Introduction to Speech Communities

Which statement best defines a speech community?

• People who share a hobby or activity

• All the people who use a given language

• Friends who live on the same street

• Any group with at least two members

According to the definition of a group, what is the minimum number of members required?

• One person only

• At least two members

• No fixed number

• Exactly five members

Which list shows common reasons people form groups?

• Geography, maps, directions

• Diet, exercise, sleep schedules

• Social, cultural, political, religious

• Weather, seasons, climate changes

Lyons’ definition of a ‘real’ speech community emphasizes which feature?

• Common hobbies and interests

• Equal social class membership

• Shared neighborhood boundaries only

• Use of a given language or dialect

Which factor can influence how a speech community uses language?

• Weather patterns

• Transportation modes

• Cultural background

• Dietary choices

What are speech markers in sociolinguistics?

• New words invented by teenagers

• Official rules created by governments

• Linguistic features identifying social categories

• Errors that appear in everyday conversation

Which set lists social categories often identified by speech markers?

• Income, savings, debts, taxes

• Age, gender, ethnicity, social class

• Sports, music, art, travel

• Height, weight, eyesight, posture

A classmate switches between a formal tone with teachers and casual slang with friends. Which concept best explains this behavior?

• Random variation in accent

• Code choice within a speech community

• Incorrect grammar at school

• Adoption of a new native language

What is a speech community in this context?

• A set of unrelated regional dialects

• Only speakers with identical grammar

• Any people living in one neighborhood

• A group sharing similar pronunciation attitudes

Which feature describes Southern British English rhoticity?

• Always drops r before consonants

• Sometimes rhotic before vowels

• Strongly rhotic after vowels

• Non-rhotic after vowels