Lexical gap between old and new generations in a Jizani dialect: a sociolinguistic mixed method study

Abstract

PurposeThis study aims to identify and measure the lexical gap between the old and young generations in the Jizani dialect and determine the causes of that gap.Design/methodology/approachA 20-item questionnaire was distributed randomly among 104 participants. Next, 12 participants were selected and interviewed. SPSS software was used to analyse the quantitative data from the questionnaire. The data elicited from the interviews was qualitatively analysed, considering age and gender factors.FindingsThe major findings revealed that a lexical gap between old and young language speakers in the Jizani dialect exists. The gap between young females and the older generation was greater than that between young and old males. Some old words are likely to disappear in the coming decades. Social media, which is a time-consuming and word-borrowing medium for young people, was one of the reasons, besides the tendency of females to use prestigious words.Originality/valueThis study attempted to find the differences between the vocabularies of old and young speakers. If it does exist, is it significant? What are the reasons for this lexical gap? This will help other researchers and dialectologists register the old words before they die out and try to bridge that lexical gap.

Gender-Based Linguistic Patterns in Quora Apps: A Comparative Study

“…An age-based linguistic divergence was notably detected in the Jizani dialect, highlighting a more prominent gap between younger females and older generations compared to their male counterparts. It was due to the fact that older generations spoke Jizani when they were younger (Hakami, 2022). These studies affirm the profound impact of societal norms and structures on shaping gendered language behaviors across various settings and cultures.…”

“…Scholars have recently directed their attention towards this phenomenon, as evidenced by the investigations by researchers who explore the intricate nuances of language usage in males and females. (Anggraini et al, 2022;Hakami, 2022;Kurniawati, 2021) Language, an essential discourse instrument, is intricately entwined with gender. It functions as a differentiating element in the linguistic expressions of individuals, resulting in the classification of language into terms associated with males and females (Wardhaugh & Fuller, 2021).…”