Language Proficiency Sociolinguistics and Register — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A job applicant writes 'I would like to express my interest in the position' in a cover letter but texts a friend 'I'm gonna go for that job lol.' This difference is best described as:
- A grammatical error in the text message
- Register variation — adjusting language formality to suit the audience and context (Correct answer)
- Code-switching between two different languages
- A dialect difference between two regional varieties
Correct answer: Register variation — adjusting language formality to suit the audience and context
Register refers to the variety of language used in a particular social situation. The same speaker appropriately uses formal register in the cover letter and informal register in the text — this is competent register variation, not an error.
Question 2: In sociolinguistics, 'code-switching' refers to:
- Using secret or encrypted language to protect private information
- Translating a written document from one language into another
- Alternating between two or more languages or dialects within a single conversation or utterance (Correct answer)
- Correcting grammatical errors while speaking
Correct answer: Alternating between two or more languages or dialects within a single conversation or utterance
Code-switching is the practice of shifting between languages or language varieties mid-conversation. It is common in bilingual communities and is a marker of linguistic repertoire, not a sign of deficiency.
Question 3: Which of the following factors does NOT typically influence a speaker's choice of register?
- The social relationship between speaker and listener
- The setting where the communication takes place
- The purpose or goal of the communication
- The physical height of the person being addressed (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The physical height of the person being addressed
Register is shaped by social factors such as relationship (boss vs. friend), setting (courtroom vs. café), and purpose (requesting vs. informing). Physical characteristics of the interlocutor, such as height, have no bearing on appropriate register selection.
Question 4: A linguist notes that in a particular community, speakers use one variety of language at home and a different variety at school or work. This pattern is called:
- Diglossia (Correct answer)
- Hypercorrection
- Lexical borrowing
- Phonological assimilation
Correct answer: Diglossia
Diglossia describes a situation where two language varieties coexist in a community with distinct social functions — one 'high' variety for formal domains (school, religion, government) and one 'low' variety for informal, everyday use.
Question 5: Which sentence demonstrates hypercorrection in formal speech?
- 'She and I went to the store.'
- 'Between you and I, the plan seems risky.' (used instead of 'between you and me') (Correct answer)
- 'Who called?' (used instead of 'Whom called?')
- 'I will be attending the conference tomorrow.'
Correct answer: 'Between you and I, the plan seems risky.' (used instead of 'between you and me')
Hypercorrection occurs when a speaker overapplies a prestige rule to a context where it does not apply. 'Between you and I' is hypercorrect because 'between' requires an object pronoun ('me'), yet the speaker uses 'I' to sound more formal, creating an error.
Question 6: When a doctor speaks with a child patient, they say 'Does your tummy hurt?' rather than 'Are you experiencing abdominal pain?' This adjustment is an example of:
- Pidginization
- Audience design — modifying language to suit the listener's age and comprehension level (Correct answer)
- A dialect shift caused by geographical relocation
- Phonological reduction under fast speech conditions
Correct answer: Audience design — modifying language to suit the listener's age and comprehension level
Audience design is the sociolinguistic concept that speakers actively shape their speech style based on their perception of the listener's identity, knowledge, and relationship to the speaker. The doctor uses simplified vocabulary to match the child's comprehension.
Language Proficiency Sociolinguistics and Register
A job applicant writes 'I would like to express my interest in the position' in a cover letter but texts a friend 'I'm gonna go for that job lol.' This difference is best described as: