³ ~soclab04.00 º UP: <[LINK]> ³

³ compare with Hymes classi- º NEXT: open ³

³ fication º <[LINK] - ³

Hymes is correct in asserting that Labov focuses on the

referential (as defined by Hymes) rather than the social aspects

of language. However, Labov's empirical work in referential

variables rests firmly on a foundation of implicit social

theorizing about the nature of the boundaries of speech

communities--both what makes the speech community a coherent

whole as well as what elements it can be divided into--classes,

situations, registers, styles, ages, genders, ethnicities and so

forth. <[LINK]> Labov cannot proceed with his referential

analysis until his social analysis is in place. In this, his work

is socially constituted. Although his approach differs from

Hymes' in privileging the etic, empirical testing of variables

<[LINK]> rather than searching for local meaning from the

perspective of a member of the speech community, <[LINK]> his

aims are similar. Labov, like Hymes the socially constituted

linguist, critiques what he perceives to be an arbitrary division

between language and society. <[LINK]>

see also: <[LINK] -socially realistic>