UNIVERSITY OF ALGIERS 2 Department of English 3/5/2023

SOCIOLINGUISTICS /S6/ N.BAKIRI

SPEECH COMMUNITIES (adapted from different sources)

Introduction
Just as it is difficult to define terms like ‘language’ and ‘dialect’ it is also difficult to define
‘speech community’. Speech communities do not exist simply because individuals share the
same language . In order to come to a justifiable sociolinguistic definition of a ‘speech
community’ categories other than just language need to be considered.
Speech community is a term in sociolinguistics and linguistic anthropology used to
describe a group of people who share the same language, speech characteristics and ways of
interpreting communication. Speech communities may be large regions like an urban area
with a common distinct accent or small units like families and friends. They help people
define themselves as individuals and community members.
Although how to define speech community is still debated by specialists, the recent
definitions tend to involve and emphasize on: shared community membership and shared
linguistic communication.
The members of the same speech community are groups that share values and attitudes
about language use, varieties and practices. They share a set of linguistic norms and
expectations with regard to how their language should be used. These communities develop
through prolonged interaction among those who operate within these shared and recognized
beliefs, values and attitudes. The members of the speech community can be grouped together
for social, religious, cultural, political and vocational purposes. Speech communities also can
be defined by geography, ethnicity, socio-economic class but also occupation, gender, religion
They can belong to other groups or may not even meet face to face.
Individuals can identify with multiple speech communities and can adjust their language
according to the circumstances so as to identify in the most appropriate way. Different speech
communities may have different grammars, preference for words, accent etc…

Conclusion
The only sure thing in society is that people who speak a certain language use characteristics
of the language to obtain group identity with each other and to achieve group differentiation
from other speakers. Speakers however do use other characteristics such as cultural, political,
social, and ethnicity to also identify with each other and to differentiate themselves from other
speakers. Shared community membership (the feeling to belong to the same group) and shared
linguistic communication ( sharing the same attitudes about language, ex: what to say/how to
say it/ in what circumstances etc…) , both contribute to define Speech Community .

END OF SEMESTER 6.