Language Variety

 LANGUAGE VARIETY

In sociolinguistics, "language variation" refers to any distinctive variety of language or linguistic speech. Linguists use the word "language variety" (or "variety") to describe all the overlapping subcategories of a language, including dialect, regional dialect, jargon, register, accent, idiolects, slangs, pidgin, creole, diglossia, isogloss & dialect boundary, dialectal continuum, prestige, and style.

1.   Dialect

A different variant of languages connected to a particular area or social class is referred to as a dialect. It is distinct due to its phonology, pronunciation, grammar, and lexicon. There are several dialects in every language.

Regional dialect and social dialect are two types of dialects that might exist in a language, according to Trudgill (1986).

ü Social Dialects

Geographical distance is simply one factor in the formation of various dialects in a place; other factors also play a role. It comprises social status, level of education, racial or ethnic heritage, age, and sexual preference.

ü Regional Dialects

People frequently leave their home countries for new ones for social, economic, and religious reasons. Numerous opportunities for new ideas, languages, cultures and social conventions are presented by this migration. The "language" used by members of civilizations to communicate, whether orally or in writing, is one of the most crucial characteristics of human societies. Different dialects developed as a result of the long-term geographic isolation of communities.

2.   Jargon

A professional or occupational specialized language is referred to as jargon. Such language frequently has little sense to outsiders.

Examples:

A medical specialist, such as a cardiologist, might use terms like MRI, dystrophies, cardiac arrest, etc.

In the corporate world, jargon encompasses

• Best practice - the recommended course of action

• Core competency - the fundamental strength of a team or business

• Due diligence - Doing your study before deciding on a business

• Drill down - to carefully examine a problem

3.   Register

A speaker's language usage in different situations is referred to as their register. These variations in formality, often known as stylistic diversity in linguistics, are called registers. The three most prevalent linguistic registers in prose are Formalized, Non-formal and Neutral.

4.   Accent

The term "accent" is limited to the description of phonological features that reveal a speaker's regional or socioeconomic origins. It differs from the term "dialect," which is used to define elements of pronunciation as well as traits of grammar and vocabulary.

5.   Idiolects

Individualistic speech patterns unique to a person make up an idiolect. An idiolect is a linguistic form or language whose characteristics might be too particularized based on a person's inherent characteristics. The vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar are all specialized.

6.   Slangs

Slang is an extremely informal type of language that uses original and occasionally offensive words and meanings. Slang is frequently connected to specific social groupings, such as teen or professional groups. Slang is not acceptable in official writing or conversation.

7.   Pidgin

 

A pidgin is a type of language that emerged among groups of people who had a lot of connections but did not speak one another's languages for some practical reason, like trading. Native speakers wouldn't be present. The phrase "pidgin" is said to have originated from a Chinese translation of the English word "business."

8.   Creole

A pidgin is referred to as a creole when it progresses past its status as commerce or contact language and becomes the primary language of a social community. Children that grow up in a pidgin-using community learn creole as their first language, and as it is used more for communication, it gets increasingly complicated.

9.   Diglossia

It describes the scenario in which two language varieties coexist in the same speech community. One of them has a high variety, the other a low variety. The extensive variety is formally taught in schools and is intended to be employed in all official processes and literary works. Low-variety language is typically picked up and utilized in social contexts and is rather informal.

10. Isogloss & Dialect boundary

 

An isogloss is a line that delineates the division of a single linguistic object into its several parts.

On the other hand, a more distinct line that denotes a dialect boundary emerges when numerous isoglosses combine in this manner.

11. Dialectal Continuum

The dialectal continuum refers to the gradual blending of one dialect or regional variety of a language into another at dialectal boundaries.

12. Prestige

A "prestige" form is a means to describe how particular people alter their speech.

ü Overt prestige

In contrast to covert prestige, the status is typically acknowledged as "better" or more favourably valued in the greater community.

ü Covert prestige

In contrast to overt prestige, the status of a speech pattern or trait as having a positive value that is "hidden" or not recognized equally by the greater community.

13. Style

Style can be used to explain how speakers use language in various social contexts. One does not have a fixed style and can employ a variety of styles to effectively communicate. Style refers to linguistic variants that have a particularized social meaning (various social groupings or one's views that influence the language). Whether we communicate formally or informally depends on the occasion. Depending on the situation, we can adopt a more formal or casual etiquette. Moreover, style can be used in written language, and stylistics concerns this field of study.

Further, you can check the style and importance of style in stylistics.

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