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Component 02: Dimensions of linguistic variation

4 dot points across 4 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How does language vary by region, and how do you analyse accent, dialect and attitudes to regional variation?

Accent, dialect and region: the difference between accent and dialect, Received Pronunciation and regional varieties, attitudes and accent prejudice (Giles's accommodation and matched-guise work), and analysing regional variation in data (AO2 and AO3 in H470/02).
How language varies by region for OCR A-Level English Language (H470/02): the difference between accent and dialect, Received Pronunciation and regional varieties, attitudes and accent prejudice (Giles's accommodation theory and matched-guise research), and analysing regional variation in data.
13 min answer →

How does language relate to gender, and how do you deploy the deficit, dominance, difference and diversity models critically?

Language and gender: the deficit (Lakoff), dominance (Zimmerman and West), difference (Tannen) and diversity or social-constructionist (Cameron) models, and analysing how gender is represented and performed in language (AO2 and AO3 in H470/02).
Language and gender for OCR A-Level English Language (H470/02): the deficit (Lakoff), dominance (Zimmerman and West), difference (Tannen) and diversity or social-constructionist (Cameron) models, and analysing how gender is represented and performed in language, deploying the models critically against data.
14 min answer →

How does language vary with social class and age, and how do you analyse sociolect, idiolect and youth language?

Language, class and age: sociolect and idiolect, class variation (Labov, Trudgill, Bernstein's codes), age and youth language (slang, MLE, communities of practice), and analysing social variation in data (AO2 and AO3 in H470/02).
How language varies with social class and age for OCR A-Level English Language (H470/02): sociolect and idiolect, class variation (Labov, Trudgill, Bernstein's restricted and elaborated codes), age and youth language (slang, Multicultural London English, communities of practice), and analysing social variation in data.
14 min answer →

How does language create and reflect power, and how do you analyse power in occupational and institutional discourse?

Language and power: instrumental and influential power, occupational and institutional discourse, synthetic personalisation (Fairclough), face and politeness, and analysing how power is constructed in interaction (AO2 and AO3 in H470/02).
How language creates and reflects power for OCR A-Level English Language (H470/02): instrumental and influential power, occupational and institutional discourse, synthetic personalisation (Fairclough), face and politeness, and analysing how power is constructed in interaction and texts.
13 min answer →