William Labov
Early Life and Education
William Labov was born on December 4, 1927, in Rutherford, New Jersey. He attended Harvard, where he studied English Literature. However, his interest in language and linguistics was sparked during his time working in the family business, Labov Brothers, where he interacted with a diverse range of people and their unique dialects.
Career and Contributions to Linguistics
After his time at Harvard, Labov decided to pursue his interest in linguistics and enrolled at Columbia to study under Uriel Weinreich. His work at Columbia led to the development of his groundbreaking approach to sociolinguistics, which combined traditional linguistic analysis with empirical methods from the social sciences. This approach, now known as the Labovian sociolinguistic methodology, has been influential in shaping the field of sociolinguistics.
Labov's most famous study, the "New York City Study," examined the speech patterns of New Yorkers and found that linguistic variation was not random, but rather correlated with social factors such as class and ethnicity. This study, published in 1966, was revolutionary in its demonstration that language variation could be systematically studied and understood.
Labov has also made significant contributions to the understanding of African American Vernacular English. His research has shown that AAVE has a complex and systematic structure, challenging the common misconception that it is a "broken" or "slang" form of English.
Later Life and Legacy
Labov continued to teach and conduct research at the University of Pennsylvania until his retirement in 2014. His contributions to the field of sociolinguistics have been widely recognized, and he has received numerous awards and honors, including the prestigious Linguistic Society of America's Lifetime Achievement Award.
Despite his retirement, Labov remains an active figure in the field of linguistics, continuing to publish research and contribute to ongoing debates in the field. His work has left an indelible mark on the field of sociolinguistics and continues to influence new generations of linguists.