2004
Volume 77, Issue 1
  • ISSN: 0039-8691
  • E-ISSN: 2215-1214

Abstract

Abstract

While sociolinguistic research has traditionally paid much attention to what social patterns underlie variation in language, the question of how language users learn the social meanings associated with linguistic variants is still largely underexplored. In that regard, the laboratory provides a controlled environment to isolate specific aspects of the acquisition process, whereas this is more difficult to accomplish in observational data due to its inherent complexity. In this paper, based on the PRISMA methodology for systematic reviews, we present a recently developed paradigm for lab-based investigation of artificial sociolinguistic language learning that may shed a different light on results obtained from observational work. We will first introduce the paradigm methodologically, followed by a summary of theoretical advances that were made based on studies within this paradigm. Finally, the review concludes with several nuances as to the application of the paradigm as well as open questions that may be addressed through it.

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2025-03-01
2025-04-10
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