Was reminded about this paper by William Labov today where he explores the effects of linguists being, well, uncool* nerds on their research.

It includes this spectacular burn:

"Since most linguists grow up relatively isolated individuals within their own communities, it is important that they become aware of the linguistic consequences of being lame, and apply this knowledge in their methodology."

* Originally lame - excuse the ableist language, it's from 1973

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/231786722_The_Linguistic_Consequences_of_Being_a_Lame

#linguistics #language #labov

Strange to not have any #Labov quotes to share that I find poignant despite being the giant of #sociolinguistics and despite how much of his work I've read. He always struck me as a workhorse with a lot of interesting method ideas but not someone terribly concerned with #socialtheory where one's writing might become more touching. His legacy and influence will undoubtedly persist for a very long time still.

#linguistics #languagevariation #languagechange

Ha muerto Bill #Labov a los 97. Su ensoñamiento diurno favorito decía era imaginar a la gente aprendiendo algo suyo en una biblioteca lejana de la misma forma que él lo hacía de otras personas.
De él aprendí que la evaluación sería el medio principal del discurso. Gracias a ella que el narrador puede expresar la razón de ser de una narrativa, esto es, el motivo de por el que contamos algo. A mi me gustó y por eso lo cuento.

@linguistics @humanities
#Linguistics #Lingüística

RIP, William Labov. I came to his ideas late (not having studied linguistics at uni), but once you start wrestling seriously with how people use language, it's impossible not to see the profound value and influence of those ideas, and of his whole approach.
https://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=67399

#Labov #WilliamLabov #linguistics #sociolinguistics

RIP Bill Labov! By coincidence, today I bought a Pictionary game for our department holiday party, and the most convenient place to buy it was at the Target store that opened last year on the former site of S. Klein's department store.

This Target is small, though, and the fourth floor of the building is occupied by the Mount Sinai medical clinic. I have actually taken my mom to doctors there, but at the time I didn't know it was where Klein's had been!

#linguistics #sociolinguistics #Labov

Qu'à cela ne tienne.

Dans notre tribu, on continuera à aller au 4e étage chez Macy's, Saks et chez Klein, si on passe par New York.

⤵️⤵️⤵️
https://bsky.brid.gy/r/https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:qrllvid7s54k4hnwtqxwetrf/post/3ldkat74pps2s

#RIP #labov On garde ses textes, sa créativité, son humanisme.

@linguistics