SOCIOLINGUISTIC

SOCIOLINGUISTICSBranch of Linguistics which deals with the study of language use in society and in sociocultural context. In addition, it is the study of the linguistic indicators of culture and power (Schmitt,2011).

Sociolinguistics:Studies language explains WHY languagesvariations (dialects, studies changeaccents) language change

It describes language varieties between different ethic, religious, status, and gender groups; and explains how educational level,

age, etc., may influence the language differences, and categorizes individuals in social or socioeconomic classes.

Language variations

Variety of a language is “a set of linguistic items with similar distribution” (Hudson, 1980,p.24)

Standard language Non standard language

Standard Language

It refers to mode of usage of most educated speakers of a language and established as the

prestigious form of that language.This term is also used for that variety of a language which is considered to be the norm.

Non Standard Language

The term non standard was originally used by linguists to refer to language varieties that had previously been labeled with terms such as vulgar.

Non standard English differs from standard English at the level of grammar (it does not follow the grammar or pronunciation rules of standard language)

DIALECT AND ACCENTDialect can be defined as STANDARD language, or

PRESTIGE DIALECT used in business, education, and media.Dialect can be described at different levels according to

variations.Phonological ( differences in pronunciation, ex: in Spanish llave (llave) – llave (shave)Morphological (word structure)Syntactic (it can be represented by different word order in sentences)Semantic (differences in meaning, ex: football – soccer)Grammatical ( differences in grammar structures may depend on social statues of speakers, age, gender)

Accent It is a pattern or manner of pronunciation An accent may identify the locality in which its

speakers reside. (geographical or regional accent)It can indicate the socio-economic status of its

speakers, their ethnicity or social class.Accent can also allow to determine the speaker’s

native language.Accents typically differ in quality of voice,

pronunciation of vowels and consonants, and stress pitch.

DIALECT ACCENT

It refers to the It refers to differences broader set of in pronunciation linguistic differences

SLANG AND JARGONJargon is defined in relationship to a specific

activity, profession, group, or event.Jargon: the language used by people who

work in a particular area or who have common interest.

Jargon can be technical language, for instance, the language used in a given profession ( medical jargon, nautical jargon, etc.)

Jargon is used with these purpose

Provides speakers Provides speakers of a of specialized domains subgroup with a means with clear, well-defined, of marking in group unambiguous terms to membership and refer to their activities. Exclude outsiders

SLANGIt refers to the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard It may refer to things in the speaker’s dialect considered taboo or or language. Euphemisms “(The sub- stitution of an inoffensive terms such as “passed away” for “died”)

JARGON vs. SLANG

Refers to the technical a variety of language used by vocabulary of a particular a restricted part of population, profession group, or trade usually young people, or teenagers“unintelligible writing or talk” its vocabulary is not long- lasting (not in fashion anymore)“specific dialects resulting “slang” usually means rude or From a mixture of several very informal language.languages”