NAME : ZENNI WELZA

SRN : 17050025
SUBJECT : SOSIOLINGUISTIC

TUTOR-MARKED ASSIGNMENT 1
1. Explain the relationship between language and society.
Answer : Language performs various functions in the society and the society
does the same way. If one will not exist, the other one will be affected.
Language is the primary tool for communication purposes, for
establishing peace and order in our society, for showing authority and
power, and for attaining goals and objectives.

2. What are the social factors that influence language use?

Answer : Social Class, Social context, Geographical Origins, Ethnicity,
Nationality, Gender, and Age.

3. Discuss the role played by Ferdinand de Saussure in the study of language and
society.
Answer : For Saussure, individuals make use of the structures and elements tha
are there, but they do not change them. The arrangements and elements
are pre-given by society. This question of agency has been one of the
central issues in the turn to a social view of language. A second
consequence, perhaps the central one in structuralist linguistics, is that
of meaning. If, in arranging the comfortable corner, I only have the one
easy chair, coffee table and sofa, I simply use what I have. Of course, I
can arrange them in different ways, and that makes a difference in how
the room feels in its 'meaning'. But as I had no choice in what to use,
no meaning attaches to my use of the three items. Meaning of one kind
arises from the possibilities of selection from a range of elements
within one paradigm. A second kind of meaning arises from the fact
that different types of chairs are, in fact, cultural encodings of different
possible forms of behaviour: A stool asks me to sit differently to an
 easy chair. Setting up the room for a job interview with a stool for the
interviewee and easy chairs for the interviewers – to make a ridiculous
example – would set the tone decisively. The elements in systems of
choice have meaning because they refer to elements (objects or
practices) in other systems of choice. For Saussure, both kinds of
meaning were important. On the one hand, to put it too simply, the sign
is based on the relation of reference. The sign is a device for permitting
form to express meaning because it is a means for allowing one
element to be the form (the signifier) through which another element,
the meaning (the signified) finds its realisation; its expression. A rose
can be the form for the expression of the meaning ‘love’. A connection
is made between an element in the system of language, and an element
in the system of culturally salient values. The former 'refers' to the
latter.

4. Distinguish briefly between sociolinguistics and sociology of language.

Answer : Sociolinguistics is a branch of linguistics that examines the relationship
between language and the community of its speakers. This science is a
contextual study of variations in language use in natural
communication. Besides the term sociolinguistics, the term sociology is
also used. Many people think it is the same, but many also consider it
different. Some say using the term sociolinguistics because the
research entered from the field of linguistics, while the term sociology
of language is used if the research was entered from the field of
sociology. (Nababan 1884: 3 also Brigh 1992: vol. 4: 9). JA Fishman, a
sociolinguistic expert who has a very large share in sociolinguistics
studies, said that sociolinguistics studies prioritized qualitative, while
the study of sociology in quantitative language was original. So
sociolinguistics is more related to the details of the use of language that
is sebernanya, such as descriptions of patterns of language use or diale
in a particular business.
5. Explain Saussure’s perception of language and society.
Answer : Saussure argues that it cannot be neutral or ni-meaning, Language is
not as a vehicle to mediate the exchange of ideas but also a very
powerful instrument that can shape economic and socio-political
definitions in a country. He also saw that language is not only a
phenomenon that carries the values and ideology of a certain
dominant community but is also a tool to create social barriers and
marginalize other inferior communities. Saussure's views can be
summarized in dichotomous forms, namely diachronic and synchronic
studies, about langue and parole, then signifiant and signifié, and
finally regarding syntagmatic relations and paradoxical relationships.
In semiology, Saussure argues that language as "a sign system that
embodies ideas" can be divided into two elements: langue (language),
an abstract system shared by a society that is used as a communication
tool, and parole, the individual's realization of language system.

6. Explain the expression ‘language variety’.

Answer : In the Sociolinguistic view, language is not only seen as an individual
symptom, but is a social phenomenon. As a social problem, language
and language use are not only determined by linguistic factors, but
also by nonlinguistic factors. Nonlinguistic factors that influence the
use of language, namely social factors (social status, education level,
age, economic level, gender, etc.), and about what problems. Because
of the above factors, there arose a variety of languages that are shared
by all human beings, or what we call variations of language.
Language, in practice its use, the allocation has a variety of variations.
In this section, we will describe language variations, language
variations in terms of type, source, level, model, and type of language
variation. Language variations due to social interaction activities
carried out by communities or groups that are very diverse and caused
 by the speakers who are not homogeneous. In terms of language
variations there are two differences. First, the variation is seen as a
result of the social diversity of language speakers and the diversity of
language functions. So variations in language occur as a result of
social diversity and diversity of language functions. Secondly,
variations in language already exist to fulfill its function as a means of
interaction in diverse community activities. Both of these views are
justified. What is clear, variations in language can make it easy about
social differences and the function of activities in social society.

7. Distinguish between spoken and written varieties of language.

Answer : The differentiation between spoken and written varieties of language
is predetermined by two distinct factors, namely, the actual situation in which
the language is being used and the aim of communication. The situation in
which the spoken variety of language is used and in which it develops,
presupposes the presence of the interlocutor, whereas, the written variety
presupposes the absence of the interlocutor. The spoken language has a
considerable advantage over the written because of such factors as human voice,
all kinds of gestures, which give additional information. The written language
has to seek means to compensate for what it lacks. This is the reason why the
written language is more carefully organised, more explanatory; the word choice
is more deliberate. The spoken language is spontaneous, momentary. It vanishes
after having fulfilled its purpose, which is to communicate the thought, no
matter how trivial or important. The idea remains, the language disappears. The
written language is able to live forever with the idea it expresses. The spoken
language cannot be detached from its user; the written language can be detached
and objectively looked at. The writer has an opportunity to correct and improve
what has been put on paper. The written language bears a greater volume of
responsibility than its spoken counterpart. The spoken language differs from the
written language phonetically, morphologically, lexically and syntactically. The
most striking difference between the spoken and the written language is in the
vocabulary used. There are words and phrases typically colloquial, on the one
 hand, and typically bookish, on the other hand. If colloquial words and phrases
find their way into the written language, they immediately produce a marked
stylistic effect and can be used for the speech characterisation, for example. The
spoken language widely uses intensifying words. These are interjections and
words with strong emotive meaning, as oaths, swear-words and adjectives which
have lost their primary meaning (He dropped my paper down. I am very sure.).
The spoken language is characterised by the insertion into the utterance of words
without any meaning, which are called “fill-ups” or empty words (as well, and
all, so to say, whatever, you know, that is, etc). The essential difference between
the two varieties of language is evidently reflected in the syntactical structure.
The syntactical peculiarities of the spoken language are omission of the part of
utterance easily supplied by the situation in which the communication takes
place (Who you with? Tell you what?). Tendency to use the direct word-order in
questions or omit auxiliary verb, leaving it to the intonation to indicate the
grammatical meaning (He knew she was dead?) unfinished sentences (If I were
you…).

8. Discuss the various categorisations of language varieties.

Answer : Language variations in terms of speakers . First, idiolects, are
variations of language that involve individuals. Everyone has their
respective idioms. This idiolek deals with the color of the sound,
choice of words, style of language, arrangement of sentences, and so
on. The most dominant is the color of the sound, we can answer the
voice of someone we know just by hearing the sound. Second, dialect,
which is a variation of the language of speakers who are collected
relatively, which is in a particular place or region. The field of study
that discusses variations in this language is dialectology. Third,
kronolek or temporal dialect, which is a variation of the language used
by social groups at a certain time. For example, variations in the
Indonesian language over a period of three decades, five decades or
today. Fourth, sociolects or social dialects, namely variations in
language relating to the status, class and social class of the speakers.
In sociolinguistics this variation concerns all the personal problems of
the speaker, such as age, education, socioeconomic conditions,
employment, sex, and so on. With regard to language variations
regarding the level, class, status, and social class of the speakers are
called prokem.
Variation in Terms of Use
Language variation with respect to its users, users or functions is
called a function, variety or register. These variations are usually
discussed based on the area of use, style, or level of formality and
means of use. Language variations based on this field of use are
related to the language used for what purposes or fields. For example,
the fields of literature, journalism, agriculture, military, shipping,
education, and so on.
Variations in Formality
According to Martin Joos, variations in language are divided into five
types of styles (variations), namely frozen variations (frozen); formal
variety (formal); business variety (consultative); casual variety;
intimate. Frozen Variety is the most formal language variation, which
is used in solemn situations and official ceremonies. For example, in
sermons, laws, notary deeds, oaths, and so on. The official variety is
the variety of languages used in state speeches, official meetings,
lectures, textbooks, and so on. Variety of business is a variation of
language that is commonly used in ordinary conversation at school,
meetings, or results-oriented or production-oriented talks. The
manifestations are between formal and informal or casual types.
Relaxed variety is the variety of languages used in informal situations
to chat with family or friends while resting, exercising, recreation, and
so on. This variety uses the alegro form, which is a shortened form of
utterance. Close variations are variations of the language commonly
used by speakers whose relationships are already familiar, such as
between family members, or close friends. This variety uses
incomplete language with unclear articulation.
 Variations in Terms of Facilities
Language variations can also be seen in terms of the path used. In this
case there is a variety of verbal and written variations or also
variations in language by using certain means or tools, namely in
telephone or telegraph.

9. Elaborate on the essence of varieties in sociolinguistics.

Answer : A variety of a language is a form that differs from other forms of the
language systematically and coherently. Variety is a wider concept
than style of prose or style of language. Some writers in
sociolinguistics use the term lect, apparently a back-formation from
specific terms such as dialect and idiolect. Varieties such as dialects,
idiolects, and sociolects can be distinguished, not only by their
vocabulary, but also by differences in grammar, phonology and
prosody. For instance, the tonal word accents of Scandinavian
languages have differing realisations in many dialects. As another
example, foreign words in different sociolects vary in their degree of
adaptation to the basic phonology of the language. Certain
professional registers such as legalese show a variation in grammar
from the standard language. For instance English journalists or
lawyers often use grammatical moods such as subjunctive mood or
conditional mood, which are no longer used frequently by other
speakers. Many registers are simply a specialised set of terms (see
technical terminology, jargon). It is a matter of definition whether
slang and argot are to be considered included in the concept of
variety or of style. Colloquialisms and idiomatic expressions are
usually understood as limited to variation of lexicon, and hence of
style.

10. Examine the statement: ‘varieties result from social situations’.

Answer : Language variations due to social interaction activities carried out by
communities or groups that are very diverse and caused by the
speakers who are not homogeneous. In terms of language variations
there are two differences. First, the variation is seen as a result of the
social diversity of language speakers and the diversity of language
functions. So variations in language occur as a result of social
diversity and diversity of language functions. Secondly, variations in
language already exist to fulfill its function as a means of interaction
in diverse community activities.