What is an authorized speaker?

Definition
	An authorized speaker is a speaker that belongs to a socially defined group for whom the use of a distinctive class of linguistic forms is reserved.

Discussion
	The use of distinctive linguistic forms expresses the absolute social deixis of the speaker’s membership in the group.

Example (Thai)
	Thai men and women each use a different politeness particle when speaking. (Haas 1964 cited by Levinson 1979 207 )

Sources
	Levinson 1979 207
	Haas 1964

Context for this page:

Concept module: authorized speaker
In overview module: Glossary (Linguistics): A
In modular book: Glossary of linguistic terms, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H., Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
In bookshelf: Linguistics

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 5 January 2004

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