Final answer:
Higgins and Pickering work on Eliza's use of language because they are experts in the field of dialect. They study linguistics and social dynamics in George Bernard Shaw's play 'Pygmalion'. Their work focuses on Eliza's accent transformation and the impact of language on social class.
Step-by-step explanation:
Higgins and Pickering work on Eliza's use of language because they are experts in the field of dialect. They are specifically interested in Eliza's ability to speak with an upper-class accent, known as received pronunciation.
In George Bernard Shaw's play 'Pygmalion', Higgins and Pickering embark on a linguistic experiment to transform Eliza from a working-class girl with a Cockney accent into a proper lady who can pass as a member of the upper class. Their work focuses on the phonetics and grammar of dialects and social classes.
By analyzing Eliza's transformation, they study the effects of language on social mobility and the power dynamics inherent in linguistic variation.