Sociolinguistics

Sociolinguistics is the study of language in its context; it studies how society affects language and how language affects society. It is the relationship between society and language. Different social factors affect our language, for example, the relationship between the speaker and the listeners, social background etc.

Sociolinguistics encompasses a vast variety of topics. We will discuss broadly what these topics are.

Scope of sociolinguistics 

1:Language variation

2:Multilingualism

3:Language and identity

4:Code switching and code mixing

5:Language change

6:Language planning and policy.

Language variation

Dialect 

Accent

Creole

Idiolect

Pidgin

Pidgin 

When speakers of different languages cannot communicate, they develop a new language for communication called pidgin. Pidgin has no native speakers; it arises from the need for a lingua franca.

Creole: when pidgin survives and becomes the native language of a new generation, it then becomes Creole.

Dialect is the variety of a language different from other varieties of the same language, but dialects are not completely different; they are mutually intelligible.

Idiolect, the way of speaking of an individual, is called idiolect; in simple words, the speaking habits of a person are idiolect.

Accent is the a variation of pronunciation.

Multilingualism is when an individual or community speaks more than one language.

Language and identity

In simple words, language defines us. It creates our identity. If we speak the national language of a country, we are identified as natives of that country, so it is creating our identity.

There are many kinds of identities, like ethnic, racial, national, social, etc.

Code-switching and code-mixing

Code is language; using two or more languages or dialects in a single conversation by an individual is code-switching.

Code mixing is using the words of one language in another during a conversation.

Language change is the change in language over time; it’s evolution resulting in differences in vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, et cetera.

Language planning and policy Language planning is changing the use of language and aiming to  influence the functions, structure, or acquisition of language.

Language policy refers to ideas, laws, and rules to achieve the planned language change in a society.

You can find more topics here.