Age as a Factor in Language Attitude Differences

Abstract

This paper reports on a study of the effect of age upon attitudes to standard and non-standard dialect speakers. Respondents drawn, from three age levels (10-year-olds, 16-year-olds, adults), in two contrasting non-standard dialect speaking communities in Newfoundland, listened to tape recordings of speakers of four dialects. A modified matched-guise technique was employed. The respondents assessed each speaker on rating scales related to personality traits and to other value judgments. Computer analysis of the data indicated that respondent age was a differentiating factor in speech stereotypes.