Indexing linguistic insecurity in Winnipeg
Date
1983
Authors
Owens, Thompson
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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to validate the Canadian Index of Linguistic Insecurity test as a measure of the attitude linguistic insecurity in two communities of Winnipeg.
The Canadian Index of Linguistic Insecurity (CILI) test is a parallel form of Labov's Index of Linguistic Insecurity (ILI) test. The ILI test was developed as part of Labov's study of New York English.
The CILI test and the ILI test were given in the same interview to a random sample of eighty households in the Winnipeg communities of Lord Roberts and Riverview in order to obtain a wide stratification. The data were analyzed in terms of the variables social class and sex.
The CILI test showed a strong criterion validity, in that there was a high positive correlation between the scores of the ILI test and the scores of the CILI test. The CILI test also showed construct validity in that the CILI proved to be more sensitive to linguistic insecurity in Winnipeg than did the ILI test. The 'stronger' effect of the CILI was attributed to the fact that the items of the CILI more appropriately reflect the evaluational norms of the Winnipeg speech community.