An Analysis Of Language Varieties Among Characters In Sons And Lovers

In the past, people thought that linguistics and literature were two separatesubjects. Therefore, the analysis of literature works was only from a literary point ofview. With further research and the development of sociolinguistics, its scopeextended to the analysis of literature works. In Sons and Lovers written by DavidHerbert Lawrence, dialogues account for50%, thus one of the distinctive features ofthis novel was the use of sociolinguistics theory---language variants among itscharacters. As we know, sometimes, the way in which you speak is more importantthan what you say. Therefore, the author analyzes alternative uses of two languagevarieties in the dialogues from the perspective of sociolinguistics to show thepsychology of its characters and reveal class distinctions among the Morels and classconflict in the whole society, which deeply reflects the theme of the novel.In this paper, qualitative analysis is adopted. The author uses language variantsto analyze different language variants among characters in Sons and Lovers. Mr.Morel spoke the Bestwood dialect. The author uses dialect to analyze his language.There existed some words which had dropped out in most parts of England givingGertrude freshness and invoking her romantic feelings, which served as activator intheir combination. Suffering coldness from his wife and children after their marriage,Mr. Morel gave up the Standard English which he wanted to use to get close to hiswife and stuck to his own dialect. Sociolinguists believe that though nonstandard codeis lack of social prestige, it has a ‘covert prestige’. Joining in the ‘speech community’,Mr. Morel enjoyed a sense of belonging linguistically. Mrs. Morel spoke the StandardEnglish. The author adopts register to analyze her language. Sociolinguists think thatthe Standard English is connected with higher social status. After their marriage, Mrs.Morel refused to use the Best wood dialect. Even if she used a few local dialects fromtime to time, it was only a mockery to her husband. She required her children to speakStandard English and learn French, because they had high social status in the UK.Finally, the French did bring the opportunity to Paul, but when he was interviewed, the level of his French gave away the social status of their family. Because of theirmother’s dominant status in their family, all the children spoke the Standard English.Paul was a typical representative among them. Sociolinguists think that surroundingshave a great impact on language acquisition process. When Paul was young, he spokethe Standard English and hated his father’s local dialect. When he grew up and wasmature, deeply influenced by the patriarchal society, he wanted to get rid of the‘Oedipus complex’ and had the desire to restore his male identity. His hatred andindifference to father made him turn to the ‘Name-of-the-Father’, which referred tothe Best wood dialect. That he said the local dialect occasionally was to seek his maleidentity. The author adopts the mixed language variety to explain it. Paul useddifferent language variants to different characters, which vividly depicted the changesin his inner world.By the use of different language variants among characters in dialogues, thepsychological world of the characters in the novel portrays and reflects delicately andvividly. The theme of the novel has been further understood by the readers. Theauthor uses different language variants among characters in dialogues to analyzeliterature works to enrich the use of sociolinguistics in the analysis of literary worksand extend the field of sociolinguistics.