Linguistic Variation
As to what we know, language is a method of communication in which we make sounds
or utterances. It consists of structured words in accordance to what is generally done by us, in
order to speak or make sounds with comprehension or in a way that others can fully understand.
Language is what makes us humans because we are the only beings in our planet to use complex
speech and makes us able to produce messages within ourselves (Deutscher, 2006). It can either
be spoken or written and it takes a big role in the human existence and evolution, but its origin
was never figured and remains as much as a mystery as of today, yet, it continues to evolve.
Language varies across time, generation by generation and thus, always changing. The
study or a scientific approach of this changeable method of communication has come to be
known as linguistics and the study on how it changes in social groups is known as
sociolinguistics. As to what words we saw or hear today is a proof that language changes such as
using invented or borrowed words (e.g. street languages, colloquial words etc.), evolved
pronunciations, and development of morphology. Liberman (2003) stated in his article, another
possible proof that language varies is that you never seem to hear aged people giving comments
on how the language of younger generation has changed, compared to the language of their own
youth.
According to Labov (2001), in his study on linguistics, variation in language refers to
society’s social components and how these components or factors take a role in varieties of
language. According to his research, the three social factors that play a role in language variation
are class, ethnicity, and gender. He proved that the distinction of speaking is actually influenced
by social factors in society. Other possible reasons for the change of transition of language might
be ascribed to cultural evolution unit are the memes or a meme, which serves as a unit that
carries practices or norms, behaviors and cultural ideas.
A change in language can originate in language learning, the recreation of grammar and
lexicon based on input received of the speech community; social differentiation, adopting
distinctive norms of social groups such as language; and natural processes in usage, casual and
rapid naturally produce processes.
Language varies and produces time to time, and can recognize as mutable. Language
variation is the product in the discovery of using slang and colloquial words and is highly
important in teaching language because its cultural contribution values regards to the different
ways of using the language functions and such aspects in language.