WHAT DO SOCIOLINGUISTS STUDY?

WRITTEN BY :

RISA SANTHICA ASHALI

NIM : 136311652
What do sociolinguist study?

Sociolinguist is the study of the interaction between language and

society. In the classic introduction work, Janes Holmes examines the role of

language in a variety of social contexts and considers both how language

works and how it can be use to signal and interpret various aspects of

society identity.

They also explores some of the social reason behind language variation

in monolingual communities and looks at the ways in which different ethnic,

gender and social group develop and maintain speech variations. The

relationship between language variation and language change is also

described.

Sociolinguistics incorporates knowledge and information from many

other disciplines, such as anthropology, sociology and psychology. Though

research possibilities are virtually endless, variation-both in the use of

language and the language itselfis the common denominator.

Sociolinguistics research can explore both oral and written language.

Furthermore, the relationship between language and society affects a wide

range of encountersfrom broadly based international relations to narrowly

defined interpersonal relationships.

 Throughout the world, there are many socio-historical situations that

have resulted in these specialized language situationsin the Caribbean,

Africa, South America, Asia, and the pacific islands. In examining language

contact situations, it is also the social and linguistics details that show how

bilingual speakers use each language and switch between them.

Two trends have characterized the development of sociolinguistic over

the past several decades. First, the rise of particular specialization within this

field has coincided with the emergence of more broadly based social and

political issues. Second, specialists who examine the role of language and

society have become more and more interested in applying the results of

their studies to the broadly based social, educational, and political problem

that probably gave rise to their emergence as sociolinguistic themes begin

with.

What they study are such as explaining why we speak differently in

different social context, and they are concerned with identification of the

social functions of language and also the ways it is applied or used to

express social meaning. Furthermore, they look over the way people use

language in different social contexts provides a wealth on information about

the ways language works, and about the social relationships in a community.

We can draw the conclusion from the two above examples that we

have to be carefully in choosing the word according to who we are talking to

since language choices express or convey information about the social

relationships between people ( could be students and teachers) as well as

about the topic of discussion. In short, the sort of information which has

something to do with languages choices include how well students know

teachers and whether they are socially superior.

Why do we say the something in different ways?

The following are examples of people saying the same thing in which

refers ti different ways. Some people greet someone directly to his or her

names instead of how the way they are called such as the word Mrs., ms or

hello dear?, Goo Morning, is that Ms. David? And so on.

Teacher often call by a variety of students names depending on how

they feel toward them. In some cultures people have one name which is used

only in the family and another for outside use.

What are the different ways we say things?

Linguistics variations used to express and reflect social factors. The

choice of word and vocabulary is one area of linguistic variation and it occurs
at the other levels of linguistic variation ( sounds or phonology, word-

structure ( or morphology) and grammar (syntax) as well as vocabulary.

Using different and vocabulary choices convey social information.

Social factors, dimensions and explanations