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Responses to the formality of the text, as well as the presence or absence of coordinate which, were analyzed in order to provide a frame of reference for analyzing the responses of various groups. Predictably, the degree of formality of the passage made a difference in the ratings. As shown in Figure 1, the speaker received considerably higher ratings on prestige when reading either formal passage, bu the informal text yielded slightly higher ratings on sociability. It is worth noting that, for all four texts, subjects tended to disagree with the questions intended to measure their solidarity with the speaker. Still, solidarity ratings were even lower for the formal texts than for the informal ones.

Figure 1 Responses to the formality of the text, as well as the presence or absence of coordinate which, were analyzed in order to provide a frame of reference for analyzing the responses of various groups. Predictably, the degree of formality of the passage made a difference in the ratings. As shown in Figure 1, the speaker received considerably higher ratings on prestige when reading either formal passage, bu the informal text yielded slightly higher ratings on sociability. It is worth noting that, for all four texts, subjects tended to disagree with the questions intended to measure their solidarity with the speaker. Still, solidarity ratings were even lower for the formal texts than for the informal ones.

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FIGURE 2. Average rating for passages with coordinate WHICH vs. standard passages. Comparing Figure 1 and Figure 2, it can be seen that the formality of the text had a greater influence on the prestige rating than the presence of coordinate which did. This difference of 1.43 points is greater than any difference between responses to coordinate which as compared with a control text. In what follows, figures reflect averages across both the formal and informal texts, unless otherwise stated.
FIGURE 2. Average rating for passages with coordinate WHICH vs. standard passages. Comparing Figure 1 and Figure 2, it can be seen that the formality of the text had a greater influence on the prestige rating than the presence of coordinate which did. This difference of 1.43 points is greater than any difference between responses to coordinate which as compared with a control text. In what follows, figures reflect averages across both the formal and informal texts, unless otherwise stated.
FIGuRE 4. Average rating of coordinate WHICH passages by male subjects Two differences emerged between male and female subjects. Overall, women tended to give higher ratings, even on the item "He speaks like me." More interestingly, men and women responded differently to coordinate which in rating the speaker on solidarity. Women tended to disagree on thes questions, whether the passage contained coordinate which or not. Such a response might have been
FIGuRE 4. Average rating of coordinate WHICH passages by male subjects Two differences emerged between male and female subjects. Overall, women tended to give higher ratings, even on the item "He speaks like me." More interestingly, men and women responded differently to coordinate which in rating the speaker on solidarity. Women tended to disagree on thes questions, whether the passage contained coordinate which or not. Such a response might have been
FIGURE 3. Average rating of coordinate WHICH passages by female subjects.
FIGURE 3. Average rating of coordinate WHICH passages by female subjects.
FIGURE 5. Average rating on prestige questions by socioeconomic group
FIGURE 5. Average rating on prestige questions by socioeconomic group
FIGURE 6. Average rating on sociability questions by socioeconomic group. The same pattern can be seen in the responses to the solidarity questions (Figure 7). Again, Group 1 respondents dispreferred the texts with coordinate which more strongly than Group 2 respondents dic
FIGURE 6. Average rating on sociability questions by socioeconomic group. The same pattern can be seen in the responses to the solidarity questions (Figure 7). Again, Group 1 respondents dispreferred the texts with coordinate which more strongly than Group 2 respondents dic
The predictions for this study were not borne out, in that Group 1 respondents did not rate the control text as high on prestige as expected, but did rate the control text clearly higher on sociability and solidarity. This is the opposite of the result expected. Considering that Group 2 respondents did not give the coordinate-which texts a particularly low rating, and considering the low degree of solidarity that men showed for these texts, it seems unlikely that coordinate which could be associated with a low- FIGURE 7. Average rating on solidarity questions by socioeconomic group.
The predictions for this study were not borne out, in that Group 1 respondents did not rate the control text as high on prestige as expected, but did rate the control text clearly higher on sociability and solidarity. This is the opposite of the result expected. Considering that Group 2 respondents did not give the coordinate-which texts a particularly low rating, and considering the low degree of solidarity that men showed for these texts, it seems unlikely that coordinate which could be associated with a low- FIGURE 7. Average rating on solidarity questions by socioeconomic group.
FIGURE 8. Average rating on solidarity questions by socioeconomic group--informal text only.
FIGURE 8. Average rating on solidarity questions by socioeconomic group--informal text only.
Solidarity ratings produced an unexpected pattern. Given that Northern subjects were familiar with th speaker's regional dialect, they might have been expected to give higher ratings on solidarity. Instead, they responded negatively, whether the passage contained coordinate which or not. Indiana speakers dispreferred the passages with coordinate which.
Solidarity ratings produced an unexpected pattern. Given that Northern subjects were familiar with th speaker's regional dialect, they might have been expected to give higher ratings on solidarity. Instead, they responded negatively, whether the passage contained coordinate which or not. Indiana speakers dispreferred the passages with coordinate which.
FIGURE 10. Average rating on prestige questions by region.
FIGURE 10. Average rating on prestige questions by region.
\s we have seen, the presence of coordinate which did influence the attitudes of subjects to some legree, although the formality of the text produced far greater variations in judgments, especially on he items intended to assess the perceived prestige of the speaker. On the whole, subjects tended to rate he texts containing coordinate which more negatively than the control texts on all items. The results of this study do not support the assumption that coordinate which is a marker of a low- status variety of English. This is seen most clearly in that men rated the speaker far lower on solidarity when he was using coordinate which. On the basis of previous research on covert prestige, male subjects should have indicated some preference for the non-standard form, at least when judging the speaker on sociability or solidarity. Instead, males in this study dispreferred the nonstandard form more strongly than females did.
\s we have seen, the presence of coordinate which did influence the attitudes of subjects to some legree, although the formality of the text produced far greater variations in judgments, especially on he items intended to assess the perceived prestige of the speaker. On the whole, subjects tended to rate he texts containing coordinate which more negatively than the control texts on all items. The results of this study do not support the assumption that coordinate which is a marker of a low- status variety of English. This is seen most clearly in that men rated the speaker far lower on solidarity when he was using coordinate which. On the basis of previous research on covert prestige, male subjects should have indicated some preference for the non-standard form, at least when judging the speaker on sociability or solidarity. Instead, males in this study dispreferred the nonstandard form more strongly than females did.
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