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{{Short description|Language variety or register peculiar to a specific social class}}{{Complex|date=March 2024}}
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In [[sociolinguistics]], a '''sociolect''' or '''social dialect''' is a [[variety (linguistics)|form of language]] ([[dialect]], restricted [[register (sociolinguistics)|register]]) or a set of [[lexicon|lexical items]] used by a socioeconomic class, a profession, an age group or other social group.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wolfram |first=Walt |chapter=Social varieties of American English |title=Language in the USA: Themes for the Twenty-first Century |editor=E. Finegan and J.R. Rickford |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2004 |isbn=0-521-77747-X}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Wilkoń|first=Aleksander|title=Typologia odmian językowych współczesnej polszczyzny|publisher=Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego|location=Katowice|edition=2|date=2000|pages=87–88|isbn=83-226-0975-2|language=pl}}</ref>


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In [[sociolinguistics]], a '''sociolect''' is a [[variety (linguistics)|form of language]] ([[nonstandard dialect|non-standard dialect]], restricted [[register (sociolinguistics)|register]]) or a set of [[lexicon|lexical items]] used by a socioeconomic class, profession, age group, or other social group.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wolfram |first=Walt |chapter=Social varieties of American English |title=Language in the USA: Themes for the Twenty-first Century |editor=E. Finegan and J.R. Rickford |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2004 |isbn=0-521-77747-X}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Wilkoń|first=Aleksander|title=Typologia odmian językowych współczesnej polszczyzny|publisher=Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego|location=Katowice|edition=2|date=2000|pages=87–88|isbn=83-226-0975-2|language=pl}}</ref>
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Sociolects involve both passive acquisition of particular communicative practices through association with a local community, as well as active learning and choice among speech or writing forms to demonstrate [[Identification (psychology)|identification]] with particular groups.<ref>{{cite book|first=Martin|last=Durrell|chapter=Sociolect|title=Sociolinguistics. An International Handbook of the Science of Language and Society|editor-first=Ulrich|editor-last=Ammon |display-editors=etal |publisher=Walter de Gruyter|date=2004|pages=200–205}}</ref> The term ''sociolect'' might refer to socially-restricted dialects,<ref>{{cite book|last2=Kim|first2=Susan M.|first=K. Aaron|last= Smith|isbn=9781770486652|year=2017|publisher=Broadview Press|title=This Language, A River: A History of English|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=S2c_DwAAQBAJ|p=281}}</ref> but it is sometimes also treated as equivalent with the concept of [[register (sociolinguistics)|register]],<ref>{{cite book|title=Nový encyklopedický slovník češtiny |editor-last= Karolak|editor-first=Petr|editor-last2=Nekula|editor-first2=Marek|editor-last3=Pleskalová|editor-first3=Jana|last=Mrázková|first=Kamila|year=2017|chapter-url=https://www.czechency.org/slovnik/REJSTŘÍK|chapter=REJSTŘÍK|language=cs}}</ref> or used as a synonym for [[jargon]] and [[slang]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Jan|last=Grzenia|url=https://sjp.pwn.pl/poradnia/haslo/gwara-a-zargon;6208.html|title=gwara a żargon|date=2005-04-25|access-date=2019-04-26|work=Poradnia językowa PWN|publisher=sjp.pwn.pl|language=pl}}</ref>


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Sociolects involve both passive acquisition of particular communicative practices through association with a local community, as well as active learning and choice among speech or writing forms to demonstrate [[Identification (psychology)|identification]] with particular groups.<ref>{{cite book|first=Martin|last=Durrell|chapter=Sociolect|title=Sociolinguistics. An International Handbook of the Science of Language and Society|editor-first=Ulrich|editor-last=Ammon |display-editors=etal |publisher=Walter de Gruyter|date=2004|pages=200–205}}</ref> The term ''sociolect'' might refer to socially restricted dialects,<ref>{{cite book|last2=Kim|first2=Susan M.|first1=K. Aaron|last1= Smith|isbn=9781770486652|year=2017|publisher=Broadview Press|title=This Language, A River: A History of English|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S2c_DwAAQBAJ|page=281}}</ref> but it is sometimes also treated as equivalent with the concept of [[register (sociolinguistics)|register]],<ref>{{cite book|title=Nový encyklopedický slovník češtiny |editor-last= Karolak|editor-first=Petr|editor-last2=Nekula|editor-first2=Marek|editor-last3=Pleskalová|editor-first3=Jana|last=Mrázková|first=Kamila|year=2017|chapter-url=https://www.czechency.org/slovnik/REJSTŘÍK|chapter=REJSTŘÍK|language=cs}}</ref> or used as a synonym for ''[[jargon]]'' and ''[[slang]]''.<ref>{{cite web|first=Jan|last=Grzenia|url=https://sjp.pwn.pl/poradnia/haslo/gwara-a-zargon;6208.html|title=gwara a żargon|date=2005-04-25|access-date=2019-04-26|work=Poradnia językowa PWN|publisher=sjp.pwn.pl|language=pl}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |page =385|last =Mistrík |first =Jozef|title =Encyklopédia jazykovedy|year=1993|isbn=8021502509|edition =1|location =Bratislava |publisher =Obzor|oclc=29200758|language =sk}}</ref>
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Individuals who study sociolects are called [[sociolinguistics|sociolinguists]]. Sociolinguists study [[variation (linguistics)|language variation]]. Sociolinguists define a sociolect by examining the social distribution of specific linguistic terms. For example, a sociolinguist would examine the use of the second person pronoun "you" for its use within the population. If one distinct social group used 'yous' as the plural form of the pronoun then this could indicate the existence of a sociolect. A sociolect is distinct from a regional [[dialect]] (regiolect) because [[social class]] rather than geographical subdivision substantiates the unique linguistic features.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Eifring |first=Halvor |chapter=7 Language and Variation |title=Linguistics for Students of Asian and African Languages|url=http://www.uio.no/studier/emner/hf/ikos/EXFAC03-AAS/h05/larestoff/linguistics/}}</ref>

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[[Sociolinguistics|Sociolinguists]]—people who study sociolects and [[variation (linguistics)|language variation]]—define a sociolect by examining the social distribution of specific linguistic terms. For example, a sociolinguist would examine the use of the second person pronoun ''you'' within a given population. If one distinct social group used ''yous'' as the plural form of the pronoun, then this could indicate the existence of a sociolect. A sociolect is distinct from a [[regional dialect]] (regiolect) because [[social class]], rather than geographical subdivision, substantiates the unique linguistic features.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Eifring |first=Halvor |chapter=7 Language and Variation |title=Linguistics for Students of Asian and African Languages|url=http://www.uio.no/studier/emner/hf/ikos/EXFAC03-AAS/h05/larestoff/linguistics/}}</ref>


==Overview==
==Overview==
A sociolect, defined by Peter Trudgill, a leading sociolinguist and [[philosopher]], is "a variety or lect which is thought of as being related to its speakers' social background rather than geographical background".<ref name=Trudgill>Trudgill, Peter. A Glossary of Sociolinguistics. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 2003. Print.</ref>{{rp|122}} This idea of sociolect began with the commencement of [[dialectology]], the study of different [[dialect]]s in relation to social society, which has been established in countries such as England for many years, but only recently has the field garnered more attention.<ref name=Halliday>Halliday, M. Language and Society. London; New York: Continuum, 2007. Print.</ref>{{rp|26}} However, as opposed to a dialect, the basic concept of a sociolect is that a person speaks in accordance with their social group whether it is with regard to one's ethnicity, age, gender, etc. As William Labov once said, "the sociolinguistic view…is that we are programmed to learn to speak in ways that fit the general pattern of our communities".<ref name=Labov>Labov, William. Dialect Diversity in America : the Politics of Language Change. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2012. Print.</ref>{{rp|6}} Therefore, what we are surrounded with in unison with our environment determines how we speak; hence, our actions and associations.
A sociolect, defined by leading sociolinguist and [[philosopher]] Peter Trudgill, is "a [[Variety (linguistics)|variety]] or lect which is thought of as being related to its speakers' social background rather than geographical background."<ref name=Trudgill>Trudgill, Peter. A Glossary of Sociolinguistics. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 2003. Print.</ref>{{rp|122}} This idea of a sociolect began with the commencement of [[dialectology]], the study of different [[dialect]]s in relation to society, which has been established in countries such as England for many years, but only recently has the field garnered more attention.<ref name=Halliday>Halliday, M. Language and Society. London; New York: Continuum, 2007. Print.</ref>{{rp|26}} However, as opposed to a dialect, the basic concept of a sociolect is that a person speaks in accordance with their social group whether it is with regard to one's ethnicity, age, gender, etc. As William Labov once said, "the sociolinguistic view ... is that we are programmed to learn to speak in ways that fit the general pattern of our communities."<ref name=Labov>Labov, William. Dialect Diversity in America : the Politics of Language Change. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2012. Print.</ref>{{rp|6}} Therefore, what we are surrounded with in our environment determines how we speak; hence, our actions and associations.


==Distinguished from dialect==
==Distinguished from dialect==
The main distinction between sociolects (social dialects) and dialects proper (geographical dialects), which are often confused, is the settings in which they are created.<ref>{{Cite book|first=Sándor|last=Hervey|first2=Ian|last2=Higgins|first3=Michael|last3=Loughridge|title=Thinking German Translation: A Course in Translation Method|year=2003|publisher=Routledge|series=Thinking Translation|pages=85–86|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=YaOIAgAAQBAJ|isbn=9781134818976}}</ref> A dialect's main identifier is geography: a certain region uses specific phonological, morphosyntactic or lexical rules.<ref name=Trudgill/>{{rp|35}} Asif Agha expands the concept by stating that "the case where the demographic dimension marked by speech are matters of geographic provenance along, such as speaker's birth locale, extended residence and the like".<ref name=Agha>Agha, Asif. Language and Social Relations. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007. 135. Print.</ref>{{rp|135}} However, a sociolect's main identifier is a socioeconomic class, age, gender, and ethnicity in a certain speech community.
The main distinction between sociolects (social dialects) and dialects proper (geographical dialects), which are often confused, is the settings in which they are created.<ref>{{Cite book|first1=Sándor|last1=Hervey|first2=Ian|last2=Higgins|first3=Michael|last3=Loughridge|title=Thinking German Translation: A Course in Translation Method|year=2003|publisher=Routledge|series=Thinking Translation|pages=85–86|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YaOIAgAAQBAJ|isbn=9781134818976}}</ref> A dialect's main identifier is geography: a certain region uses specific phonological, morphosyntactic or lexical rules.<ref name=Trudgill/>{{rp|35}} Asif Agha expands the concept by stating that "the case where the demographic dimension marked by speech are matters of geographic provenance alone, such as speaker's birth locale, extended residence and the like".<ref name=Agha>Agha, Asif. Language and Social Relations. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007. 135. Print.</ref>{{rp|135}} However, a sociolect's main identifier is a socioeconomic class, age, gender, and/or ethnicity in a certain speech community.


An example of a dialectal difference, based on region, is the use of the words soda or pop and coke in different parts of the United States. As Thomas E. Murray states, "coke is used generically by thousands of people, especially in the southern half of the country."<ref>Murray, Thomas E.. "From Trade Name to Generic: The Case of Coke." Trans. Array Names: A Journal of Onomastics. Maney Publishing, 1995. 165-86. Print.</ref> On the other hand, pop is known to be a term that is used by many citizens in the northern half of the country.
An example of a dialectal difference, based on region, is the use of the words ''soda'' or ''pop'' and ''coke'' in different parts of the United States. As Thomas E. Murray states, "''coke'' is used generically by thousands of people, especially in the southern half of the country."<ref>Murray, Thomas E.. "From Trade Name to Generic: The Case of Coke." Trans. Array Names: A Journal of Onomastics. Maney Publishing, 1995. 165-86. Print.</ref> On the other hand, ''pop'' is known to be a term that is used by many citizens in the northern half of the country.


An example of a sociolect difference, based on social grouping, is the [[zero copula]] in [[African American Vernacular English]]. It occurs in a specific ethnic group but in all areas of the United States.<ref name=Labov/>{{rp|48}} [[William Labov]] gives an example: "he here" instead of "he's here".<ref name=Labov/>{{rp|38}}
An example of a sociolect difference, based on social grouping, is the [[zero copula]] in [[African American Vernacular English]]. It occurs in a specific ethnic group but in all areas of the United States.<ref name=Labov/>{{rp|48}} [[William Labov]] gives an example: "he here" instead of "he's here."<ref name=Labov/>{{rp|38}}


==Definitions==
==Definitions==


'''[[Code switching]]''' is "the process whereby bilingual or bidialectal speakers switch back and forth between one language or dialect and another within the same conversation".<ref name=Trudgill/>{{rp|23}}
'''[[Code-switching|Code switching]]''' is "the process whereby bilingual or bidialectal speakers switch back and forth between one language or dialect and another within the same conversation".<ref name=Trudgill/>{{rp|23}}


'''[[Diglossia]]''', associated with the American linguist [[Charles A. Ferguson]], which describes a sociolinguistic situation such as those that obtain in Arabic-speaking countries and in German-speaking Switzerland. In such a diglossic community, the prestigious standard of 'High'(or H) variety, which is linguistically related to but significantly different from the vernacular or 'Low' (or L) varieties, has no native speakers.<ref name=Trudgill/>{{rp|389}}
'''[[Diglossia]]''', associated with the American linguist [[Charles A. Ferguson]], which describes a sociolinguistic situation such as those that obtain in Arabic-speaking countries and in German-speaking Switzerland. In such a diglossic community, the prestigious standard of 'High' (or H) variety, which is linguistically related to but significantly different from the vernacular or 'Low' (or L) varieties, has no native speakers.<ref name=Trudgill/>{{rp|389}}


'''Domain''' is "different language, dialects, or styles are used in different social contexts".<ref name=Trudgill/>{{rp|41}}
'''Domain''' is "different language, dialects, or styles are used in different social contexts".<ref name=Trudgill/>{{rp|41}}
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'''Language attitudes''' are "social in origin, but that they may have important effects on language behavior, being involved in acts of identity, and on linguistic change."<ref name=Trudgill/>{{rp|73}}
'''Language attitudes''' are "social in origin, but that they may have important effects on language behavior, being involved in acts of identity, and on linguistic change."<ref name=Trudgill/>{{rp|73}}


'''[[Linguistic variable]]''' is "a linguistic unit…initially developed...in order to be able to handle linguistics variation. Variables may be lexical and grammatical, but are most often phonological". Example of British English (h) which is sometimes present and sometimes not.<ref name=Trudgill/>{{rp|83}}
'''[[Linguistic variable]]''' is "a linguistic unit...initially developed...in order to be able to handle linguistics variation. Variables may be lexical and grammatical, but are most often phonological". Example of British English (h) which is sometimes present and sometimes not.<ref name=Trudgill/>{{rp|83}}


'''[[Pragmatics]]''' is the meaning of a word in social context, while [[semantics]] has "purely linguistic meaning".<ref name=Trudgill/>{{rp|107}}
'''[[Pragmatics]]''' is the meaning of a word in social context, while [[semantics]] has "purely linguistic meaning".<ref name=Trudgill/>{{rp|107}}
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===Tamil caste system===
===Tamil caste system===


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The following is an example of the lexical distinction between the [[Mudaliyar]] and the [[Iyengar]] groups of the [[Tamil-speaking people in India]]. The Iyengar group is part of the [[Brahmin]] caste which is scholarly and higher in the caste hierarchy than the non-Brahmin or Mudaliyar, caste.<ref name=Agha/>{{rp|136}} The Mudaliyars use many of the same words for things that are differentiated within the Iyengars' speech. For example, as seen below, the difference between drinking water, water in general, and non-potable water is used by one word in the non-Brahmin caste and three separate words in the Brahmin caste. Furthermore, Agha references how the use of different speech reflects a "departure from a group-internal norm".<ref name=Agha/>{{rp|139}} For example, if the non-Brahmin caste uses Brahmin terms in their mode of speech it is seen as self-raising, whereas if people within the Brahmin caste use non-Brahmin speech it is seen as pejoratives.<ref name=Agha/>{{rp|138}} Therefore, depending on which castes use certain words the pragmatics change. Hence, this speech system is determined by socioeconomic class and social context.
Example 1

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The following is an example of the lexical distinction between the Mudaliyar and the Iyengar groups of the Tamil-speaking caste in India. The Iyengar group is part of the Brahmin caste which is scholarly and higher in the caste hierarchy than the non-Brahmin or Mudaliyar, caste.<ref name=Agha/>{{rp|136}} The Mudaliyars use many of the same words for things that are differentiated within the Iyengars' speech. For example, as you can see below, the difference between drinking water, water in general, and non-potable water is used by one word in the non-Brahmin caste and three separate words in the Brahmin caste. Furthermore, Agha references how the use of different speech reflects a "departure from a group-internal norm".<ref name=Agha/>{{rp|139}} For example, if the non-Brahmin caste uses Brahmin terms in their mode of speech it is seen as self-raising, whereas if people within the Brahmin caste use non-Brahmin speech it is seen as pejoratives.<ref name=Agha/>{{rp|138}} Therefore, depending on which castes use certain words the pragmatics change. Hence, this speech system is determined by socioeconomic class and social context.


{| class="wikitable" border="1"
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
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|-
|-
| food
| food
| sooru/ saado
| sooru/saado
| saado 'food'// sooru 'food' (pejorative)
| saado 'food'// sooru 'food' (pejorative)
|-
|-
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|}
|}


===Norwegian socioeconomic sociolect===
===Norwegian dialect-based sociolect===


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[[Norwegian language|Norwegian]] does not have a spoken standard and is heavily dependent on dialect variants. The following example shows the difference between the national written standard and a spoken variant, where the phonology and pronunciation differ. These are not sociolectic differences per se. As Agha states, "Some lexical contrasts are due to the phonological difference (e.g., R makes more consonantal and vocalic distinctions than B), while others are due to the morphological difference (e.g., difference in plural suffixes and certain verb inflections) between two varieties.<ref name=Agha/>{{rp|140}}
Example 2

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In the following example, we see the difference between the national standard and the colloquial speech found in Norway where the phonology and pronunciation differ. As Agha states, "Some lexical contrasts are due to the phonological difference (e.g., R makes more consonantal and vocalic distinctions than B), while others are due to the morphological difference (e.g., difference in plural suffixes and certain verb inflections) between two varieties.<ref name=Agha/>{{rp|140}}


{| class="wikitable" border="1"
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
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=== Diglossia ===
=== Diglossia ===


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The chart below gives an example of [[diglossia]] in [[Arabic-speaking nations]] and where it is used. Diglossia is defined by Mesthrie as "[a] situation where two varieties of a language exist side by side".<ref name=Mesthrie>Mesthrie, Rajend. Introducing Sociolinguistics. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: John Benjamins Pub., 2009. 38. Print.</ref> The Classical Arabic is known as [[Modern Standard Arabic|الفصحى, or al-fuṣḥā]], while the colloquial dialect depends on the country. For example, [[Levantine Arabic|شامي, or šāmi]], is spoken in Lebanon and parts of Syria. In many situations, there is a major lexical difference among words in the classical and colloquial speech, as well as pronunciation differences, such as a difference in short vowels, when the words are the same. Although a specific example of diglossia was not given, its social context is almost if not more important. For example, Halliday states that "in areas with Diglossia, the link between language and success is apparent as the higher, classical register is learned through formal education".<ref name=Halliday/>{{rp|175}}
Example 3

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The chart below gives an example of diglossia in Arab-speaking nations and where it is used. Diglossia is defined by Mesthrie as "[a] situation where two varieties of a language exist side by side".<ref name=Mesthrie>Mesthrie, Rajend. Introducing Sociolinguistics. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: John Benjamins Pub., 2009. 38. Print.</ref> The Classical Arabic is known as [[Modern Standard Arabic|الفصحى, or al-fuṣḥā]], while the colloquial dialect depends on the country. For example, [[Levantine Arabic|شامي, or šāmi]], is spoken in Lebanon and parts of Syria. In many situations, there is a major lexical difference among words in the classical and colloquial speech, as well as pronunciation differences, such as a difference in short vowels, when the words are the same. Although a specific example of diglossia was not given, its social context is almost if not more important. For example, Halliday tells us that "in areas with Diglossia, the link between language and success is apparent as the higher, classical register is learned through formal education".<ref name=Halliday/>{{rp|175}}


{| class="wikitable" border="1"
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
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===African American Vernacular English (AAVE)===
===African American Vernacular English (AAVE)===


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Below is an example of African American Vernacular English, showing the addition of the verbal -s not just on third-person singular verbs in the present tense such as in [[General American English|Standard American English]], but added onto infinitives, first-person present verbs, and third-person past perfect verbs.<ref name=Labov/>{{rp|49}}
Example 4

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Below is an example of the addition of the verbal -s not just on 3rd person singular verbs in the present tense like in SAE, but added onto infinitives, first-person present verbs, and 3rd person past perfect verbs.<ref name=Labov/>{{rp|49}}


# He can goes out.
# He can goes out.
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Further examples of the phenomenon in AAVE are provided below.
Further examples of the phenomenon in AAVE are provided below.


Below are examples of the lack of the possessive ending -s is usually absent in AAVE but contains a rule
Below are examples of the lack of the possessive ending; -s is usually absent in AAVE but contains a rule
As Labov shows states, "[the] use -s to indicate possession by a single noun or pronoun, but never between the possessor and the possessed."<ref name=Labov/>{{rp|49}}
As Labov states, "[the] use -s to indicate possession by a single noun or pronoun, but never between the possessor and the possessed."<ref name=Labov/>{{rp|49}}


"This is hers, This is mines, This is John's, but not in her book, my book, John book"<ref name=Labov/>{{rp|49}}
"This is hers, This is mines, This is John's, but not in her book, my book, John book"<ref name=Labov/>{{rp|49}}
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===Code-switching===
===Code-switching===
{{Main|Code-switching}}

Many times within communities that contain sociolects that separate groups linguistically it is necessary to have a process where the independent speech communities can communicate in the same register; even if the change is as simple as different pronunciation. Therefore, the act of codeswitching becomes essential. Codeswitching is defined as "the process whereby bilingual or bidialectal speakers switch back and forth between one language or dialect and another within the same conversation".<ref name="Trudgill 1983">Trudgill, Peter. On Dialect : Social and Geographical Perspectives. New York: New York University Press, 1983. Print.</ref>{{rp|23}} At times codeswitching can be situational, depending on the situation or topical, depending on the topic. Halliday terms this the best when he defines the role of discourse stating that "it is this that determines, or rather correlates with, the role played by the language activity in the situation".<ref name=Halliday/>{{rp|20}} Therefore, meaning that which register is used depends on the situation and lays out the social context of the situation, because if the wrong register is used, then the wrong context is placed on the words. Furthermore, referring back to the diglossia expressed in the Arab-speaking world and the Tamil caste system in India, which words are used must be appropriate to not only the social class of the speaker, but the situation, the topic, and the need for courtesy. A more comprehensive definition is stated, "Code-switching is not only a definition of the situation but an expression of social hierarchy."<ref name=Halliday/>{{rp|137}}
Many times within communities that contain sociolects that separate groups linguistically it is necessary to have a process where the independent speech communities can communicate in the same register; even if the change is as simple as different pronunciation. Therefore, the act of code-switching becomes essential. Code-switching is defined as "the process whereby bilingual or bidialectal speakers switch back and forth between one language or dialect and another within the same conversation".<ref name="Trudgill 1983">Trudgill, Peter. On Dialect : Social and Geographical Perspectives. New York: New York University Press, 1983. Print.</ref>{{rp|23}} At times code-switching can be situational, depending on the situation or topical, depending on the topic. Halliday terms this the best when he defines the role of discourse, stating that "it is this that determines, or rather correlates with, the role played by the language activity in the situation".<ref name=Halliday/>{{rp|20}} Therefore, meaning that which register is used depends on the situation and lays out the social context of the situation, because if the wrong register is used, then the wrong context is placed on the words. Furthermore, referring back to the diglossia expressed in the Arab-speaking world and the Tamil caste system in India, which words are used must be appropriate to not only the social class of the speaker, but the situation, the topic, and the need for courtesy. A more comprehensive definition is stated, "Code-switching is not only a definition of the situation but an expression of social hierarchy."<ref name=Halliday/>{{rp|137}}

For examples of the use of speech within certain situation refer back to the chart on Classical and Colloquial Arabic.

For examples of dialect selection based on topic, refer below:

When Albania was created in 1912, the educational rights of the Greek communities in Albanian territory were granted by the Protocol of Corfu (1914) and with the statement of Albania's representatives in the League of Nations (1921). However, under a policy of assimilation, the Greek schools (there were over 360 until 1913) were gradually forced to close and Greek education was virtually eliminated by 1934. Following the intervention by the League of Nations, a limited number of schools, only those inside the "official minority zones", were reopened.<ref>King, Russell; Mai, Nicola; Schwandner-Sievers, Stephanie (2005). The New Albanian Migration. Sussex Academic Press. {{ISBN|978-1-903900-78-9}}.</ref><ref>Greece of Tomorrow. George H. Chase. READ BOOKS, 2007. {{ISBN|1-4067-0758-9}}</ref>
Ethnic Greeks living outside those areas were not counted as such. This has had a practical effect in the area of education: With the exception of the officially recognized Greek minority zones, where teaching was held in both the Greek and Albanian languages, in all other areas of Albania lessons were taught only in the Albanian language.<ref>[http://www.unhcr.org/refworldcountry,,,,ALB,4562d8b62,4938ef322,0.html Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities: Second Opinion on Albania], 29 May 2008. Council of Europe: Secretariat of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.</ref> If a few Albanian families moved into a town or village, the minority's right to be educated in Greek and publish in Greek newspapers was revoked.<ref>Vance, Charles; Paik, Yongsun (2006). Managing a Global Workforce Challenges and Opportunities in International Human Resource Management. M.E. Sharpe. p. 682. {{ISBN|978-0-7656-2016-3}}.</ref> In accordance with the communist Albanian policy of unification and homogenization, the use of the Greek language in Himarë was forbidden in public, and many Greek-speaking people were forced to move to places in northern or central Albania.<ref>{{harvnb|Bon|2008a|p=111}}.</ref> As a consequence, Greek schools in the Himarë area were closed, and the local communities stuck to their language, which slowly became archaic when they started to emigrate to Greece (1991) in the aftermath of the communist regime's collapse.<ref>{{harvnb|Bon|2008a|p=60}}; {{harvnb|Bon|2008b|pp=7–29}}.</ref>

As Trudgill defines it, the Arvanikita is "the name given in Greece given to the language of the indigenous Albanian-speaking linguistic minority in that country".<ref name="Trudgill 1983"/>{{rp|10}} This community is different linguistically than the surrounding area and must use their language accordingly. For example, nowadays, Arvanitika is only used at home and other situations, such as in school during games, on the playground, or for "chatting up girls", while only Greek is spoken in class.<ref name=Garrett>Garrett, Peter. Investigating Language Attitudes: Social Meanings of Dialect, Ethnicity and Performance. Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 2003. Print.</ref>{{rp|129}}

Therefore, it is both topical and situational in context.

===Discrimination===

Human rights in Albania are violated by the Government which have targeted the Greek-speaking population via police and secret service according to Human Rights organisations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/legacy/summaries/s.albania952.html|title=Albania: The Greek Minority|website=Hrw.org|accessdate=28 August 2017}}</ref> According to Amnesty International there were cases of mistreatment of members of the Greek-speaking minority by the authorities.<ref>[https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/eur11/004/1995/en/ ALBANIA: FAILURE TO END POLICE ILL-TREATMENT AND DEATHS IN CUSTODY]</ref> Also, the Greek-speaking minority complained about the government’s unwillingness to recognize Greek-speaking towns outside communist-era “minority zones,” to utilize Greek in official documents and on public signs in Greek-speaking areas, or to include more ethnic Greeks in public administration.<ref name="US_Department_of_State_2008">[https://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2008/eur/119064.htm ALBANIA 2008 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT]</ref><ref name="US_Department_of_State_2009">[https://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/eur/136016.htm ALBANIA 2009 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT]</ref><ref name="US_Department_of_State_2010">[https://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2010/eur/154409.htm ALBANIA 2010 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT]</ref><ref name="US_Department_of_State_2011">[https://al.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/140/2016/10/2011-Human-Rights-Report.pdf ALBANIA 2011 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT]</ref><ref name="US_Department_of_State_2012">[https://al.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/140/2016/10/2012-Human-Rights-Report-Albania.pdf ALBANIA 2012 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT]</ref><ref name="US_Department_of_State_2013">[https://al.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/140/2016/10/2013-Human-Rights-Report-Albania.pdf ALBANIA 2013 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT]</ref><ref name="US_Department_of_State_2014">[https://al.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/140/2016/10/2014-Human-Rights-Report-Albania.pdf ALBANIA 2014 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT]</ref><ref name="US_Department_of_State_2015">[https://www.state.gov/documents/organization/253027.pdf ALBANIA 2015 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT]</ref><ref name="US_Department_of_State_2016">[https://www.state.gov/documents/organization/265600.pdf ALBANIA 2016 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT]</ref>
Albanian sources often use the pejorative term 'filogrek' (pro-Greek) in relation to Greeks-speaking minority groups, usually in a context disputing their Greek ancestry.<ref>King, Russell; Mai, Nicola; Schwandner-Sievers, Stephanie (2005).
The New Albanian Migration. Sussex Academic Press. {{ISBN|978-1-903900-78-9}}.</ref> The 2012 USA annual report mention that the emergence of strident nationalist groups like the [[Red and Black Alliance]] (RBA) increased ethnic tensions with the Greek-speaking minority groups.<ref name="US_Department_of_State_2012" />

The Arvanitika community also suffers from discrimination because they are cast under stereotypes by the use of their native language. As Garrett writes, "a number of Arvanites had suffered from what they regarded as discrimination, particularly during military service, and at school".<ref name=Garrett/>{{rp|130}} Even though, the language is the only thing that differentiates them from the surrounding Greeks, it still defines them as a distinct class and places them within a social hierarchy.

Furthermore, within societies that maintain a diglossic state, the High ('H') and Low ('L') forms serve as a basis for discrimination. As Mesthrie writes, "Since the H form is learned via formal education, diglossia can be a means of excluding people from access to full participation in society".<ref name=Mesthrie/>


==See also==
==See also==
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{{Wiktionary}}
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Latest revision as of 11:29, 13 October 2024

In sociolinguistics, a sociolect is a form of language (non-standard dialect, restricted register) or a set of lexical items used by a socioeconomic class, profession, age group, or other social group.[1][2]

Sociolects involve both passive acquisition of particular communicative practices through association with a local community, as well as active learning and choice among speech or writing forms to demonstrate identification with particular groups.[3] The term sociolect might refer to socially restricted dialects,[4] but it is sometimes also treated as equivalent with the concept of register,[5] or used as a synonym for jargon and slang.[6][7]

Sociolinguists—people who study sociolects and language variation—define a sociolect by examining the social distribution of specific linguistic terms. For example, a sociolinguist would examine the use of the second person pronoun you within a given population. If one distinct social group used yous as the plural form of the pronoun, then this could indicate the existence of a sociolect. A sociolect is distinct from a regional dialect (regiolect) because social class, rather than geographical subdivision, substantiates the unique linguistic features.[8]

Overview

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A sociolect, defined by leading sociolinguist and philosopher Peter Trudgill, is "a variety or lect which is thought of as being related to its speakers' social background rather than geographical background."[9]: 122  This idea of a sociolect began with the commencement of dialectology, the study of different dialects in relation to society, which has been established in countries such as England for many years, but only recently has the field garnered more attention.[10]: 26  However, as opposed to a dialect, the basic concept of a sociolect is that a person speaks in accordance with their social group whether it is with regard to one's ethnicity, age, gender, etc. As William Labov once said, "the sociolinguistic view ... is that we are programmed to learn to speak in ways that fit the general pattern of our communities."[11]: 6  Therefore, what we are surrounded with in our environment determines how we speak; hence, our actions and associations.

Distinguished from dialect

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The main distinction between sociolects (social dialects) and dialects proper (geographical dialects), which are often confused, is the settings in which they are created.[12] A dialect's main identifier is geography: a certain region uses specific phonological, morphosyntactic or lexical rules.[9]: 35  Asif Agha expands the concept by stating that "the case where the demographic dimension marked by speech are matters of geographic provenance alone, such as speaker's birth locale, extended residence and the like".[13]: 135  However, a sociolect's main identifier is a socioeconomic class, age, gender, and/or ethnicity in a certain speech community.

An example of a dialectal difference, based on region, is the use of the words soda or pop and coke in different parts of the United States. As Thomas E. Murray states, "coke is used generically by thousands of people, especially in the southern half of the country."[14] On the other hand, pop is known to be a term that is used by many citizens in the northern half of the country.

An example of a sociolect difference, based on social grouping, is the zero copula in African American Vernacular English. It occurs in a specific ethnic group but in all areas of the United States.[11]: 48  William Labov gives an example: "he here" instead of "he's here."[11]: 38 

Definitions

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Code switching is "the process whereby bilingual or bidialectal speakers switch back and forth between one language or dialect and another within the same conversation".[9]: 23 

Diglossia, associated with the American linguist Charles A. Ferguson, which describes a sociolinguistic situation such as those that obtain in Arabic-speaking countries and in German-speaking Switzerland. In such a diglossic community, the prestigious standard of 'High' (or H) variety, which is linguistically related to but significantly different from the vernacular or 'Low' (or L) varieties, has no native speakers.[9]: 389 

Domain is "different language, dialects, or styles are used in different social contexts".[9]: 41 

Language attitudes are "social in origin, but that they may have important effects on language behavior, being involved in acts of identity, and on linguistic change."[9]: 73 

Linguistic variable is "a linguistic unit...initially developed...in order to be able to handle linguistics variation. Variables may be lexical and grammatical, but are most often phonological". Example of British English (h) which is sometimes present and sometimes not.[9]: 83 

Pragmatics is the meaning of a word in social context, while semantics has "purely linguistic meaning".[9]: 107 

Register is "a language variety that is associated with a particular topic, subject, or activity...." Usually, it is defined by vocabulary, but has grammatical features as well.[9]: 110 

Examples

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Tamil caste system

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The following is an example of the lexical distinction between the Mudaliyar and the Iyengar groups of the Tamil-speaking people in India. The Iyengar group is part of the Brahmin caste which is scholarly and higher in the caste hierarchy than the non-Brahmin or Mudaliyar, caste.[13]: 136  The Mudaliyars use many of the same words for things that are differentiated within the Iyengars' speech. For example, as seen below, the difference between drinking water, water in general, and non-potable water is used by one word in the non-Brahmin caste and three separate words in the Brahmin caste. Furthermore, Agha references how the use of different speech reflects a "departure from a group-internal norm".[13]: 139  For example, if the non-Brahmin caste uses Brahmin terms in their mode of speech it is seen as self-raising, whereas if people within the Brahmin caste use non-Brahmin speech it is seen as pejoratives.[13]: 138  Therefore, depending on which castes use certain words the pragmatics change. Hence, this speech system is determined by socioeconomic class and social context.

Gloss Mudaliyar (non-Brahmin) Iyengar (Brahmin)
Drinking Water tanni tirrto
Water in general tanni jalo
Non-potable water tanni tanni
Worship puuse puuje
food sooru saado
worship puuse puuje 'worship'// puuse 'punishment for children'
food sooru/saado saado 'food'// sooru 'food' (pejorative)
eat tinnu/saapdo saapdo 'eat'// tinnu 'guzzle, etc.' (pejorative)

Norwegian dialect-based sociolect

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Norwegian does not have a spoken standard and is heavily dependent on dialect variants. The following example shows the difference between the national written standard and a spoken variant, where the phonology and pronunciation differ. These are not sociolectic differences per se. As Agha states, "Some lexical contrasts are due to the phonological difference (e.g., R makes more consonantal and vocalic distinctions than B), while others are due to the morphological difference (e.g., difference in plural suffixes and certain verb inflections) between two varieties.[13]: 140 

Gloss National standard (Bokmål, B) Local variety (Ranamål, R)
I Jeg Eg
you Deg Deg
He Han Hanj
She Hun Ho
If Hvis Vess
To, toward Til Tell
Who Hvem Kem
How Hvordan Korsen

Diglossia

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The chart below gives an example of diglossia in Arabic-speaking nations and where it is used. Diglossia is defined by Mesthrie as "[a] situation where two varieties of a language exist side by side".[15] The Classical Arabic is known as الفصحى, or al-fuṣḥā, while the colloquial dialect depends on the country. For example, شامي, or šāmi, is spoken in Lebanon and parts of Syria. In many situations, there is a major lexical difference among words in the classical and colloquial speech, as well as pronunciation differences, such as a difference in short vowels, when the words are the same. Although a specific example of diglossia was not given, its social context is almost if not more important. For example, Halliday states that "in areas with Diglossia, the link between language and success is apparent as the higher, classical register is learned through formal education".[10]: 175 

H L
Sermon in church or mosque X
Instructions to servants, waiters, workmen, clerks, etc. X
Personal letter X
Speech in parliament, political speech X
University lecture X
Conversation with family, friends, colleagues X
News broadcast X
Radio soap opera X
Newspaper editorial, news story, caption on picture X
Caption on political cartoon X
Poetry X
Folk literature X

African American Vernacular English (AAVE)

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Below is an example of African American Vernacular English, showing the addition of the verbal -s not just on third-person singular verbs in the present tense such as in Standard American English, but added onto infinitives, first-person present verbs, and third-person past perfect verbs.[11]: 49 

  1. He can goes out.
  2. I don't know how to gets no girls.
  3. He'd knows that.

Further examples of the phenomenon in AAVE are provided below.

Below are examples of the lack of the possessive ending; -s is usually absent in AAVE but contains a rule As Labov states, "[the] use -s to indicate possession by a single noun or pronoun, but never between the possessor and the possessed."[11]: 49 

"This is hers, This is mines, This is John's, but not in her book, my book, John book"[11]: 49 

"Interview with Bryan A., seven years old, a struggling reader in a West Philadelphia elementary school:

  1. If I don't get out my mom room, I get in trouble and when I don't get out my sister room she hit me.
  2. Bernicia penpal gave me one.
  3. That's what he did to my cousin Raymond dog at my cousin house.
  4. I was acting like I stole my sister food.
  5. At the museum, it was fun, we went in somebody heart."[11]: 49 

Effects

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Code-switching

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Main article: Code-switching

Many times within communities that contain sociolects that separate groups linguistically it is necessary to have a process where the independent speech communities can communicate in the same register; even if the change is as simple as different pronunciation. Therefore, the act of code-switching becomes essential. Code-switching is defined as "the process whereby bilingual or bidialectal speakers switch back and forth between one language or dialect and another within the same conversation".[16]: 23  At times code-switching can be situational, depending on the situation or topical, depending on the topic. Halliday terms this the best when he defines the role of discourse, stating that "it is this that determines, or rather correlates with, the role played by the language activity in the situation".[10]: 20  Therefore, meaning that which register is used depends on the situation and lays out the social context of the situation, because if the wrong register is used, then the wrong context is placed on the words. Furthermore, referring back to the diglossia expressed in the Arab-speaking world and the Tamil caste system in India, which words are used must be appropriate to not only the social class of the speaker, but the situation, the topic, and the need for courtesy. A more comprehensive definition is stated, "Code-switching is not only a definition of the situation but an expression of social hierarchy."[10]: 137 

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Wolfram, Walt (2004). "Social varieties of American English". In E. Finegan and J.R. Rickford (ed.). Language in the USA: Themes for the Twenty-first Century. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-77747-X.
  2. ^ Wilkoń, Aleksander (2000). Typologia odmian językowych współczesnej polszczyzny (in Polish) (2 ed.). Katowice: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego. pp. 87–88. ISBN 83-226-0975-2.
  3. ^ Durrell, Martin (2004). "Sociolect". In Ammon, Ulrich; et al. (eds.). Sociolinguistics. An International Handbook of the Science of Language and Society. Walter de Gruyter. pp. 200–205.
  4. ^ Smith, K. Aaron; Kim, Susan M. (2017). This Language, A River: A History of English. Broadview Press. p. 281. ISBN 9781770486652.
  5. ^ Mrázková, Kamila (2017). "REJSTŘÍK". In Karolak, Petr; Nekula, Marek; Pleskalová, Jana (eds.). Nový encyklopedický slovník češtiny (in Czech).
  6. ^ Grzenia, Jan (2005-04-25). "gwara a żargon". Poradnia językowa PWN (in Polish). sjp.pwn.pl. Retrieved 2019-04-26.
  7. ^ Mistrík, Jozef (1993). Encyklopédia jazykovedy (in Slovak) (1 ed.). Bratislava: Obzor. p. 385. ISBN 8021502509. OCLC 29200758.
  8. ^ Eifring, Halvor. "7 Language and Variation". Linguistics for Students of Asian and African Languages.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i Trudgill, Peter. A Glossary of Sociolinguistics. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 2003. Print.
  10. ^ a b c d Halliday, M. Language and Society. London; New York: Continuum, 2007. Print.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g Labov, William. Dialect Diversity in America : the Politics of Language Change. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2012. Print.
  12. ^ Hervey, Sándor; Higgins, Ian; Loughridge, Michael (2003). Thinking German Translation: A Course in Translation Method. Thinking Translation. Routledge. pp. 85–86. ISBN 9781134818976.
  13. ^ a b c d e Agha, Asif. Language and Social Relations. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007. 135. Print.
  14. ^ Murray, Thomas E.. "From Trade Name to Generic: The Case of Coke." Trans. Array Names: A Journal of Onomastics. Maney Publishing, 1995. 165-86. Print.
  15. ^ Mesthrie, Rajend. Introducing Sociolinguistics. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: John Benjamins Pub., 2009. 38. Print.
  16. ^ Trudgill, Peter. On Dialect : Social and Geographical Perspectives. New York: New York University Press, 1983. Print.
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