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Language Varieties Lecture 2

This document discusses different types of language varieties including dialects, sociolects, idiolects, slang, jargons, pidgins, creoles, and registers. It provides definitions and examples for each variety. Dialects are varieties defined by geography while sociolects are defined by social factors. An idiolect is unique to an individual. Slang is informal vocabulary while jargon is technical terms of a profession. Pidgins are contact languages between groups without a common tongue, and creoles develop when pidgins become a community's first language. Registers vary based on social context from frozen to intimate levels.

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Crisnelyn
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44 views

Language Varieties Lecture 2

This document discusses different types of language varieties including dialects, sociolects, idiolects, slang, jargons, pidgins, creoles, and registers. It provides definitions and examples for each variety. Dialects are varieties defined by geography while sociolects are defined by social factors. An idiolect is unique to an individual. Slang is informal vocabulary while jargon is technical terms of a profession. Pidgins are contact languages between groups without a common tongue, and creoles develop when pidgins become a community's first language. Registers vary based on social context from frozen to intimate levels.

Uploaded by

Crisnelyn
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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LANGUAGE

VARIETIES
WHAT IS LANGUAGE VARIETY
Language variety, also called lect, is a
generic term for any distinctive form of a
language or linguistic expression
(Nordquist, 2018). It is a term that
encompasses the subcategories.
Nordquist (2018) adds that varieties of language
develop for a number of reasons. One reason
points to geography where people living in
different geographic areas tend to develop distinct
dialects. Other reasons have to do with social class,
occupation and age group. Further, one obvious
reason for the variation is the necessity for an ease
of interaction (www.nou.edu.ng)
LANGUAGE VARIETIES
 Dialect
 Sociolect
 Idiolect
 Slang
 Jargons
 Pidgins
 Creole
 Register
DIALECT
 The term dialect refers to a geographical variant of a
language (Hickey, 2012). It is a variety of a language
spoken by a group of people that is characterized by
systematic features that distinguishes it from other
varieties of that same language. Further, it is a variation
of a language that is characteristic of the users of that
language (Solano-Flores, 2006).
SOCIOLECT
Sociolect, on the other hand, also known as
a social dialect, is a variety of language used by a
socioeconomic class, a profession, an age group, or
any other social group (Nordquist, 2018).
According to Lewandowski (2010), it is a lect
which is thought of as being related to its
speakers’ social background rather than
geographical background.
IDIOLECT
An idiolect is the distinctive speech pattern of an individual. It is
a language variety peculiar to a single speaker of a language
which includes vocabulary appropriate to various interests and
activities, pronunciation reflective of the region in which you live,
and variable styles of speaking that shift subtly depending on
whom one is addressing.
A person's idiolect also includes the levels of diction or language
that he or she uses in different social situations.
SLANG
Slang refers to words that are not considered part
of the standard vocabulary of a language and that
are used very informally in speech especially by a
particular group of people (Merriam-Webster,
2018). It is characterized as a very informal
language variety that includes new terms and
sometimes not polite words and meanings.
JARGON
Jargon is a set of technical vocabulary, typically nouns
(e.g., plaintiff, syllabus), associated with a specific area of
work or interest. Lawyers, teachers and linguists have
technical language that is not understood easily outside
of their profession. Yule (2017) proposes that it is the
learning of appropriate jargon of a profession that
qualifies an individual as a valid professional within that
area of expertise.
PIDGINS
 Pidgins, according to Ozuorcun (2014) are simplified languages that
occur from two or more languages. Pidgins are developed by people
who do not have a common language to communicate in the same
geographical area.
 Yule (2017) adds that a language described as a pidgin is often
discussed as “contact” language that developed for some practical
purpose, such as trading, among groups of people who had a lot of
contact, but who did not know each other’s languages.
 As such, Wardaugh (2006) calls it nobody’s first language/mother
tongue because it doesn’t have any native speakers; it is just used as
a contact language for communication purposes.
CREOLE
 In contrast to a pidgin, a creole is often defined as a pidgin that has
become the first language of a new generation of speakers.
 Aitchison (1994) as cited by Wardaugh (2006) says that creoles arise
when pidgins become mother tongues. A creole, therefore, is a ‘normal’
language in almost every sense.
 A creole is a pidgin which has expanded in structure and vocabulary to
express the range of meanings and serve the range of functions required
of a first language.
 A creole, Yule (2017) explains, initially develops as the first language of
children growing up in a pidgin-using community and becomes more
complex as it serves more communicative purposes.
IS TAGLISH A PIDGIN OR
CREOLE?
 Examples of creoles include “Manglish” (Malaysian
English), “Singlish” (Singaporean English) and “Taglish”
(Tagalog English). Pidgins and creoles serve the
purpose of communicating among people groups who
have different languages. With time a pidgin may
become a creole if native speakers of a pidgin develop.
REGISTER
 In linguistics, the register is defined as the way a speaker uses
language differently in different circumstances. Think about the
words you choose, your tone of voice, even your body language.
You probably behave very differently chatting with a friend than
you would at a formal dinner party or during a job interview.
 These variations in formality, also called stylistic variation, are
known as registers in linguistics. They are determined by such
factors as social occasion, context, purpose, and audience.
JOOS (1967)’S FIVE TYPES OF REGISTER
USED IN SPOKEN AND WRITTEN
LANGUAGE.
1. `Frozen or “static” register: At this level, language is literally “frozen” in
time and form. It does not change. This type of language is often learned
and repeated by rote. Examples include biblical verse, prayers, the
Pledge of Allegiance, and so forth.
2. Formal register: This style is impersonal and often follows a
prescriptive format. The speaker uses complete sentences, avoids slang
and may use technical or academic vocabulary. It is likely that the
speaker will use fewer contractions, but opt instead for complete words.
(Example: “have not” instead of “haven’t”). This is the register used for
most academic and scientific publishing. It also includes business
letters, letters of complaint, some essays, reports, official speeches,
announcements, and professional emails.
3. Consultative register: This is the register used when consulting
an expert such as a doctor. The language used is more precise.
The speaker is likely to address the expert by a title such as
“Doctor,” “Mr.” or “Mrs.”
4. Casual/Informal Register: This register is conversational in
tone. It is the language used among and between friends. Words
are general, rather than technical. This register may include more
slang and colloquialisms. Personal e-mails, phone texts, short
notes, friendly letters, most blogs, diaries and journals make use
of casual register.
5. Intimate register: This is the language used by close friends
and partners. It is also the language used in sexual harassment.
This is the most intimate form of language. It is best avoided in
public and professional situations.

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