Varieties of Language in Sociolinguistics | Varieties of Language in Linguistics| Language Varieties

Summary

The video script delves into the realm of linguistics, focusing on social and linguistic variations. It distinguishes between dialects and accents, explaining that dialects are language variations like American English, while accents are pronunciation styles linked to regions or social classes. The script also explores registers, which are language styles for different contexts, and covers various language varieties such as social, ethnic, individual, professional jargon, creole, and slang. It concludes with discussions on gender lexicon, diglossia, lingua franca, style shifting, code switching, and youth language, providing a comprehensive overview of how language adapts to society and culture.

Takeaways

• 📚 Linguistics is the scientific study of language, including its structure, sounds, words, grammar, and meaning.
• 🌐 Social Linguistics explores how social factors like region, class, gender, and age influence language variation, usage, and attitudes.
• 🗣️ A dialect is a regional variation of a language, such as American English vs. British English, and may include unique vocabulary and grammar.
• 👄 An accent is a distinctive way of pronouncing a language, often associated with a specific region or social class.
• 🔤 Register refers to different levels of formality or styles within a language, like formal speech in a job interview versus casual conversation.
• 🏛️ Religious register is a specific type of language used in religious contexts, such as in prayers or scriptures.
• 👩‍⚖️ Legal register involves the specialized language used in legal contexts, including technical terms and formal expressions.
• 👨‍💻 Jargon is the specialized vocabulary used within a particular profession or group, like medical or computer programming terms.
• 🌍 Ethol refers to language varieties associated with specific ethnic or cultural groups, such as African American Vernacular English.
• 👥 Code switching is the practice of alternating between two or more languages or language varieties within a single conversation.
• 🔄 Style shifting is the ability to switch language styles based on social context, such as using more formal language in a business meeting.

Q & A

What is linguistics?

Linguistics is the scientific study of language and its structure, which includes the analysis of sounds, words, grammar, and meaning. It also investigates how languages are structured, function, are acquired, and are used.

How is social linguistics different from linguistics?

Social linguistics is a subfield of linguistics that specifically explores the relationship between language and society. It investigates how social factors such as region, class, ethnicity, gender, and age influence language variation, usage, and attitudes.

What is the difference between a dialect and an accent?

A dialect is a regional variation of a language with its own vocabulary, diction, and sometimes grammar. An accent, on the other hand, is a distinctive way of pronouncing a language, often associated with a particular country, area, or social class. Accents are primarily related to pronunciation, while dialects may include more extensive linguistic differences.

Can you provide an example of a dialect?

An example of a dialect is American English versus British English, where both are variations of the English language but have different vocabularies, grammar rules, and pronunciations.

What is register in the context of language?

Register refers to different levels of formality or styles within a language, appropriate for specific contexts. It can be situational, such as language used in religious ceremonies or occupational settings, and it varies based on the formality and purpose of the communication.

What are some examples of registers discussed in the script?

Examples of registers discussed include religious register, legal register, and linguistic register. Religious register might involve phrases like 'May Allah forgive us,' while legal register could use terms like 'PL tip is ready to take the witness stand.'

What is ethnolect and how does it differ from a dialect?

An ethnolect is a language variety associated with a particular ethnic or cultural group. It differs from a dialect in that it is more focused on the cultural and ethnic aspects of language use, often reflecting the unique speech patterns and vocabulary of a specific community.

Can you explain what idiolect is?

Idiolect refers to the individual variations in language use, where each person has their own unique way of speaking. It encompasses the personal speech patterns, vocabulary, and pronunciation habits that make one's language use distinct from others.

What is jargon and how does it relate to language varieties?

Jargon is specialized vocabulary used within a particular group or profession, such as medical jargon or computer programming terminology. It is a defining feature of a register and is typically composed of technical vocabulary that is specific to a field and may not be understood by those outside of it.

How is creole different from a dialect?

A creole is a stable, natural language that develops from a mixture of different languages, often in situations where people from diverse linguistic backgrounds need a common means of communication. It is a fully developed language with its own grammar and vocabulary, unlike a dialect, which is a variation of an existing language.

What is the purpose of language style shifting?

Language style shifting is the ability to switch between different language varieties based on the social context. It allows individuals to adapt their language use to fit the situation, such as using more formal language in a business meeting and more casual language with friends.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Linguistics and Social Linguistics

The script introduces the viewer to the YouTube channel and the topic of the day: the six varieties of language in social linguistics. Linguistics is defined as the scientific study of language and its structure, which includes sounds, words, grammar, and meaning. The paragraph discusses how linguistics analyzes the structure of any language and how languages function, are acquired, and are used. Social linguistics, a subset of linguistics, explores the relationship between language and society, including how social factors like region, class, ethnicity, gender, and age influence language variation, usage, and attitudes.

05:00

🗣️ Dialects and Accents

This section distinguishes between dialects and accents. A dialect is described as a regional variation of a language, like American English and British English, while an accent refers to the pronunciation of a language, which can be associated with a specific country, area, or social class. The paragraph explains that everyone speaks with an accent and that accents are a part of dialects, focusing on pronunciation. It also addresses the myth that some people do not have an accent, clarifying that all language speakers have some form of dialect or accent.

10:02

🔤 Varieties of Language

The script continues by discussing various types of language varieties within social linguistics. It defines register as different levels of formality or styles within a language, such as the language used in a job interview versus a casual conversation. The paragraph provides examples of different registers, including religious, legal, and linguistic registers. It also covers social dialects, which are variations based on social factors like class or education, and ethnolects, which are language varieties associated with particular ethnic or cultural groups. Idiolect, jargon, and creole are also explained, with examples provided for each.

15:04

🌐 Language Variations and Their Uses

The final paragraph covers additional language varieties such as slang, argot, genderlect, diglossia, lingua franca, code-switching, and style shifting. Slang is described as informal words or expressions used within a specific social group. Argot is a specialized language used by a group to exclude outsiders. Genderlect refers to language variations associated with gender. Diglossia is the coexistence of two distinct varieties of a language within a community, each serving different social functions. Lingua franca is a common language adopted for communication between speakers of different native languages. Code-switching is the alternating between two or more languages in a single conversation. Style shifting is the ability to switch language varieties based on social context. The paragraph concludes with a call to action for viewers to like, share, comment, and subscribe to the channel for more informative content.

Keywords

💡Linguistics

Linguistics is the scientific study of language and its structure, encompassing sounds, words, grammar, and meaning. It is central to the video's theme as it sets the stage for understanding the various ways language can vary in society. The script mentions linguistics as the foundation for exploring social languages and their structures across different languages such as Chinese, English, Urdu, Bengali, and Hindi.

💡Social Linguistics

Social Linguistics is a subfield of linguistics that investigates the relationship between language and society. It is crucial to the video's narrative as it delves into how social factors like region, class, ethnicity, gender, and age influence language variation, usage, and attitudes. The script uses social linguistics to explain the differences in language use across various social strata and geographical regions.

💡Dialect

A dialect is a regional variation of a language, like American English or British English. The script clarifies the difference between a dialect and an accent, stating that dialects may include their own vocabulary, diction, and sometimes grammar. It uses dialects to illustrate how language can vary significantly within the same language across different regions.

💡Accent

An accent refers to the pronunciation of a language, particularly one associated with a specific country, area, or social class. The video script explains that everyone speaks with an accent, which is a part of their dialect. It uses examples such as the British and American pronunciation of 'car' and 'dance' to highlight the differences in accents.

💡Register

Register is defined in the script as different levels of formality or styles within a language, appropriate for specific contexts. It relates to the video's theme by showing how language use adapts to situations, such as formal settings like job interviews versus informal conversations with friends. The script provides examples of religious, legal, and linguistic registers to illustrate the concept.

💡Etholect

An etholect is a language variety associated with a particular ethnic or cultural group. The video uses the example of African American Vernacular English (AAVE) to demonstrate how language can be influenced by cultural and ethnic identities, showing how etholects are a significant aspect of social linguistics.

💡Idiolect

Idiolect refers to the individual variations in language use, where each person has their unique way of speaking. The script explains idiolect as part of the spectrum of language variation, emphasizing the personal touch each individual brings to language, which is a subtle yet important aspect of social linguistics.

💡Jargon

Jargon is the specialized vocabulary used within a particular group or profession. The video script mentions medical jargon and computer programming terminology as examples, highlighting how language can become highly specialized and technical within specific fields, which is a key aspect of language variation in professional contexts.

💡Creole

A creole is a stable natural language that develops from a mixture of different languages. The script uses Haitian Creole as an example to illustrate how creoles emerge and become distinct languages in their own right, showing the dynamic nature of language development and variation.

💡Pigeon

Pigeon, or pidgin, is a simplified language that develops as a means of communication between groups with no common language. The video script mentions Tok Pisin in Papua New Guinea as an example, demonstrating how language can adapt to serve practical communication needs in diverse linguistic environments.

💡Slang

Slang refers to informal words or expressions used within a specific social group. The script provides examples like 'lit' for exciting and 'cold' for something unexciting, showing how slang is a form of language variation that is closely tied to social groups and their cultural expressions.

Highlights

Introduction to the topic of language varieties in social linguistics.

Definition of linguistics as the scientific study of language and its structure.

Explanation of social linguistics and its focus on the relationship between language and society.

Discussion on how social factors influence language variation, usage, and attitudes.

Definition and differentiation between dialects and accents.

Explanation of how dialects include vocabulary, diction, and sometimes grammar variations.

Description of accents as distinctive pronunciation associated with regions or social classes.

Myth versus reality of accents and dialects in language use.

Introduction to the concept of register as different levels of formality within a language.

Examples of register in religious, legal, and linguistic contexts.

Definition of social dialects as variations based on social factors like class or education.

Ethol explained as language varieties associated with particular ethnic or cultural groups.

Idiolect described as individual variations in language use.

Jargon defined as specialized vocabulary within a particular group or profession.

Creole as a stable natural language developed from a mixture of different languages.

Pigeon languages as simplified means of communication between groups with no common language.

Slang as informal words or expressions used within a specific social group.

Argot as a specialized language used by a group to exclude or mislead outsiders.

Genderlects as language variations associated with gender differences.

Diglossia as the coexistence of two distinct varieties of a language within a community.

Lingua franca as a language adopted for communication between speakers of different native languages.

Style shifting as the ability to switch between different language varieties based on social context.

Code switching as alternating between two or more languages or language varieties in a conversation.

Youth language and religious dialects as examples of language variations within specific groups.

Encouragement for viewers to like, share, comment, and subscribe for more informative content.

Transcripts

hi everyone welcome to my YouTube

channel let's learn with they are since

it's morning here if you are watching

this video at morning time so good

morning to you as well otherwise good

afternoon good evening whatever time

you're watching this video today's topic

is related to languis sixs varieties of

language in Social languis sixs or

languis one of the most important topics

of languis sixs or social languis sixs

so let's get started first we will know

about languis stics that what is languis

stics languis sixs is actually the

scientific study of language and its

structure now what are included in

structures like sounds words grammar and

meaning it involves analyze how

languages are structur means how any

language is structure either that is

Chinese English Udu Bengali Hindi any

language how that language is

structured then we discuss that thing in

in

langues and how they function means if

any language is there if that language

is structured so how that language

functions and how they are acquired and

used like how the language is acquired

by children so these all things are

discussed in linguistics it's all about

scientific study of any

language the second point that is what

is social Linguistics social Linguistics

is actually the part and parcel or the

typee of linguistics so the word social

itself says that social means society

listic means language means the language

which is spoken or the language which is

related to society it explores the

relationship between language and

Society investigating how social factors

such as region class eity gender and age

influence language variation usage and

attitudes now how the region like there

are different

regions uh in your country so how they

use the language and there are different

classes like upper class lower class

middle class so how they use that

language in any society the same ensity

gender like male female how they use the

language differently in society the same

age influence how the children uh use

language or how the adults use language

in society so these all things are

discussed in Social languis sixs now our

main purpose is varieties of language in

Social listic or languis sixs so here we

go that dialects the first point we are

having that is

dialects now I'm going to represent

dialects as well as accent that what is

the difference between dialect and

accent here is actually a short

definition original variations of a

language like American English or

British English that is what that is

dialect but do you know what is accent

accent is a distinctive way of

pronouncing a language especially one

associated with a particular country

area or social class broadly stated your

accent is the way you should when you

speak whether when speaks in the

standard variety of a language or not

one always speaks with an accent Technic

the term accent is restricted to the

description of aspects of pronunciation

that identify when or where an

individual is from regionally or

socially so this was the proper

definition of accent by

Geor Geor is actually a

langu now the purpose of this video is

also dialect now what is dialect dialect

is the language variety dialect is the

language language variety one speaks and

what is accent accent is the way one

speaks accent is related to

pronunciation mainly while dialects may

include their own

vocabulary diction and sometimes grammar

as

well some languages or some language

speakers can have different accents

likewise some dialect speakers can also

have different

accents now we will discuss about

myth versus reality of accent so the

myth and reality of accent is like some

speakers have accents and the others

don't some speakers have easily

recognizable While others have less

noticeable accent and the myth and

reality of dialect is a dialect is

sometimes or something that someone else

speaks everyone who speaks a language

speaks some dialect of the language

or an accent is a part of a dialect if

we go for another definition that is an

accent is actually a part of dialect and

refers to the way how people pronounce

specific words and phrases this is the

manner in which different people

pronounce words of the same language

differently from each other for example

a British the word car pronounce it car

so they write like in this way car okay

and American they pronounce it like

car they do or they pronounce like in

this way so I hope uh you got the point

regarding British pronunciation as well

as American pronunciation like the

britisher Says dance but the American

Says

dance water water okay the same either

either oil oil okay so these this is the

main difference between dialect as well

as

accent now the second variety we have

that is register what is register

register is actually uh like different

levels of formality or Styles within a

language for example the language used

in a job interview versus casual

conversation with friend or the second

definition that of register is a

register is a conventional way of using

language that is appropriate in specific

context which may be identified as

situational okay for example uh like

church Masjid Temple For Occupational

now situational is what situational is

actually like

church Masjid Temple the same what is

occupational occupational means like uh

among okay like the other we use the

among word we use where obviously it is

used in grr and we can use anywhere but

it is like for

occupational now there are different uh

types of register for example religious

register uh the example of uh religious

register is y yes shall be blessed by

him in times of tribulation or may Allah

forgive us now this is what this is

actually religious registration there is

also legal registration legal register

the legal register is like uh the word

like PL tip PL tip is the plan tip is

ready to take the witness Str so it's

related to law or according to the

section 32 so it is what it is actually

legal register or the first one we

discussed that was religious register so

there are many like linguistic register

this is what listic register is what in

this this dialect there are like fewer

inflectional suffixes or

prefixes or in U we say AB prefixes

ores okay so this is what these are

actually the three types of register

what is what one is religious the second

one is legal the third one is

linguistic okay then we have the uh

third variety that is social social act

social actually it is related to society

so variations based on social Factor

such as class or education an example is

a language used by Professionals in a

specific field compared to nonexperts

this is a proper example you can easily

understand it that what is social

Le the fourth variety that is e ethol

Etho is language varieties associated

with particular ethenic or cultural

group now every culture uh language is

associated with any culture for example

here we have example of African American

vericle English which is abbrevation the

abbrevation is a a v is an example okay

so they have their own way of

pronouncing the words or using the

English

language then we have the fifth that is

edicts it is not Ideo it is Ed

individual variations in language use

each person has their own unique way of

speaking Edo means like the individual

speaking mean the person who uses

language in their own way that comes in

the category of idio

Le then we have jargon now what is

jargon specialized vocabulary within a

particular group of profession medical

jargon or computer programming

terminology are examples so jargon

second definition is one of the defining

features of a register is the use of

jargon which is spe uh special technical

vocabulary like typically pronoun

typically nouns for example plenti now

plenti word is associated with what it

is actually associated with law the same

uh Dermatology Dermatology word is

associated with medical so jargon is

actually a specialized vocabulary which

is associated with any field either that

is law either that is uh medical or any

other

field creol now what is creol a stable

natural language developed from a

mixture of different languages like

hatian creol is an example I have

already made videos regarding creol as

well as pigeon so you must go through

those videos that will also help you

creol is like as it has been mentioned

that a stable natural language developed

from a mixture of different but it is

actually the mixture of different

languages and then one language is

formed that language is called Creole

pigeon now what is Pigeon a simplified

language that you as a means of

communication between groups with no

common language like talk p in in Papua

New Ghana is an example okay so it is

actually uh like a language which is

developed as a means of communication

like I don't know your language and you

don't know my language one language is

developed that language is called pigeon

here is an example of

African slang slang word you may you are

uh you all are familiar with it informal

words or Expressions often used within a

specific social group example lit for

something something exciting or cold

okay so slang words you are already

familiar with it like there are

different slang uddu slangs uh English

slangs Australian slangs there are

different slang even you know your in

your local languages there are slang

words arot A specialized language used

by a particular group of to exclude or

mislead Outsiders this is the best like

uh the person whenever he comes to your

village and you use that language which

he does or she does not know so just to

misled The Outsider just to exclude the

outsider that comes in the category of

OT for example thieves now there are

there may be Thieves in your uh Society

they may misguide the people okay just

for their own

purpose and it is a it is this language

is actually used by a particular group

means not the whole society use this

language it is just used by a particular

group okay then we have the gender lexs

gender lexs is actually language

variations associated with gender for

instance differences in language used

between men and women actually it is a

language like the female use soft words

and the male use harsh words so this is

the main difference between gender Lex

then we have diglosia now what is dagosa

the coexistence of two distinct

varieties of a language within a

community means there is one language

but that language is used in two

different ways like here we have a

example each serving different social

functions for example Standard Arabic

used in formal settings while cical

Arabic means of Arabic which we use in

our society or which we use with our

friends you use in your everyday

conversation so it is actually a diagnos

it has also two types low and upper

Mo language mooch means imitating like

playful or imitate language used for

humor or to convey a sense of

belonging for example up speak or Val

speak among some language speakers Mo

language is actually to imitate

someone's language okay or to imitate

someone's words to convey or to create

humor langua fra langa franka is

actually a language adopted as a common

means of communication between speakers

of different Native languages historical

example Mediterranean Traders using

Italian as a langu franka so it is also

a language where I don't know your

language and you do know my language

then we use any other language we take

uh the uh we take the help of another

language and we use that language in our

trades or any and anywhere then that

language comes in the category of langa

franka style Shifting the ability to

switch between different language VAR is

based on the social context for example

a person using more following language

in a business meeting and Casual

language with friends for example if I

stand with you I may use formal language

because I don't know you but if I stand

with my friends I may use informal

language or I may use casual language

which I use with my friends or family so

that is what that is actually a Le shift

style shifting

then we have code switching now what is

code switching code is actually the word

code itself uh in languis we say

language alternating between two or more

languages or language varieties within a

single conversation for example a

bilingual person using English and

Spanish interchangeably if I'm here if I

speak two languages if I speak Udu as

well as English so what will I do if I

speak with any other person that that is

a Udu speaker or English speaker Udu

speaker so what will I do first I will

use like I will say that uh I will

go I will go that is what that is

actually a English

so that is actually a translation but

the same how can you use code

switching like I will be

there I will be

there

help so this is what this is actually

code switching I'm using English as well

as uru youth language distinct language

veterans ass with younger generation

example internet slangs now these all

words are actually used for internet or

sometimes when we have conversation with

anyone we use such kind of words like

LOL or BRB okay there are many others

like youth language

slangs religious dialects uh religious

registers as I mentioned earlier too

that religious register is actually uh

the register or the language which is

used in religion like I say may Allah

bless you so that is what that's

actually original register language

associations with religious context for

example the language used in religious

ceremonies or uh scriptures uh like if

you go to Masjid Temple or any church

the the Imam or the priest or the uh

other like we say the person who uh who

is in uh Temple so what will he do he

will obviously uh use that language

which is related or associated with

religion so that is what that is

actually religious registers so I hope

this video has been helpful for you I

tried my best to ensure you or to

understand you regarding this topic if

this video has sparked your interest I

request you suggest you to like share

comment and do subscribe to the channel

see you in the next video take care of

yourself if you have any question you

can ask in comment section or if you

want to suggest any topic I will

definitely make video for you people

take care of yourself Allah