Eng 211: Language Programs and Policies in Multilingual Societies
Part 1: Define the Sociolinguistic Concepts below:
1. Code-switching – Code-switching is when a person switches between two or
more languages or dialects in a conversation. It's common in multilingual
individuals and communities and can happen in both spoken and written
communication.
2. Code-mixing - Code-mixing is when speakers blend elements from different
languages or linguistic systems in a single utterance. It's often observed in
bilingual or multilingual individuals and communities. This can occur at various
linguistic levels, including the lexical, syntactic, and phonological levels.
3. Language Change - Language change is a natural phenomenon where a
language undergoes alterations in its structure, vocabulary, pronunciation, or
other linguistic features over time. Language changes occur for various reasons
and can result in the emergence of new words, loss of older terms, shifts in
grammatical structures, or modifications in pronunciation.
4. Language Shift - Language shift is when a community gradually shifts from using
one language to another as its primary means of communication. This can
happen due to social, economic, political, or cultural factors and has significant
implications for linguistic diversity, cultural heritage, and identity.
5. Language Death - Language death refers to the disappearance of a language
from a community due to factors like cultural assimilation, migration, and
economic pressures. It involves a decline in native speakers, intergenerational
transmission, and domains of language use. As a language loses its vitality,
speakers may switch to a more dominant language.
6. Language Revitalization - Language revitalization efforts aim to reverse the
decline of a language within a community. These initiatives revive and strengthen
the use of endangered languages to preserve linguistic diversity and cultural
heritage.
7. Standard and Vernacular Languages - In sociolinguistics, standard and
vernacular languages refer to different varieties of a language used in distinct
social contexts and carry varying degrees of prestige. The standard language is
prestigious and used in formal communication, while Vernacular language is the
everyday, colloquial language spoken informally.
8. Dialects - Dialects are unique forms of language that are associated with specific
regions, social groups, or communities. They exhibit variations in pronunciation,
vocabulary, and grammar, compared to other forms of the same language. All
languages have dialects, and no dialect is superior or inferior to another.
9. Language Diversity – Language diversity refers to the multitude of languages,
dialects, and linguistic variations within them. It is a concept that recognizes and
celebrates this variety, which exists in different communities and groups
worldwide.
10. Register - In sociolinguistics, "register" refers to language that varies in different
contexts depending on factors such as formality, subject matter, and
relationships between speakers. Examples include formal language in academic
papers, technical language in scientific journals, or casual language among
friends. Being able to navigate different registers is important for effective
communication.
