Approaches to Language in Cultural Studies [and] Probleme soziolinguistischer Theoriebildung am Biespiel von Dialekt und Einheitssprache = Problems of Approaching Sociolinguistic Theories by using Dialects and Standard Language as Examples. ROLIG-papir 10.

The first paper focuses on the study of British working class speech, and highlights research on the topic. It is suggested that a culture is identified through its organizing concept, and that it is necessary to determine how far culture is linguistic. The conclusion is drawn that it is not possible to make fundamental correlations between elements of language and society; language must be considered as a system with its own differential rules. Working class speech does not constitute a totality or express the spirit of the working class itself. It is necessary to consider how class identities are constructed, discursively, by the positioning of subjects within discursive practices. The second paper discusses some of the prerequisites for the construction of a sociolinguistic theory. The goal of such a theory would be a systematic, predictive explanation for the conditions that account for socially motivated differences in language. The establishment of terminology--one of the prerequisites for the theory--is illustrated in the definition of the relationship between "Dialect" and "Standard." Further subcomponents in sociolinguistic theory are proposed, along with the Dialect/Standard dichotomy, in terms of the requirements of the modern workplace. (JC)