Varbrul analysis in applied linguistics: A case study

Horvath, Barbara M.

doi:10.1075/aral.10.2.05hor

Article published In: Australian Applied Language Studies
Edited by Tim F. McNamara
[Australian Review of Applied Linguistics 10:2] 1987
► pp. 59–67

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Varbrul analysis in applied linguistics

A case study

Barbara M. Horvath | University of Sydney

Published online: 1 January 1987

https://doi.org/10.1075/aral.10.2.05hor

Abstract

VARBRUL analysis is a well known technique used in sociolinguistics for the analysis of variable linguistic phenomena and it is suggested that it would also be useful as a tool in Applied Linguistics. A VARBRUL analysis was undertaken of the placement of students of non-English speaking background (NESB) in high, average and low English and mathematics streams in N.S.W. high schools. The purpose of the study was to determine whether or not NESB students were over-represented in the low stream. The factor groups analyzed were ethnic background, school subject and country of birth.

References (4)

References

Guy, G., B. M. Horvath, J. Vonwiller, E. Daisley and I. Rogers (1986) An intonational change in progress in Australian English. Language in Society 15,1:23–51.

Horvath, B. M. (1985) Variation in Australian English: the sociolects of Sydney. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

Sankoff, D. (1975) VARBRUL-2. Unpublished computer program and documentation.

Sankoff, D. and P. Rousseau (1978) Advances in variable rule methodology. In D. Sankoff (ed.) Linguistic variation: models and methods. New York, Academic Press: 57–69.