Real-time sociolinguistics

Real-time sociolinguistics is a sociolinguistic research method concerned with observing linguistic variation and change in progress via longitudinal studies. Real-time studies track linguistic variables over time by collecting data from a speech community at multiple points in a given period. As a result, it provides empirical evidence for either stability or linguistic change.[1]

Real-time sociolinguistics contrasts with apparent-time sociolinguistics, which surveys different generations of a population at one point in time. A theoretical model of language change in apparent time is built and based on the distribution of the linguistic variable across age groups in a speech community.[1]

Although apparent-time studies are more numerous than real-time studies, the latter have seen an increase in number since 1995, often in the form of restudies of 1960s and 1970s research.[2]

  1. ^ a b Turell, Maria Teresa (2003). "Apparent and real time in studies of linguistic change and variation" (PDF). Noves SL. Revista de Sociolingüística: 1–10. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  2. ^ Sankoff, Gillian (2006). "Age: Apparent time and real time." (PDF). In Brown, Keith (ed.). Elsevier Encyclopedia of Language and Linguistics (2 ed.). Elsevier Ltd.