Belonging to a social group is a strong influence

on the way in which people use language. People

tend to change their language style to fit into a
particular group - this is their Sociolect.

The way they change their speech may stand out

in four main ways:

- Accent

- Lexis (i.e., jargon or slang)

- Grammar construction (so that it is non-

standard)

Idiolect is the term linguists use to

describe speech that is specific to an
individual.
-Our idiolects are a record of our
experiences and are affected by where
we live, our class, our education, our
age and our personal preferences
The process of social learning that occurs
when people who have common interest
in some subject or problem collaborate
over an extended period to share ideas,
Sociolect find solutions, and build innovations.

Idiolect Communities of Practice

Reasons for a Sociolect: Teen Speak:

- To make communication more Language & - Taboo is part of the teen

effective vernacular.
Social Groups - Dialect is used commonly when
- To demonstrate fellowship
with the rest of the group speaking.

- To exclude others from the - Slang, which they see as typical of

group their age group, is common.

Language Tribes:
Users frequently include
keywords in their tweets so that
they engage more effectively
with other members of their
community or tribe. E.g., Twitter

-Just like our ancestors we try to

join communities based on our
political interests, ethnicity,
work, and hobbies.
 Sexuality:
Different sexualities are often linked to a person’s sense
of identity and this can cause social groups to form their
own distinct variety of language to express this

Age:
Different age groups have been exposed to Gender:
entirely different trends in language during
lifetime, an age groups language may well Gender is closely linked to shared identity
vary compared to people much older or and behaviour. The particular ways in
younger than them; people may share which men and women have been found to
varieties of English with people of similar use language has been the subject to much
age. research, like Deborah Tannen's theories of
male 'report' and female 'rapport.'
Colloquial Youth Language is a particularly
vivid example

Social Influences
Ethnicity:
Britain is a language that has been greatly
influenced by different cultures and Eckert - Jocks and Burnouts
languages.

-In modern times the intermingling of

people with different cultural, linguistic,
and ethnic backgrounds has produced the
ideal conditions for the processes
associated with creolisation, responsible
for the creation of several different ethnic
varieties.

-E.g., London Jamaican, researched by

Mark Sebba.

Deviance:
Illegal or anti-social practices often bring
groups of people together, with an
explicit need to use language to support
their activities and forge a form of covert
prestige.

e.g., language associated with drug.