"Variation is a characteristic of language: there is more than one way of saying the same thing."
The study of regional and social variations in language use, including dialects, accents, and sociolects.
Linguistic Variation: Understanding the different linguistic variations across the regional and social varieties of a language.
Dialectology: Study of language variations based on regional, social, and linguistic factors, such as differences in accent, vocabulary, and grammar.
Sociolinguistics: Study of language and social interactions, such as class and gender, through changes in local dialects.
Historical Linguistics: Tracing the evolution of language changes over time and studying diachronic factors of language variation.
Phonetics and Phonology: Understanding the relationship between phonemes, speech sounds, and the pronunciation of language variations.
Syntax and Grammar: Understanding the distinct grammatical rules and syntax variations used in different dialects worldwide.
Language Contact: Understanding the language contact factors between different dialects and the changes that arise with increased contact.
Language Planning: Understanding how dialects and languages function in different contexts, including language acquisition, education, and policy.
Lexicography: Studying the vocabulary variations of dialects worldwide, including differences in idioms and colloquial language.
Discourse Analysis: Understanding the patterns and social constructs of language use and how it varies across current discourse.
Regional Dialects: These are the forms of the language that vary according to the geographical region of the speakers. These regional dialects can further be divided into sub-dialects based on the smaller regions.
Social Dialects/Sociolects: These are the variations in the language that are related to the speakers’ social class, education level, gender, age, religion, ethnicity, and occupation.
Register Variation: This refers to the use of language that varies based on the context or setting it is being used. For example, the language used in a formal setting varies greatly from that used in an informal setting.
Generational Variation: This refers to the language differences that exist between generations due to changes in the language over time.
Stylistic Variation: This is a type of language variation where the language used is affected by the context, with the speaker or writer often choosing a particular dialect or register to achieve a particular effect or convey a particular message.
Code-switching: This is the practice of switching between languages or dialects in a conversation or within a sentence. It is common in bilingual and multilingual communities and can be influenced by the speaker's environment and social context.
Accents: Accent refers to the pronunciation of the language and can vary according to the geographical region, social class, and individual speaker.
Creoles and Pidgins: These are hybrid languages that emerge spontaneously when two or more language communities come into contact.
Standard Language: This is the variant of a language that is considered to be the norm and taught in formal education, literature, and media. In essence, the majority of the populace should be able to understand and use the standard language.
Idiolect: This refers to the language used by an individual and unique to that person. The individual's speech often arises from a combination of regional, social, and personal characteristics.
"Speakers may vary in pronunciation (accent), word choice (lexicon), or morphology and syntax (sometimes called 'grammar')."
"But while the diversity of variation is great, there seem to be boundaries on variation – speakers do not generally make drastic alterations in word order or use novel sounds that are completely foreign to the language being spoken."
"Linguistic variation does not equate to language ungrammaticality."
"Speakers are still (often unconsciously) sensitive to what is and is not possible in their native lect."
"Variationists study how a language changes by observing it."
"For example, variation is studied by looking at linguistic and social environments, then the data is analyzed as the change occurs."
"Variation in research programs must be malleable due to the nature of language itself."
"This is because language is also fluid in transition and does not shift from one state to another instantaneously."
"Language variation is a core concept in sociolinguistics."
"Sociolinguists investigate whether this linguistic variation can be attributed to differences in the social characteristics of the speakers using the language."
"Sociolinguists... also investigate whether elements of the surrounding linguistic context promote or inhibit the usage of certain structures."
"Studies of language variation and its correlation with sociological categories led to the foundation of sociolinguistics as a subfield of linguistics."
"Although contemporary sociolinguistics includes other topics..."
"...language variation and change remains an important issue at the heart of the field."
"Variation is a characteristic of language: there is more than one way of saying the same thing."
"Speakers may vary in pronunciation (accent)..."
"...word choice (lexicon), or morphology and syntax (sometimes called 'grammar')."
"Speakers are still (often unconsciously) sensitive to what is and is not possible in their native lect."
"Variationists study how a language changes by observing it."