goes through life, they experience things
(factors) that modify (shape/change) the way the way
that they speak (accent / pronunciation) and the words
they use (their dialect / vocabulary).
 All these factors working together form a person’s

IDIOLECT – An individual’s personal language,
vocabulary, and expression.
 Think of it as your ‘linguistic fingerprint’!

HERE TO HELP YOU ARE SOME OF
THE ELEMENTS THAT MAKE UP
MCQUAY’S IDIOLECT.
Has travelled to 7 Worked in Ningbo,
different countries China.
From Manchester, Is 36 years old.

England
Watches a lot of
Reads a lot of books. American films and TV
shows.
As a result, here are some of the things that I might say:
That is well good (Manchester dialect, means ‘very’)

I was off sick (American way of saying ill)
‘Muther’ (Northern pronunciation of ‘Mother’)
Hao-da (Ningbonese dialect, means ‘ok’)
Cool cool cool (From watching ‘Community’, US show)
IDENTITY – IDIOLECT /
SOCIOLECT
LO – To explore how Identity can
shape language
Starter – How many ‘yous’ are there?

List any different identities that you have; for example:
Student Brother / Sister
Team-Mate Korean
Hip-Hop Fan Girl Teenager

What is your personal talk?
What do you say to What do you say

get someone’s when you really
attention? like something?
What do you say

when you think
something is
rubbish?
What do you say when

you think someone is What words do
attractive? you say
frequently?
IDENTITY WORKSHEET - IDIOLECT
 Let’s go back to our worksheets, and add some of our
idiolect words to our different identities
 These can be words that you use in certain situations, or

that reflect your identity when you are in these
situations. (8 mins)
 After you have added your words, see who else in the
class uses these words for similar identities / situations –
talk to these people and exchange ideas! (2 mins)
HOPEFULLY...
 You have found at least one other student who uses
similar words to you in similar situations.
 A really common one is ‘school / student’ – which words

do we all use at YCIS? (An example is BBFF )
 Let’s illustrate this, by making a mess! I need 1

volunteer!
THIS IS YOUR SOCIOLECT!
 Sociolect is the language spoken by a specific social group, age

group, ethnic group, culture or class.
 Think about your sociolect – you may not even be aware that you
change the way you speak!
 It is different from:
Dialect – Differences in lexis/vocabulary based on geographical
region.
Accent – Differences in pronunciation based on geographical region
ACCOMMODATION THEORY
 Howard Giles developed the idea that speakers seek approval in

a social situation and are likely to change their speech so that it is
similar to their listener (ACCOMODATION). However, if they
don’t want to be associated with the speaker, they may change
their speech to show they are different (NON-
ACCOMODATION).
Do you change your speech depending on who

you are talking to? For example, you may not
swear in front of your parents, or you may have
a “telephone” voice…
OLD SOCIOLECT VS. NEW SOCIOLECT
As humans, we often make snap

decisions about how we think
people behave, act and talk
(STEREOTYPES).
 What happens when we get that

wrong?
 Do you think people look at you as

young students and make a
judgement about how you might
speak?
PROJECT – COMPARATIVE STUDY
 Working SOLO (?)
 Begin by researching the concepts of idiolect (an

individual's unique use of language) and sociolect (a social
group's distinctive use of language). Understand the factors
that shape both and their impact on communication.
 You will need to understand both ideas CLEARLY.
 “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it”

- Einstein
 Choose two literary works or films where the characters'
idiolects and sociolects are clearly evident and play a
significant role in their communication and character
development. This could be novels, short stories, plays,
or films.
 Compare and contrast the use of idiolect and sociolect in

these chosen pieces. How do these linguistic features
contribute to the characters' identities? How do they
affect the characters' social interactions?
Present your findings in a well-structured and engaging

presentation (8-10 minutes).
Your Presentation should include:
 An introduction (with thesis statement)
 Body sections (each one discussing a separate point / feature)
 Conclusion (summarizing your findings and restating your

thesis).
Criterion / Excellent Good Fair Weak
RUBRIC
Category (9-10 points) (7-8 points) (4-6 Points) (0-2 points)
Understanding of Demonstrates a Shows a clear Shows some Shows little to no

Concepts thorough understanding of understanding of understanding of
understanding of both idiolect and sociolect, idiolect and sociolect, idiolect and sociolect,
idiolect and sociolect, mostly accurate in but there are inaccurately explains
accurately explains explaining their inaccuracies in their impact on
their impact on impact on explaining their communication
communication communication impact on
communication
Analysis and Effectively analyzes Analyzes and Analyzes and Fails to effectively
Synthesis of and synthesizes synthesizes synthesizes analyze and synthesize
Sources information from all information from most information from information from
provided sources, sources, provides clear some sources, sources, provides no
provides insightful connections. provides few clear connections.
connections. connections.
Presentation The presentation is The presentation is The presentation lacks The presentation lacks
engaging, well- mostly engaging and engagement or engagement and
organized, and organized, and clearly organization in some organization, fails to
effectively communicates parts, somewhat communicate findings
communicates findings. communicates effectively.
findings. findings.

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Idiolect

LO – To examine and compare the way we

 What does a person’s biography have to do with

 On your tables, try to list 10 biographical

 All these factors working together form a person’s

 Think of it as your ‘linguistic fingerprint’!

From Manchester, Is 36 years old.

That is well good (Manchester dialect, means ‘very’)

Starter – How many ‘yous’ are there?

Student Brother / Sister

Hip-Hop Fan Girl Teenager

What do you say to What do you say

What do you say

What do you say when

 These can be words that you use in certain situations, or

 A really common one is ‘school / student’ – which words

 Let’s illustrate this, by making a mess! I need 1

 Sociolect is the language spoken by a specific social group, age

 Howard Giles developed the idea that speakers seek approval in

Do you change your speech depending on who

As humans, we often make snap

 What happens when we get that

 Do you think people look at you as

 Begin by researching the concepts of idiolect (an

 You will need to understand both ideas CLEARLY.

 “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it”

 Compare and contrast the use of idiolect and sociolect in

Present your findings in a well-structured and engaging

Your Presentation should include:

 An introduction (with thesis statement)

 Body sections (each one discussing a separate point / feature)

 Conclusion (summarizing your findings and restating your

Understanding of Demonstrates a Shows a clear Shows some Shows little to no

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