Scribd
Upload
179 views2 pages

Sociolinguistics: Language & Society

Sociolinguistics is the study of how language is used in social contexts and how societies influence language. It examines [1] how people vary their language between different social groups defined by age, gender, ethnicity, and social class. Sociolinguistics also analyzes [2] how languages change over time and space due to various social, cultural and political factors. Finally, sociolinguistics seeks to [3] understand why people choose different language varieties in different social settings and how language reveals social relationships within a community.

Uploaded by

ᜑ᜔ᜊ᜔ ᜋᜎᜒᜑᜈ᜔ᜇ᜔ᜇᜓ
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
179 views2 pages

Sociolinguistics: Language & Society

Sociolinguistics is the study of how language is used in social contexts and how societies influence language. It examines [1] how people vary their language between different social groups defined by age, gender, ethnicity, and social class. Sociolinguistics also analyzes [2] how languages change over time and space due to various social, cultural and political factors. Finally, sociolinguistics seeks to [3] understand why people choose different language varieties in different social settings and how language reveals social relationships within a community.

Uploaded by

ᜑ᜔ᜊ᜔ ᜋᜎᜒᜑᜈ᜔ᜇ᜔ᜇᜓ
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Sociolinguistics

Reported by: Jener A. Bernabe

Linguistics – is a scientific study of language and its structure and Apart from that, it describes:
has several specific branches of study such as:
1. The changes of a language variety.
1. Applied Linguistics
2. Historical Linguistics
3. Psycholinguistics
4. Sociolinguistics

So, what is Sociolinguistics?

- It concerns the study of


language use in the society,

and the study of language use in


sociocultural contexts.

- It studies about how people


vary in their language use and
He ain’t
provides explanation to their
coming.
linguistic variation.
2. How the speech community maintains the variety.
I already sent to
you lah!

- it also describes language varieties between different:

a. ethnics,

b. social classes,
3. The reasons for language death.

c. gender,

d. and age groups

1
How can we define Sociolinguistics?

(Trudgil, 1974: 32) – “Sociolinguistics”, is that part of linguistics which is concerned with language as a social
and cultural phenomenon. It investigates the field of language and society and has close connections with
the social sciences, especially social psychology, anthropology, human geography, and sociology.

A. How does a language become a social phenomenon?

- Language is one of the most important forms of human behavior. Sociolinguistics believe that speaking is almost always a social act.

There are 7 characteristics of a language:

1. Language is arbitrary.
2. Language is social.
3. Language is symbolic.
4. Language is systematic.
5. Language is vocal.
6. Language is non-instinctive, conventional.
7. Language is productive & creative.

Language is social, when it is used in a social group that involves at least 2 persons, the speaker and the hearer.

Oyewo (2000), believes that the three most important functions of language in communication are:

1. to reveal the self


2. to express feelings and values
3. to convey meaningful message

B. What is language as a cultural phenomenon then?

- there is variation in language and it can come in many forms.


- the variation can be caused by various possible social, historical, cultural, educational, and political impact,
- and at the same time, the variation creates cultural diversity.

According to Homes (1992:16)

- the sociolinguist’s aim is to move towards a theory which provides a motivated account of the way language is used in a community,
and of the choices people make when they use language.

Therefore, to sum up, sociolinguistics is a study of the relationship between language and society. it helps to identify the role of language
in the society and how the society affects the language.

- It helps us to understand why we speak differently in various


social contexts.
- It helps to uncover the social relationships in a community.

You might also like