language and social variation

speech community

group of people who share a set of norms and expectations regarding the use of language

sociolinguistics

study of the relationship between language and society

social dialects

variety of language which is characteristic to the social group

linguistic variables

pronunciation, vocabulary, syntax

social variables

class, education, gender, occupation, ethnicity, age gruping, group identity

idiolect

individual's distinctive and unique use of language, including vocabulary, pronunciation, syntax, word formation. it's influenced by occupation and education.

formal speech style

we pay more attention to how we're speaking

informal speech style

not paying much attention to how we're speaking

prestige

consider something better than other variety

overt

obvious, openly visible prestige

covert

hidden and not obvious prestige

speech accomodation

adjusting our speech style towards or away from the style of the person we're talking to

convergence

using language forms that are similiar to our conversation partner

divergence

using language forms that are different than our conversation partner's

register

a conventional way of using language that is appropriate in a specific context, which may be identified as: situational, occupational, topical

jargon

special technical vocabulary associated with a specific group, profession or industry

slang features

social appearance which marks group membership, aimed for selected group members (not outsiders), typically used by these who are outside established higher-status groups, temporary, solidarity with other group members, hides meaning, uses taboo words

vernacular

a kind of social dialect typically spoken by a low status groups