language variation 1.The identity and variability of language. 2.User-related variation: dialect, sociolect, pidgin, creole, child language, gender differences. 3.User-related variation: spoken and written varieties, styles, registers. 4.Idiolect, code switching, diglossia

1. 1.The identity and variability of
language.
2.User-related variation: dialect,
sociolect, pidgin, creole, child
language, gender differences.
3.User-related variation: spoken and
written varieties, styles, registers.
4.Idiolect, code switching, diglossia .
UNIT9
LANGUAGE VARIATION

2. *9.1.The identity and variability of
language.
* Language variation =synchronic
variability.
* Is the existence of language varieties side
by side.
* The coexisting varieties change along the
dimension of time = language change =
diachronic variability.

3. * The problem of language identity:
-are two linguistics codes are two languages one
says = criterion is mutual understandability but it
break down between code of the same language.
-e.g.: northern Chinese and southern Chinese may
not understand each other.
-e.g.: Swedes and Danes understand each other
so the mutual understandability not safe
criterion.
* socio-psychological concept = one language is
the sum of the some language.
* English = It covers the term of all linguistic
codes that regarded as English.
* You can regard this chapter as a preliminary
introduction to sociolinguistics, as well.
* Language variation con be discussed in terms of
user-related and use-related variation.

4. 9.2.User-related variation :
involve the user is geographical and social
position
* Regional dialect (dialect)= the variety of
language in geographical area.
* Differ in: 1.vocabulary.
2.pronounciation.
3.morphology.
4.syntax.
-e.g.: isogloss = the line marking on a map.
* State of Penn Sylvania (USA) the word
drought is drooth.
* A dialect is a more or less congruent
bundle of isoglosses.

5. * When regional varieties gains social
political priority over the others and
become (stander variety). Used for:
1.education.
2.scholarship.
3.State administration all over the
country.
* It used for educated, who are at the top
of socio-cultural scale, no matter where
they live.
* Social dialect or sociolect:
- A sociolect = a variety of language used
by people in the same socio-cultural
position.

6. * Standard variety has higher social prestige _
not Linguistically better than the other varieties.
* Standard English was the particular variety in
South-East of England rather than a northern
and its due to :
1.historical. 2.political. 3.cultural.
4.economic reasons.
* Standard English has two major national sub
varieties.
* Standard British and Standard American not
superior to the other.
* The greatest difference between them is
probably in pronunciation.

7. * Received Pronunciation (RP) is the ideal
type of pronunciation of Standard British
English.
* (RP) Received Pronunciation so called
because by the 19th, acceptable in polite
society in England at curt.
* General American (GA) the pronunciation
of Standard American English.
* Standard British English, with it (RP) is the
language of educated people.
* Those near the bottom of the socio-
cultural scale nearly always use non-
standard varieties.
* It coincide with regional dialects,
examples:
-He want it.
-I wants it.

8. *Double or multiple negation :
-non-standard socio-cultural
feature used by uneducated
English speakers in very different
geographical areas.

9. *A third type of user-related language variation is Pidgin:
-Pidgin:
1-The simplified version of a European language.
2-Containing features of one or more local language.
3-In Melanesian Pidgin English called (Tok Pisin).
4-Pidgin is not a native language, it can become the native language of
a community of people who brought together on a plantation from
different linguistic backgrounds.
*creole: when a pidgin becomes the native language of a community.
*Child Language: one could add to the list of user-related varieties the
linguistic features that are attributable to the age and sex of the
language user.

10. *9.3.Use-related variation: spoken and written
varieties, styles , registers:
1.The first:
-medium: of language use, ie:- by speech and writing.
-The language we speak is different from the language we write.
-when we write we are more careful.
-the language we use in face to face talks tends to the language
of telephone conversations.
-the language of text-messages is different from the language of
letters.

11. 2-The second:
-Style: the conditioned by the language users
relative and social status.
-neutral: or unmarked style.
-we can distinguish sentences which are
markedly formal or in formal
*example:
a.Formal: I wonder if you'd mind switching off
the light.
b.Neutral: Would you please switch off the light?
c.Informal: Switch off the light, will you?
*Familiar: a very informal style.
*Slang: a very informal language.
*we must use sentences that are not only
grammatical and meaningful but also stylistically
appropriate.
neutral

12. 3-The third:
-Register: The subject matter in connection with
which the language is being used.
-we can talk about the registers of:
(sports, religion, medicine, computer
engineering, cookery, weather forecasts, etc..)
-Jargon: when the register of a field is full of
technical terms which those who have received
no training in that field cannot understand.
-Argot or cant: Criminals Jargon.

13. *9.4.Idiolect, code switching, diglossia:
*Idiolect: The amount of a language
that an individual possesses.
*Code switching: The ability to change
from one variant to another.
*Tow distinct varieties of a language
co-occur in a speech community one
with a high social prestige and the
other with low social prestige.
*Diglossia : The sociolinguistic term
for this mixed styles.
*diglossic : an individual having
diglossia.
*bilingualism and bilingual:
Knowledge of two language and
person knowing two language.

14. Department of English Language and Translation
Supervised by: Dr. Khaleel B. Al Bataineh
Done by: Omaila Omer Assiad