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- Volume 9, Issue 1, 2023
Asia-Pacific Language Variation - Volume 9, Issue 1, 2023
Volume 9, Issue 1, 2023
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Topic-based variation as both cognitive and agentive
Author(s): Tsung-Lun Alan Wanpp.: 1–28 (28)More LessAbstractTopic-based style-shifting refers to the variation pattern that, when people talk about a topic, they shift to a linguistic style which is associated with the topic. Most of the research on topic-based variation in read speech have not taken stance-taking into consideration. This study argues that stance-taking needs to be included in the analysis of topic-based variation, for reading something aloud is a practice where individuals engage with the message communicated in a text. This study looks at the socially salient variable /ʂ/ in Taiwan Mandarin, and how deaf speakers exploit this variable to perform their stances towards a passage concerned with the political relationship between hearing people and deaf signers. The findings show that participants who demonstrate a stance of deaf solidarity diverge from standard speech styles in their repertoires when reading the deaf passage.
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Fortifying cuteness
Author(s): Drew Crosby and Amanda Dalolapp.: 29–58 (30)More LessAbstractThe term aegyo refers to a cute style of speech in Korean with numerous reported phonetic correlates. One of these is obstruent fortition (OF). The present study examines the gender and age effects of OF across 21 romantic couples and across eight mock situations (date, workplace, family, comfort, date-planning, request, expression of love). Results revealed a significant interaction between performance of aegyo and age, such that younger participants exhibited higher rates of OF when performing aegyo than when not performing aegyo, whereas older participants did not. Results also revealed a gender effect such that women employed more OF than men, and a situation effect such that OF was more likely to occur in romantic situations, suggesting its indexicality of romantic intimacy.
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Variability or its loss in creole endangerment
Author(s): Nala H. Leepp.: 59–82 (24)More LessAbstractA language’s endangerment is said to be typified by variation accompanied by some degree of unpredictability. This paper examines if this characterization is appropriate of Baba Malay, an endangered creole, as it is spoken in Singapore. Recent work suggests that the language is much less variable than one expects of a creole. A comparison between historical Baba Malay material and newer Baba Malay material, focusing on the language’s pronominal system, and aspectual and tense system, demonstrates that this is indeed the case. Such variation or an increasing lack of it is not unpredictable, stemming not only from natural language change, but also from changes in the language’s socio-environment. Increasing lack of proficiency in the component languages and a desire among speakers to distinguish themselves from speakers of the lexifier variety may explain some loss in Baba Malay’s variability.
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Variability in clusters and continuums
Author(s): Wilkinson Daniel Wong Gonzalespp.: 83–124 (42)More LessAbstractThis study explores the sociolinguistic situation of a metropolitan Manila Lannang community based on data gathered between 2017 and 2020. A survey was administered to 117 individuals to probe into various dimensions of self-reported language use (e.g., proficiency, confidence) and attitudes (e.g., pride). The results show that, among the Lannangs, there is a range of language use and attitudes, with age and other social factors such as identity impacting the scope of this variability. This variability appears to progress along a continuum in some areas, while forming cluster patterns in others. An examination of the contemporary data alongside data from investigations done in the late 1980s and 1990s reveals some disparities, pointing to generational shifts in language use. The findings demonstrate that the sociolinguistic situation of the Manila Lannang community is unique, dynamic, and complex, enabling us to gain some insights and a nuanced view of the sociolinguistic landscape of the broader Asia-Pacific region.
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