Labov, William
Labov: Six People I have learned from
The correct link to Labov's 2009 lecture, Six People I have learned from, for the ACLS. [Published on 10-01-2009]
'Deplorable' Québécois accent has royal roots, linguist asserts
The French typically have an unfavorable opinion of the accents spoken by the denizens of Québec, Canada. But like Martha's Vineyard, many of the linguistic forms used by this community may predate those in France. [Published on 10-09-2008]
Northern Cities Vowel Shift
Play videoThe Northern Cities Vowel shift was mentioned in our reading as characteristic of "burnout" girls as a marker for being "rough". I didn't know what this was so looked it up., this explains it pretty clearly. ps. I assume "bill" is the same William Labov from the New York department store study?
Senate Debate over "Ebonics" in Schools
Play videoThis is a fairly processed montage of the hype mentioned in Labov's article and analyzed in Lippi-Green, Rosina. (2012).
Problems with Labov's Department Store Study
This comic plays with a potential problem in Labov's department store RA study.
Do You Harp a Slib of the Ling?
This article reminded me of the Labov 1972 piece we read for today. It is a good example of language as marking for group identity in a small and isolated population, although it achieves this through very different means than what we saw in regards to Martha's Vineyard. [Published on 02-17-2015]
Where Yinz At
An in-depth look at dialect diversity in Pennsylvania, with a particular focus on the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia dialects and an overview of their features, with comments from Barbara Johnstone and William Labov. [Published on 04-29-2014]
Joke about /r/-vocalization in New England accents -- Family Guy
Play videoA short clip from the program Family Guy where Lois and the family discuss the organization PETA, much to Peter's dismay.
Philly's Accent is Changing
Play videoA video interviewing William Labov and colleagues about their project on change in Philadelphia English
Study finds blacks' English increasingly different
The 1985 New York Times article reporting on Labov's research demonstrating divergence for Black English Vernacular in Philadelphia. The article plays a major role in the divergence debates of the 1980s.
Citation: Fasold, Labov, Vaughn-Cooke, Bailey, Wolfram, Spears, and Rickford. 1987. Are black and white vernaculars diverging? Papers from NWAV XIV Panel Discussion. American Speech.
Yo Momma Jokes
Play videoA You Tuber in 2007 demonstrating his best "Yo Momma" jokes.
I use this with the reading: Labov, William. 1972. Rules for Ritual Insults. In Language in the Inner City.
Flavor Flav and Doctor Dre Play the Dozens
Play videoA video from 1988 of Flavor Flav and Doctor Dre trading ritual insults.
I use this with the reading: Labov, William. 1972. Rules for Ritual Insults. In Language and the Inner City.
NPR: Palin's Accent Examined
A 2008 NPR interview with William Labov about Sarah Palin's Alaskan accent.
NPR: American Accent Undergoing Great Vowel Shift
An NPR interview from 2006 with William Labov about the Northern Cities Shift.
(r) in New York City English
(Enlarge image)The classic graph from Labov (1966) showing stratification by socioeconomic class and speaker style for coda r vocalization in New York City English