sociolinguistic variation

[rasha13]

what does it mean sociolinguistic variation?

 

[Pokemon]

Usage typical of a certain age group, professsional group, etc.

 

[rasha13]

I haven't understood. Would you clarify, please?

 

[emsr2d2]

what does it mean sociolinguistic variation?

Different ways of speaking a language, depending on someone's specific demographic (age, area, occupation etc).

People of different social classes speak differently from each other.
People of different ages speak differently from each other.

Socio = relating to society
Linguistic = relating to language
Variation = difference

 

[TheParser]

what does it mean sociolinguistic variation?

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


(1) Pokemon and Emsr have given us excellent answers.

(2) May I give some examples of how social class determines speech?

(a) Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom has been on the

throne since the early 1950s. I have read that she no longer pronounces

some words in the way that she pronounced them in the 1950s. Why? Some

people say that she wants to pronounce her words in a way that is closer to

the way that most of her subjects speak.

(b) At the end of World War II, the royal ruler of country X spoke to his

people. There was one problem: the people could not understand him.

Why? Because he used very old-fashioned speech that only royal rulers in that

country used.

(c) Here in the United States of America, if you say

"He don't speak English" and "I ain't going," many people will consider you to be

an uneducated person. (As you know, educated people are expected to say "He

doesn't speak English" and "I'm not going.")

(d) Finally, I hear that in some languages there are some words that are said

usually by men and some words usually said by women. I think that the English

language permits men and women to equally use most words, but there are a

few words or expressions that American men do not use. (If they used them,

some people might think that those men were not "real" men.)

 

[emsr2d2]

I am intrigued. What are these words that "real" American men never use?

 

[TheParser]

I am intrigued. What are these words that "real" American men never use?

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


(1) Here in the States, people joke that if a man regularly uses the word

fabulous, he must be gay. Thus, I imagine that learners should probably avoid

this word if they come to the States. (I do not know the status of fabulous in other

English-speaking countries.)

(2) I can't think of other examples, but there are other words and expressions

that some people feel are only "appropriate" for women. I guess a "real" man

would never say "I think it's perfectly marvelous, darling!"

(3) In fact, if a young man even said "It is I" (instead of the more "manly" It is me),

some people would immediately begin to wonder about the speaker's "masculinity."

*****

Returning to the original question, I have read that some people in England

who want to sound super posh pronounce "Cecil" as "sizzle"!!! And I have read that in

the "bad old days," as soon as a person in England opened his mouth and uttered

a word, his social class would be immediately known. Of course, I imagine that

this applies to all languages and all societies.

 

[Rover_KE]

what does it mean sociolinguistic variation?

Your sentence should read

'What does sociolinguistic variation mean?'

Rover

 

[rasha13]

you are right Mr Rover. So what does sociolinguistic variation mean?

 

[emsr2d2]

You are right Mr Rover. So what does sociolinguistic variation mean?

OK, you now have the construction of the question right. The question has been answered above. Twice.

 

[birdeen's call]

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


(1) Here in the States, people joke that if a man regularly uses the word

fabulous, he must be gay. Thus, I imagine that learners should probably avoid

this word if they come to the States. (I do not know the status of fabulous in other

English-speaking countries.)

I think the word "cute" is often considered rather girly.

 

[TheParser]

what does it mean sociolinguistic variation?

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


(1) This thread is about how grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, etc., depends on

one's social class (occupation, nationality, etc.).

(2) This true story is an excellent example.

(3) Princess Margaret, the late sister of Her Majesty the Queen, was visiting the

United States in 1966 when she asked a man whether he was English.

He replied: "No, ma'am, but my sixth great-grandmother was. Then she

married ... George Washington [the man who led the American revolution

against the English]."

(5) Princess Margaret said "Oh," as only the English can say that word.


Source: The Little, Brown Book of Anecdotes(Clifton Fadiman, general editor). 1985.

 

[konungursvia]

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


(1) Here in the States, people joke that if a man regularly uses the word

fabulous, he must be gay.

In the US, gay men are not "real" men?

 

[TheParser]

In the US, gay men are not "real" men?

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


(1) The quotation marks indicate that is how some people judge them.

(2) As a result, they have been persecuted (and prosecuted) throughout

history in all countries.

(3) Since this is a language website, I am not allowed to elaborate on this

"hot potato" social issue.

 

[konungursvia]

When you said men who used certain words might not be perceived as "real" men, I was expecting something about strength, bravery, risk-taking, or that sort of thing. The opposite being running with tail between the legs.

I was surprised to see the interpretation given a little later in the thread was what it turned out to be.

In Canada, men rarely use names for colours other than the most common ones. The women on TV fashion shows will admire "periwinkle" blouses and "fuchsia" scarves.