YouTube Ethnography - Case Study Example

YouTube Ethnography Speech is the basic mode of language use and creates its meaning from the relationships between the patterns of language and the social dynamics, which define the language. An analysis into different speech patterns is usually focused n the multiple meanings derived fro the same language use and the sociological implications of the language on speech formation. The study of sociolinguistics in different contexts of language usually indicates that the different languages in play contribute to the different sociological views that people have of the language users. In the same case, political, geographical and social ideologies are derived from the social study of the use of language in different individuals. The patterns with which language is spoken is used to make descriptive judgments of the individuals who are involved in the language itself. These patterns and structures of language define the different varieties of language use that are in play in the current population. These patterns are usually derived from the recurring sameness in sound that describe the physical action of speaking, and its use in conveying meaning to the audience. Sociolinguistics includes the study of several language systems that are in play in conversational situations to try to understand the meanings that are conveyed by the physical actions of speaking the language and the implications of the different variations on the individuals using the language. In this case, the YouTube video called “Shit Italians Moms Say” will be analyzed in terms of the different variations of language use evident in the video. This paper will discuss the themes of language ideology, code switching, multilingualism, diaglossia and dialect. One of the first analyses of language use is focused on diaglossia, which refers to the use of two or more different dialects in a language use. Diaglossia in different communities usually defines the use of closely related dialects in one language community for different situations (Fansold 152). For example, in community, one variation of a dialect can be used for formal situations and the other variation of the language can be sued for informal conversations. In sociolinguistics, diaglossia is usually divided into two main language varieties, the first being the normal vernacular usage of the language. The normal vernacular usage of a language is defined as a low-level variety, which is used for normal conversation outside formal areas of language use. The second variation of language use that concerns diaglossia is a highly codified variety, which refers to the language used in formal situations lime education or literature. The second high-codified branch of language use is usually not used in conversational situations, since it is too formal for this application. In this case, the highly codified variety of a language is usually an older stage of a language, for example, the use of Standard English, which is a derivation of common variations of normal English (Fansold 153. In the video being described, diaglossia is seen in the way the actors in the video use their English in informal situations, where the language is a low vernacular-based version of the language. The language is interjected with different language use mechanisms that would not qualify for use in formal settings. For example, the use of the ‘phenomenal’ interjection by the mother in the video is not formally correct. The actors in the video use a localized version of the English language to communicate with other members, which, combined with the physical usage, defines a broad are of diaglossia. The effect of diaglossia in the video is also emphasized by the use of two languages of equal standing to convey meaning to the audience. The main speaker in the video repeatedly interjects Italian words into the English language, which defines the social structure of the audience in the video. This indicates that the main people in the video are Italian. The second language variety context use in the video is the use of code switching, which refers to the mixture of two or main languages in a conversational context. Code switching is usually defined as the use of more than one main language in a conversation, where the speaker is multi-linguistic and uses elements of different languages concurrently (Fansold 160). The use of more than one linguistic variety on the same conversation is mainly characteristic of people who are completely conversant in two or more languages, where they have the ability to use the two languages without a problem. In this case, the speakers of the language form and use a form of pidgin, which is an amalgamated use of more than one language in conversation. The syntax and phonology of each language is integrated into the main speech patterns to create meaning to the current language. This is usually common in people who are from new societies and have to integrate themselves into new societies. A thematically correct term for the code-switching practice seen in the YouTube video is code mixing, where the speaker in the video is evidently fluent in both Italian and English. The speaker repeatedly interjects her English language with words from the Italian language, giving her language a rich pidgin value. The main social motivation for code mixing and code switching in the society is when individuals coexist in different language societies (Fansold 163). This usually describes the different social classes that exist in community. For example, in the video, it is evident that the speakers are Italians living in an American neighborhood, which means that they have to adapt their language to the conforming rules. However, with the existence of a natural language, there is a tendency to mix their languages when they are communicating with each other or with members of heir own community. This societal practice is the main motivation for code switching. The analysis of the video, “Shit Italians Moms Say” can also be done from a multilingualism perspective, which refers to the ability of an individual to speak and maintain more than one language. Multilingualism is a phenomenon that refers to the act of using or promoting multiple languages in an individual (Trudgill 160). With the current globalization trends and the expanding needs of society, multilingualism is becoming an added advantage for individuals and a requirement for other individuals in the world. For example, for individuals who have to emigrate and work in other countries or regions that speak languages other than the individual’s primary language, multilingualism becomes a necessity. It is generally understood that an individual will always learn a first language from the place of origin, especially from parental influence. This first language is usually called the mother tongue, a name derived from the influence of the parents in teaching the children the primary language. However, when the individual grows up and enters a situation where learning a second language becomes a necessity, multilingualism results. In this case, the situation that necessitates the learning of a second language is usually region or work related. The exposure gained by people to multiple languages is slowly increasing thanks to the increase in technological processes with which the individuals can access different languages. In the video being analyzed, it is evident that the speakers in it are multilingual. Specifically, the mother states in conversation that her husband is Italian so should be able to perform an Italian action. However, the speakers are using a form of English interjected with Italian expressions. This indicates that the speakers in the video are multilingual, since they can speak in both Italian and English. An analysis of the video also indicates that the fact that the multilingualism is borne of the fact that the participants re from Italy or an Italian speaking region and had to learn English as a way of surviving in the American environment. An analysis of the language used in the video being discussed will also focus on the language ideology in the video. In this case, language ideology refers to the sets of beliefs and perceptions that individuals usually have about a specific culture as denoted by the language used (Trudgill 174). The perceptions of the language users are usually projected onto the speakers of the language in the way they express themselves and the cultural expressions that are promoted by the language that they use in normal conversation. Language ideology is a construct that usually defines the moral, political and social views that people have of cultures. This means that the implicit assumptions that people have about a culture are usually derived from, among other things, the language that the society uses. For example, in the video being discussed, it is obvious that the people in the video are of Italian origin and live in the United States. One of the perceptions about Italian people is their love of food, and the language used in the video helps in promoting this ideology. The ideology is promoted by the way the speakers and actors in the video consider the importance of food as a social function. The other ideology from the language is the importance of social relationships and gatherings. From the video, it is evident that the ideology is promoted by the language, where the actors gather to promote a popular culture of togetherness and celebration. The actors in the video gather together to eat, and the most part of the video is cantered on meals and the preparation of Italian food. The ideology is also expressed with the implicit assumptions that Italians should know how to cook, as expressed by the main speaker of her husband. The last aspect of sociolinguistics evident from the YouTube video is the use of language transfer from one culture to another. Language transfer is usually used to mean the application of language from one’s native culture to a second language and derive meaning from it (Trudgill 178). This usually occurs when an individual does not have a native level grasp of a language, which necessitates the use of original language interjections to describe situations or objects. When translating into a second language, an individual is usually pressed to use some form of the original language to describe objects in the second language. This usually results in linguistic interference, where phrases from one language are adopted to be used in the second language because of the language transfer used by the individual. Language transfer is in two main forms, positive and negative language transfer, both of which occur in different languages. Negative transfer occurs when the speaker transfers items that do not have the same phonetic structure to the second language. For example, the main speaker in the video refers to an item as a “putano”, where the item is not identified apart from Italian speaking people. This type of language transfer affects the use of the original language since it leads to the development of different dialects and/or implications of a language. The study of sociolinguistics is an important part of society that helps in the identification of different cultural norms and uses of language. From the analysis of the video, “Shit Italian Moms Say”, it is evident that language plays an important part in the effects on society. The language used in the video has been analyzed in terms of diaglossia, which refers to the use of different dialects or languages in normal conversations. The analysis has also focused on code switching and code mixing, which refer to the use of different elements of different languages in conversation. The analysis also described the use of multilingualism, where the speakers are evidently conversant with more than one language and the effects of one language affects the usage of the other language. Language ideology has also been discussed, specifically concerning the different perceptions that people will have about the language and culture than people have. Finally, the analysis discussed the issue of language transfer, where the first language gained by an individual serves to affect the subsequent languages that the individual learns. The above analysis indicates that the original language and the adopted language that an individual uses are affected by several factors, which are necessitated by the need for different languages. The globalization evident in the world requires that individuals learn more than one language, and it is invariable that the different languages learnt by an individual will affect each other. Work Cited Fansold, Ralph. The Sociolinguistics of Society, 1991. Boston: Wiley-Blackwell. Trudgill, Peter. Sociolinguistics: An Introduction to Language and Society, 2001. New York: Penguin Publishers. Read More