Sociolinguistics: It is a branch of linguistic which studies the relation between language
and society.
In sociolinguistics, age, gender, education, religion, and social class are important factors
that influence language variation and usage within a given speech community. Discuss.
1. Age: It is an important sociolinguistic variable as language changes over time. Different
age groups may exhibit different linguistic features and use language in different ways.
For example, younger generations might adopt new vocabulary or language technologies
more easily, while older generations may preserve traditional language forms.
2. Gender: It is another important factor in sociolinguistics. Men and women often
exhibit differences in language use and speech patterns. These differences can be shown in
areas such as vocabulary, intonation, conversational style, and even the choice of specific
linguistic forms.
3. Education: Education level has an important effect on language variation. People with
higher levels of education often possess more extensive vocabularies, greater syntactic
complexity, and a higher degree of language proficiency. Education can also affect
language attitudes and the use of prestige varieties or standard forms of a language.
4. Religion: It can shape language use and variation within a speech community.
Religious practices, rituals, and beliefs may influence the adoption of specific linguistic
registers or codes. Religious communities might develop their own specialized
terminology, religious texts, or linguistic conventions that are distinct from those of the
wider society.
5. Social Class: It refers to the hierarchical divisions within a society based on such
factors as wealth, occupation, and social status. Different social classes may exhibit
different linguistic patterns, vocabulary choices, and accents. For instance, certain dialects
or accents might be associated with specific social classes, and individuals may modify
their language use to correspond with their perceived social identity or to indicate their
social aspirations.
Language is divided into two types: Standard and non-standard
Standard Language : It is a language variety used in printed newspapers, magazines,
mass media, schools. Colleges and governmental institutions.
Non-standard language : It is a language variety used in other situations, not in
newspapers, magazines, mass media, schools. Colleges and governmental institutions.
Dialect: A language variety used by a group of people which is recognized by differences
in vocabulary, lexi, grammar and pronunciation.
Accent: A language variety used by a group of people which is recognized by
differences in pronunciation.
Idiolect: A language variety used by an individual.
Style: A language variety according to users of language(Speaker and hearer).
style id of two types: Formal, Informal
Martin Joas (1962) recognizer five style: formal(Frozen and formal),
Informal(Consultative, Casual, Intimate)
Register->Field
Field of Discourse: What is the discourse about the subject matter of the discourse.
Tenor of Discourse: the participants involved in the discourse.
Mode of discourse: The channel of communication (spoken or written channel)
Register:A language variety according to use (context o f situation) which depends on
profession or occupation.
For example, Legal register, regions register, sport register.
Jargon: The vocabulary used by users of language pertaining to a particular register.
Discourse analysis: Is defined as language in use.
1) What is Discourse?
–Discourse is any spoken stretch of language, whether short or long, on which we focus.
2) What is Text?
–Text is any written stretch of language, whether short or long, on which we focus.
*Discourse or Text is any stretch of language, whether spoken or written, short or long,
on which we focus.
3)What are the main features of textuality? Connectivity
1. Cohesion
Cohesion Coherence
2. Coherence
3. In intentionality Surface Deep
4. Informativity. Visible Invisible
5. Acceptability(Readability) Explicite Implicit
6. Situality
overt Cover
7. Intertextuality.
Objection(agree Subjective( not
upon) agree)
Connectivity is of two types: Cohesion and
Coherence. Between Between ideas or
seventeen's concept in the mind
-Cohesion is one of the seven features of textuality. It
refers to surface, explicit, overt and objective
connectivity between the different part(sentence)pt the text or discourse. Cohesion is of
two types: Grammatical and Lexical
Cohesion
Grammatical Cohesion Lexical Cohesion
Reference Substitution Ellipsis Conjunction Reiteration
Pronouns Normal Normal Additive synonymy
The definite Verbul Verbul Contrastive Near synonymy
article
Demonstratives Clausal Clausal Causal collocation
Comparatives Temporal Hyponymy
Antonymy
