Chapter III

VARIETIES AND
VARIATION
1. Dyah Indah Nugraheni (1910302072)
2. Rafika Hayati Haitami (1910302090)
3. Rita Izmi Chairun Nisa (1910302100)
 Variety Within One Language
● A variety is a different type of something (CALD3: online dictionary).Thus, when
we are talking about a variety of a language, it may therefore refer to a
particular type of that language. In other words, one language may have several
varieties, depending on geographical, ethnical variables that a given language
has.
● Ordinary people may think that Javanese dialects are less prestigious and the
speakers of those dialects are marked as those living far from the central
government (of Java)—Yogyakarta and Solo. For example : “Adoh ratu cedak
watu” (Far from the King, close to the stone), implying that those who speak the
sub-standard (dialects) of the language are somehow less prestigious.
● In terms of linguistics, no language is better than another. This also applies to
the use of dialects. It is wrong to assume that a certain dialect is better than
the other.
● In language education, we are normally supposed to teach the standard
language(not the dialects of it). The reason is classic, namely the standard
language is known to everyone, while a particular dialect may not be
universally known.
● This socially acceptable linguistic phenomenon clearly supports the tolerance
of differences in line with the spirit of national identities.
● Too much tolerance to errors in pronunciation, choice of words and grammar
may result in unintelligibility of the target language (English).
 Variation within one individual
● We have come to an agreement that a language for sure has varieties
(dialects),represented by different supra-segmental features (including
pronunciation) and possibly some lexical items.
● (Kurath, 1939:44) cited in Wardhaugh (2006:139) the informants chosen for the
Linguistic Atlas of the United States and Canada were classified into: 
(1) Little formal education, little reading and little social contacts,
(2) Better formal education (high school), and or wider reading and social
contacts, and
(3) Superior education (college), cultured background, wider reading and
or extensive social contacts.
● These three classifications were further grouped in 2 types:

a) Aged, and or regarded by the field worker as old fashioned, and

b) Middle aged or younger, and or regarded by the field worker as more
modern. It turned out that each feature represented differences in the use of
language in terms of its variations.
● Local identities in the use of English have also been identified, resulting in the

emergence of new Englishes, viewed as new varieties and variations. For

example, Indonesian people speak one type of English (Indonesian English).
 Code Switching/ Mixing
● At one time or another, when we write or speak, we may switch from
one language to another at word level. This is termed as ‘code mixing’ in
which the speaker/writer mixes the language (code) he is using with one
or two foreign words.
● The purpose: to make the utterance more communicative, more friendly, or
simply to show that he or she masters more than one language.
● Example: An Indonesian student had been talking with an American tourist
in English for over 20 minutes when suddenly the tourist said that he or
she had been learning Indonesian for quite some time. Knowing this, the
student switched to speaking Indonesian, and so did the tourist.
● Furthermore, the tourist seemed to have difficulty in speaking Indonesian. The
student then switched the ‘code’ into English. The English exchanges went on
and on for hours without any initiation from both to switch into another code.
To these two types of linguistic phenomena, code mixing and switching,
Wardhaugh (2006) does not consider these as ‘different phenomena’.
● With respect to the purpose of code switching/mixing, there are several that

can be identified as can be seen in the following dialogues:

1. Agus : You itu maunya gimana to?
Idha : Halah, biar aja. Akunya gak begitu care kok ama yang begituan.
2. Arby : Udah lama ya, pacaran mbek dekne?
Tuti : Lumayan juga, emang kenapa?
Arby : Jangan-jangan udah test ride pula!
Tuti : Ngawur ampean, jelek-jelek gini, religious lo!
● In addition, as Wardhaugh suggests, there are two types of code-mixing
(switching), namely inter-sentential and intra-sentential. With the conceptual
knowledge of the difference between inter-sentential and intra sentential,
another interesting research topic can be formulated, that is to find out the
proportional distribution of the two types within a discourse community, for
example, in a novel, a film or even a talk show, etc. Such a research may
generate the global effect on the non-participants of the language — for
example the audience of a talk show.
 Relevance to Language Teaching

● As prospective English teachers, we are questioning whether varieties and

variations of a language have any relevance to language teaching.
● With the knowledge that a language has varieties, we have to come to realize
that at least linguistically speaking, none of the varieties are better than the
others.
● Any variety of a language is appropriate in a particular area, with particular
individuals. There are no good or bad languages. It is appropriateness that
counts. We have to appreciate differences.
● In teaching English as a foreign language, for example, a teacher should not
force his or her students to pronounce exactly as the native speakers. The most
important thing is the students can speak and write English intelligibly well —
that is within an acceptable inter-language domain, not too far from the target
language and not too close to the native language at phonological and
syntactic levels.
● Nowadays, the focus of teaching EFL is to achieve intelligibility regardless of

whatever variations the students may comfortably adopt.

● However, the term ‘intelligibility’ requires a close approximation with the

standard pronunciation. This implies that the pronunciation errors shall be

within the tolerable area of inter-language boundaries especially in the
production of vowels, diphthongs and consonants.
Thank You