Self-expression and linguistic variation

Bibliographic Data

ID7902125
AuthorsBarbara Johnstone (0000-0002-1916-3155, Carnegie Mellon University), Judith Mattson Bean (Texas Woman's University)
Year1997
Volume26
Issue2
Pages221-246
Publication date1997-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueLanguage in Society (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0047-4045 • E-ISSN: 1469-8013
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0047404500020911
OpenAlexW2143502907
LanguageEN
Citations received24
References cited75

This article argues that self-expression is a crucial though heretofore largely overlooked part of the explanation for linguistic variation. Self-expression mediates between linguistic choices and social facts such as gender, occupation, linguistic ideology, and place of origin, as speakers use language not only to express their identification with or rejection of social groupings, but also to express their individuality. All language use is thus essentially idiosyncratic and syncretic. The point is illustrated with reference to case studies of the speech and writing of two Texas women who use language in public contexts. The article further argues for the sociolinguistic study of public modes of discourse in addition to “vernacular” modes, and for the need in sociolinguistic research for rhetorical as well as linguistic analysis. (Variation, self-expression, individuality, case studies, Texas, public speech

Expression (computer science) · Identification (biology) · Ideology · Linguistics · Natural language · Political science · Politics · Rhetorical question · Sociolinguistics · Sociolinguistics of sign languages · Sociology · Variation (astronomy) · Vernacular · Computer Science · Language, Discourse, Communication Strategies · Linguistic Variation and Morphology · Multilingual Education and Policy · Philosophy · Psychology

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