Language Variation

Language variation

1. It refers to the differences and diversity in how a language is used across different social, geographical, and situational contexts

2. It shows the existence of language varieties side by side and illustrates that they are in constant change

Codes and situations

1. Code refers to a distinct form of language (or language variety) that speakers use in different social contexts.

• A "code" can be a language, dialect, register, or even a style of speaking

• The choice of code depends on the situation, which includes factors like setting, audience, and purpose

• There is code-mixing (when the speaker uses two or more language varieties) and code-switching

2. Situation refers to the social context that influences code choice. Key factors are:

• Setting (where it takes place)

• Participants

• Topic

• Purpose

Language and dialect

1. Language identity - what makes us decide whether two linguistic codes are two separate languages or just varieties of one language

• it is a socio-psychological concept

• one language is the sum of all the varieties that their users are culturally and politically conditioned to regard as one and the same language

2. Dialect - is a particular variation of language

• User-related variation:

• Regional dialect - the variety of language which is used in a certain geographical area

• dialects may differ in vocabulary, pronunciation, morphology, and syntax AND the difference between dialects is not clear

• they can be established by collecting linguistic features characteristic of the area (isoglosses - the line marking the limit of the distribution of a linguistic feature on a map, show it)

Standard and non-standard

1. Standard/prestige variety - one of the regional varieties gains social-political priority over the others

• used for education, scholarship, and state administration

• not restricted to the geographical area, but it’s associated with people who are educated, who are at the top of the socio-cultural scale, no matter where they live

• not a regional dialect, it’s a social dialect /sociolect - a variety of language used by people in the same socio-cultural position

• it is not linguistically better than other varieties

2. Non-standard variety - refers to any form of a language that differs from the standardised (officially recognized, prestige) version in terms of pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, or usage

• They are often associated with specific regions, social groups, or informal contexts

• Often stigmatised - seen as “uneducated” or “incorrect”

Some key terms

1. Pidgin - is a simplified, makeshift language that develops when groups with no common language need to communicate

• No native speakers

• Short term use

• Simplified vocabulary

2. Creole - it develops when a pidgin becomes the first language of a new generation, gaining complex grammar and vocabulary

• Native speakers (children learn it from the birth)

• Full language status

• Mixes colonial and local languages

3. Idiolect - the total of all varieties of a language that a person knows

4. Diglossia - two distinct varieties of a language co-occur in a speech community, one with a higher social prestige, and one with a low social prestige

Speech and writing

1. It is the possible ways of communication (like a medium of communication)

2. Writing is more careful, and it has longer sentences because the addressee is not present (no physical context)

3. Speech is spontaneous, often unplanned, uses prosody, interactive

Style

1. It refers to the way language is adapted based on social context, relationship between speakers, and the formality of the situation

2. It is influenced by:

• Social status

• Attitude towards the listener

• Setting

3. Types of style:

• Neutral style

• Formal style (used in public speeches, serious polite talk, serious writing; very formal: rigid)

• Informal/colloquial style (used in private conversations, personal letters, popular newsletters; very informal: familiar; includes slang)