Formality and Informality in Speech Events, Working Papers in Sociolinquistics, No. 52 [microform] / Judith T. Irvine
- Bib ID:
- 5361035
- Format:
- Book and Microform
- Author:
- Irvine, Judith T
- Online Version:
- https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED165492
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- Description:
-
- [Washington, D.C.]] : Distributed by ERIC Clearinghouse, 1978
- 24 p.
- Summary:
-
This paper considers a distinction frequently used in sociolinguistics and ethnography of speaking to describe speech events: their formality or informality. Three principle meanings of "formality" found in the literature concern whether the formality relates to properties of a communicative code, properties of the social setting in which a code is used, or properties of the analyst's description. Four aspects of formality that apply cross-culturally are: (1) increased structuring of speech; (2) consistency in terms of the social significance of variants chosen at different levels of communicative expression; (3) invoking of positional identities of participants; and (4) emergence of a focus in speech interactions. The role of these variables in cross-cultural comparison and a comparison of certain speech events among the Wolof and Mursi are discussed. All societies seem to make distinctions among speech events according to the four aspects of formality. Comparisons within a society and between societies can be made according to how they connect the various aspects of formality and what concomitant effects formalizing a speech event will have. Formality, in this view, is largely a process of focusing, which can operate along various dimensions. (SW)
- Notes:
-
- Availability: Southwest Educational Development Laboratory, 211 East 7th Street, Austin, Texas 78701.
- Sponsoring Agency: National Inst. of Education (DHEW), Washington, DC.
- May also be available online. Address as at 14/8/18: https://eric.ed.gov/
- Reproduction:
- Microfiche. [Washington D.C.]: ERIC Clearinghouse microfiches : positive.
- Subject:
- Other authors/contributors:
- Southwest Educational Development Lab., Austin, TX
- Available From:
- ERIC
- Copyright:
-
In Copyright
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Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Literary Dramatic Musical
- Published status:
- Published
- Publication date:
- 1978
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