2.

Sociolinguistics _Linguistic Variation

2.1. Definition: Linguistic variation (linguistic change) refers to

 regional (place-related) differences,
 social (people-related) differences, or
 contextual (setting-related) differences
in the ways that a language is used and spoken by people.

2.2. Inter-Speaker Variation and Intra-Speaker Variation

We have two types of linguistic variation:

a) inter-speaker variation
b) intra-speaker variation

a) inter-speaker variation
variation (change) between different languages, dialects, and speakers is
known as inter-speaker variation.

For example, people living in the north of a country might speak a

different dialect compared to people living in the south of the country.

b) intra-speaker variation
variation (change) within (in) the language of a single speaker is
called intra-speaker variation.

For example, a person might use different words and phrases in a formal
place like a bank compared to an informal context like a family party.
2.3. Linguistic Variation

Linguistic variation is an important concept (idea, subject) in sociolinguistics.

All aspects of any language including

• phonemes (language sounds)

• morphemes (word elements)
• syntactic structures ( grammar rules)
• meanings

could change over time.

People might use different pronunciation patterns, words, phrases or grammatical

structures in different places with different people at different time frames.

Variability and change are natural in human language:

a) A single speaker might use different words, phrases or pronunciation

(linguistic forms) on different occasions, and

b) Different speakers of a language might express the same meaning

(convey the same message) by using different words and grammatical rules
and structures (linguistic forms).

This variation is systematic: Speakers of a language make choices

in pronunciation, word choice, and grammar based on a number of non-linguistic
factors like the following factors:

1. The speaker's purpose in communication

(e.g., shopping/teaching/nursing/ inviting…)

2. The relationship between speaker and hearer

(e.g., parent-children/ teacher-student/ doctor-patient/ shop-
keeper-shopper)

3. The speaking circumstances, and

(e.g., bank/shop/school/office/restaurant/park)

4. Different demographic features (e.g., age, gender, religion,

nationality…) that a speaker can have.
2.4. Dialectal Variation

 A dialect is variation in grammar, vocabulary and sound of a language.

 A dialect is a specific form of a language which is unique to a specific
region or social group.
 Farsi Examples: Isfahani dialect, Shirazi dialect, Yazdi dialect, Bandari
dialect

There are many different dialects of English and they have different words and
grammar.

For example, if one person utters the sentence 'John is a farmer' and another says
the same thing except pronounces the word farmer as 'fahmuh,' then the difference
is one of accent.

But if one person says something like 'You should not do that' and another says 'Ya
hadn't oughta do that,' then this is a dialect difference because the variation is
greater.

The extent of (the degree of) dialect difference (dialect change) is a continuum.

Some dialects are extremely different and others less so."

2.5. Types of Variation

A. Regional variation (place-related variation) is only one of many possible

types of differences among speakers of the same language. There are
different kinds of variations.

B. Occupational dialects: For example, there are occupational dialects (the

word bugs means something quite different to a computer programmer).
There are other types of variations as well.

C. Gender dialect refers to language variation based on gender. For example,

women are far more likely than men to call a new house adorable.

D. Educational dialect refers to language variation based on people’s level of

education; for example, the more education people have, the less likely they
are to use double negatives ( e.g., I didn’t see nothing/she never goes with
nobody)
E. There are dialects of age too. For example, teenagers have their own slangs
and expressions. Even the phonology of older speakers might differ from
the phonology of young speakers in the same geographical region.

F. Dialects of social context: We do not talk the same way to our intimate and
old friends as we do to strangers, or to our boss).