 VARIATION: Natural phenomenon
 Language is often considered to be a form of social behavior; and
individuals, communities and regions tend to split up into separate
linguistic groups, each displaying differencesof behavior
 Language manifests differences of behavior
 Language is the variety of speakers
 Speakers vary in their vocabulary and skills to use it
 The entire variation process leads to formation of dialects and
numerous other varieties.
 Dialect is often referred to as a non-standard form or variety of a
given language, spoken in a certain locality or geographical area,
showing particular differences from that standard form or variety,
in case of linguistic items such as pronunciation, grammatical
construction and, idiomatic use of words, etc.
WHAT VARIETIES DO WE GET AFTER VARIATION IN LANGUAGE?
Dialect



No universally accepted criteria for distinguishing languages
from dialects, although a number of paradigms exist, which
render sometimes contradictory results
The exact distinction is a subjective one, dependent on the user's
frame of reference
Language varieties are often called dialects rather than languages:



Because
solely they are not recognized as literary languages
the speakers of the given language do not have a state of their
own
they are not used in press or literature, or very little.
because their language lacks prestige


 Difference between Accent and Dialect
Standard and non-standard varieties/dialects



A standard dialect: a dialect that is supported by institutions
Such institutional support may include government recognition or
designation;
presentation as being the "correct" form of a language in
schools; published grammars, dictionaries, and textbooks that set
forth a


"correct" spoken and written form;
an extensive formal literature that employs that dialect in prose,
poetry, non-fiction, etc.
Standard American English, Standard British English, Standard
Indian English, Standard Australian English, and Standard
Philippine English may all be said to be standard dialects of
the English language
 A nonstandard dialect: has a complete vocabulary, grammar, and
syntax, but is not the beneficiary of institutional support
An example of a nonstandard English dialect is Southern English

 Lacks prestige, power and authority
In sociolinguistics, language variety—also called lect —is a general
term for any distinctive form of a language or linguistic expression.
Linguists commonly use language variety (or simply variety) as a cover
term for any of the overlapping subcategories of a language, including
dialect, register, jargon, and idiolect.
Types of dialects
In addition to the distinctions discussed previously, different types of lects
also echo the types of language varieties:
• Regional dialect: A variety spoken in a particular region.
• Sociolect: Also known as a social dialect, a variety of language (or
register) used by a socioeconomic class, a profession, an age group,
or any other social group.
• Ethnolect: A lect spoken by a specific ethnic group. For example,
Ebonics, the vernacular spoken by some African-Americans, is a type
of ethnolect, notes e2f, a language-translation firm.
• Idiolect: According to e2f, the language or languages spoken by each
individual. For example, if you are multilingual and can speak in
different registers and styles, your idiolect comprises several
languages, each with multiple registers and styles.
Regional variety/dialect



not a distinct language
a variety of a language spoken in a particular area of a country
Some regional dialects have been given traditional names which
mark them out as being significantly different from standard
varieties spoken in the same place
 Ex: 'Hillbilly English' from the Appalachians in the USA and
'Geordie' from Newcastle upon Tyne in the UK
Sociolect



the variety of language characteristic of a social background
or status
A dialect which evolves from regional speech may also have
sociolectical implications
Ex: standard Italian is a dialect in that it is particular to Tuscany;
yet, being the national language of Italy, it is also a sociolect in that
it carries a certain prestige from being the lingua franca throughout
the country – both in broadcasting, in the press, and by people of
high social status
Idiolect



a variety of a language unique to an individual
manifested by patterns of word selection and grammar, or words,
phrases, idioms, or pronunciations that are unique to that
individual
Every individual has an idiolect



the grouping of words and phrases is unique, rather than
an individual using specific words that nobody else uses
idiolect can easily evolve into an ecolect—a dialect variant specific
to a household
languages are congruences of idiolects andthus exist only in the
intersection between individual speakers
 Idiolects change through contact with other idiolects, and change
throughout their lifetime as well as from generation to generation
Register


term was originated by: Thomas Bertram Reid in 1956
Become common: in the 1960s introduced by a group of
linguists who wanted to distinguish between variations in
language according to the user and variations according
to use,




each speaker has a range of varieties and choices between
them at different times (Halliday et al, 1964)
focus is on the way language is used in particular situations
Registers are stylistically functional varieties of a language.
These may be narrowly’ defined by reference to
• subject matter (field of discourse, e.g. jargon or slang of
fishing, gambling, sports etc.),
• medium (mode of discourse e.g. printed material,
written, latter, message on tape.), or
• level of formality, that is style (manner of discourse)
Very informal,
Casual, Familiar
INFOR
MAL→
Neutra
l
←
FORM
AL
Formality
scale
Very formal,
Frozen, Rigid
from Quirk et al (1985), who use the term attitude rather thanstyle
or register
Joos (1961) describes five styles in spoken English:
Frozen or very formal: Printed unchanging language such as bible
quotations; often contains archaisms
Formal: One-way participation, no interruption. Technical vocabulary;
exact definitions are important. Includes introductions between strangers
Consultative or neutral: Two-way participation. Background information is
provided — prior knowledge is not assumed. "Backchannel behaviour" such as
"uh huh", "I see", etc. is common. Interruptions allowed
Casual or informal: In-group friends and acquaintances. No background
information provided. Ellipsis and slang common. Interruptions common.
Intimate or very informal: Non-public. Intonation more important than
wording or grammar. Private vocabulary
Pidgin
 a new language which develops in situations where
speakers of different languages need to communicate but
don't share a commonlanguage / it is broken language
 An early 'pre-pidgin' is quite restricted in use and variable
in structure
 the later 'stable pidgin' develops its own grammaticalrules
which are quite different from those of the pre-pidgin
 Once a stable pidgin has emerged, it is generally learned as
a second language and used for communication among
people who speak different languages
 Ex: Nigerian Pidgin and Bislama spoken in Vanuatu
Creole


Latin creare, meaning "to beget" or "create"
The term was coined in the sixteenth century during the great
expansion in European maritime power and trade and the
establishment of European colonies in the Americas, Africa, and
along the coast of South and Southeast Asia up to the
Philippines , China, India, and in Oceania




Originally, therefore, "Creole language" meant the speech of
those Creole peoples
a stable language that originates seemingly as a nativized pidgin
When children start learning a pidgin as their first language and it
becomes the mother tongue of a community, it is called a creole.
When a pidgin becomes a lingua franca, it is called a
creole. Thus a pidgin may extend beyond its limited function
limited function and permeate through various other activities.
Then it may acquire a standardized grammar, vocabulary and
sound-system; and it may then be spoken by an increasing
number of people as their first language. It has not such history,
not much prestige either. But on account of its wider application
and first-language status, it has to be distinguished from a
pidgin.
•Unlike a pidgin, therefore, a creole is not restricted in use, and
is like any other language in its full range offunctions
•creoles have certain grammatical similarities to each other and,
arguably, not languages that they are derived from
•Creoles exhibit more internal variability than other
languages
•Creoles are simpler than otherlanguages
•creole languages have generally been regarded as
degenerate, or at best as rudimentary dialects of one
of their parent languages
•'pidgin' and 'creole' are technical terms used by
linguists, and not necessarily by speakers of the
language. For example, speakers of Jamaican Creole
call their language 'Patwa' (from patois).
 If a pidgin manages to be learned by the children of a
community as a native language, it may become fixed and
acquire a more complex grammar, with fixed phonology,
syntax, morphology, and syntactic embedding
Pidgins can become full languages in only a single generation



"Creolization" is this second stage where the pidgin language
develops into a fully developed native language
The vocabulary, too, will contain more and more words
according to a rational and stable system
Jargon


Both jargon and slang are two special types of Language
varieties. The main difference between Jargon and Slang is:
Jargon is the specialized, often technical, language that is used mostly
by people in a particular field, profession, or social group.
Slang is the informal language of conversation, text messages, and
other casual social communication mostly among friends.
Jargon is a special type of language used in a particular context and
may not be understood outside of that context and is often vague.
It is unintelligible, meaningless talk, or gibberish, characterized by
uncommon and pretentious vocabulary.
It is divorced from meaning to outsiders since it is based on special
words or expressions that belong to a specific profession, activity,
group, or event and is used in specific fields.




Jargon
 It is the terminology of science, technology, trade, art, sports
broadcast, concepts within the belief systems of organized religion,
medical professionals, Information Technology and the internet, etc.
The people outside that particular field will not understand the
meanings of these words. Given below are some specific fields and
jargons used in them.
Police jargon:
Code Eight – Term that means officer needs help immediately
FTP – The failure of an individual to pay a fine
Suspect – A person whom the police think may have committed a crime
Engineering jargon:
CADD –Computer aided drafting and design
QFD – Quality Function Deployment
Stochastic- statistically random variation


Jargon
 Business Jargon:
Bang for the buck – to get the most for your money
Open the kimono – to share information with an outside party
Sweat equity – to get a stake in the business instead of money
Over time, some jargons can become accepted words and understood
by a larger group of people. For example, words like RAM, byte,
hexadecimal, which were jargons in the computing science, are known
by everyone.
It is also assumed that whatever vocabulary sounds nice, decent,
stylish, educated, fashionable, sophisticated, trendy, etc. is a jargon.
Sometimes, however, excessively difficult or confusing or bombastic
vocabulary is neither of these. Then it gets termed as a special form of
slang where special words are used which are too difficult for others to
understand.


Slang


Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are
not considered standard in the speaker’s dialect or language
to describe an object or condition
Non-standard vocabulary that is meant to be
interpreted quickly but not necessarily literally
slang words or terms are often a metaphor or an allegory



usage of slang expressions can spread outside their original
arenas to become commonly used
some words eventually lose their status as slang, others
continue to be considered as such by most speakers
In any case, slang is the complete opposite of jargon, since it
is a taboo term in ordinary discourse with people of a higher
social status or greater responsibility

Examples of Slangs;
– Old words, new combos: Spaced out, right on, hangup, rip-off
– New words: Barf, flub
– Shortened forms: dis, narc, fan
– Old words, new meanings: grass, pot, pig, rap, stoned, slit
_ Slangs that have become standard – tv – Fan – Phone – mob – Etc.

Difference Between Jargon and Slang
Definition-
Jargon is a particular type of language that is used by those engaged in a
specific profession or activity.
Slang is a type of language consisting of words and phrases that are
regarded as very informal.
Written Context-
Jargon can be used in both written and spoken context.
Slang is only used in spoken language.
Formality level-
Jargon is formal and can be used in a professional context.
Slang is informal and can not be used in a professional context.
SOURCES
https://notesread.com/6-major-language-variation-in-linguistics/
https://www.slideshare.net/svetlanamorari/slang-versus-jargon
https://pediaa.com/difference-between-jargon-and-slang/
https://slideplayer.com/slide/3559515/
https://www.slideshare.net/cupidlucid/language-variation-presentation
https://www.slideshare.net/nana1101/what-is-sociolinguistic
THE END
QUESTIONS….

6. Aftermath of language variation.pptx

  • 1.
     VARIATION: Naturalphenomenon  Language is often considered to be a form of social behavior; and individuals, communities and regions tend to split up into separate linguistic groups, each displaying differencesof behavior  Language manifests differences of behavior  Language is the variety of speakers  Speakers vary in their vocabulary and skills to use it  The entire variation process leads to formation of dialects and numerous other varieties.  Dialect is often referred to as a non-standard form or variety of a given language, spoken in a certain locality or geographical area, showing particular differences from that standard form or variety, in case of linguistic items such as pronunciation, grammatical construction and, idiomatic use of words, etc. WHAT VARIETIES DO WE GET AFTER VARIATION IN LANGUAGE?
  • 2.
    Dialect    No universally acceptedcriteria for distinguishing languages from dialects, although a number of paradigms exist, which render sometimes contradictory results The exact distinction is a subjective one, dependent on the user's frame of reference Language varieties are often called dialects rather than languages:    Because solely they are not recognized as literary languages the speakers of the given language do not have a state of their own they are not used in press or literature, or very little. because their language lacks prestige    Difference between Accent and Dialect
  • 3.
    Standard and non-standardvarieties/dialects    A standard dialect: a dialect that is supported by institutions Such institutional support may include government recognition or designation; presentation as being the "correct" form of a language in schools; published grammars, dictionaries, and textbooks that set forth a   "correct" spoken and written form; an extensive formal literature that employs that dialect in prose, poetry, non-fiction, etc. Standard American English, Standard British English, Standard Indian English, Standard Australian English, and Standard Philippine English may all be said to be standard dialects of the English language
  • 4.
     A nonstandarddialect: has a complete vocabulary, grammar, and syntax, but is not the beneficiary of institutional support An example of a nonstandard English dialect is Southern English   Lacks prestige, power and authority
  • 5.
    In sociolinguistics, languagevariety—also called lect —is a general term for any distinctive form of a language or linguistic expression. Linguists commonly use language variety (or simply variety) as a cover term for any of the overlapping subcategories of a language, including dialect, register, jargon, and idiolect. Types of dialects In addition to the distinctions discussed previously, different types of lects also echo the types of language varieties: • Regional dialect: A variety spoken in a particular region. • Sociolect: Also known as a social dialect, a variety of language (or register) used by a socioeconomic class, a profession, an age group, or any other social group. • Ethnolect: A lect spoken by a specific ethnic group. For example, Ebonics, the vernacular spoken by some African-Americans, is a type of ethnolect, notes e2f, a language-translation firm. • Idiolect: According to e2f, the language or languages spoken by each individual. For example, if you are multilingual and can speak in different registers and styles, your idiolect comprises several languages, each with multiple registers and styles.
  • 6.
    Regional variety/dialect    not adistinct language a variety of a language spoken in a particular area of a country Some regional dialects have been given traditional names which mark them out as being significantly different from standard varieties spoken in the same place  Ex: 'Hillbilly English' from the Appalachians in the USA and 'Geordie' from Newcastle upon Tyne in the UK
  • 7.
    Sociolect    the variety oflanguage characteristic of a social background or status A dialect which evolves from regional speech may also have sociolectical implications Ex: standard Italian is a dialect in that it is particular to Tuscany; yet, being the national language of Italy, it is also a sociolect in that it carries a certain prestige from being the lingua franca throughout the country – both in broadcasting, in the press, and by people of high social status
  • 8.
    Idiolect    a variety ofa language unique to an individual manifested by patterns of word selection and grammar, or words, phrases, idioms, or pronunciations that are unique to that individual Every individual has an idiolect    the grouping of words and phrases is unique, rather than an individual using specific words that nobody else uses idiolect can easily evolve into an ecolect—a dialect variant specific to a household languages are congruences of idiolects andthus exist only in the intersection between individual speakers  Idiolects change through contact with other idiolects, and change throughout their lifetime as well as from generation to generation
  • 9.
    Register   term was originatedby: Thomas Bertram Reid in 1956 Become common: in the 1960s introduced by a group of linguists who wanted to distinguish between variations in language according to the user and variations according to use,     each speaker has a range of varieties and choices between them at different times (Halliday et al, 1964) focus is on the way language is used in particular situations Registers are stylistically functional varieties of a language. These may be narrowly’ defined by reference to • subject matter (field of discourse, e.g. jargon or slang of fishing, gambling, sports etc.), • medium (mode of discourse e.g. printed material, written, latter, message on tape.), or • level of formality, that is style (manner of discourse)
  • 10.
    Very informal, Casual, Familiar INFOR MAL→ Neutra l ← FORM AL Formality scale Veryformal, Frozen, Rigid from Quirk et al (1985), who use the term attitude rather thanstyle or register Joos (1961) describes five styles in spoken English: Frozen or very formal: Printed unchanging language such as bible quotations; often contains archaisms Formal: One-way participation, no interruption. Technical vocabulary; exact definitions are important. Includes introductions between strangers Consultative or neutral: Two-way participation. Background information is provided — prior knowledge is not assumed. "Backchannel behaviour" such as "uh huh", "I see", etc. is common. Interruptions allowed Casual or informal: In-group friends and acquaintances. No background information provided. Ellipsis and slang common. Interruptions common. Intimate or very informal: Non-public. Intonation more important than wording or grammar. Private vocabulary
  • 11.
    Pidgin  a newlanguage which develops in situations where speakers of different languages need to communicate but don't share a commonlanguage / it is broken language  An early 'pre-pidgin' is quite restricted in use and variable in structure  the later 'stable pidgin' develops its own grammaticalrules which are quite different from those of the pre-pidgin  Once a stable pidgin has emerged, it is generally learned as a second language and used for communication among people who speak different languages  Ex: Nigerian Pidgin and Bislama spoken in Vanuatu
  • 12.
    Creole   Latin creare, meaning"to beget" or "create" The term was coined in the sixteenth century during the great expansion in European maritime power and trade and the establishment of European colonies in the Americas, Africa, and along the coast of South and Southeast Asia up to the Philippines , China, India, and in Oceania     Originally, therefore, "Creole language" meant the speech of those Creole peoples a stable language that originates seemingly as a nativized pidgin When children start learning a pidgin as their first language and it becomes the mother tongue of a community, it is called a creole. When a pidgin becomes a lingua franca, it is called a creole. Thus a pidgin may extend beyond its limited function limited function and permeate through various other activities. Then it may acquire a standardized grammar, vocabulary and sound-system; and it may then be spoken by an increasing number of people as their first language. It has not such history, not much prestige either. But on account of its wider application and first-language status, it has to be distinguished from a pidgin.
  • 13.
    •Unlike a pidgin,therefore, a creole is not restricted in use, and is like any other language in its full range offunctions •creoles have certain grammatical similarities to each other and, arguably, not languages that they are derived from •Creoles exhibit more internal variability than other languages •Creoles are simpler than otherlanguages •creole languages have generally been regarded as degenerate, or at best as rudimentary dialects of one of their parent languages •'pidgin' and 'creole' are technical terms used by linguists, and not necessarily by speakers of the language. For example, speakers of Jamaican Creole call their language 'Patwa' (from patois).
  • 14.
     If apidgin manages to be learned by the children of a community as a native language, it may become fixed and acquire a more complex grammar, with fixed phonology, syntax, morphology, and syntactic embedding Pidgins can become full languages in only a single generation    "Creolization" is this second stage where the pidgin language develops into a fully developed native language The vocabulary, too, will contain more and more words according to a rational and stable system
  • 15.
    Jargon   Both jargon andslang are two special types of Language varieties. The main difference between Jargon and Slang is: Jargon is the specialized, often technical, language that is used mostly by people in a particular field, profession, or social group. Slang is the informal language of conversation, text messages, and other casual social communication mostly among friends. Jargon is a special type of language used in a particular context and may not be understood outside of that context and is often vague. It is unintelligible, meaningless talk, or gibberish, characterized by uncommon and pretentious vocabulary. It is divorced from meaning to outsiders since it is based on special words or expressions that belong to a specific profession, activity, group, or event and is used in specific fields.    
  • 16.
    Jargon  It isthe terminology of science, technology, trade, art, sports broadcast, concepts within the belief systems of organized religion, medical professionals, Information Technology and the internet, etc. The people outside that particular field will not understand the meanings of these words. Given below are some specific fields and jargons used in them. Police jargon: Code Eight – Term that means officer needs help immediately FTP – The failure of an individual to pay a fine Suspect – A person whom the police think may have committed a crime Engineering jargon: CADD –Computer aided drafting and design QFD – Quality Function Deployment Stochastic- statistically random variation  
  • 18.
    Jargon  Business Jargon: Bangfor the buck – to get the most for your money Open the kimono – to share information with an outside party Sweat equity – to get a stake in the business instead of money Over time, some jargons can become accepted words and understood by a larger group of people. For example, words like RAM, byte, hexadecimal, which were jargons in the computing science, are known by everyone. It is also assumed that whatever vocabulary sounds nice, decent, stylish, educated, fashionable, sophisticated, trendy, etc. is a jargon. Sometimes, however, excessively difficult or confusing or bombastic vocabulary is neither of these. Then it gets termed as a special form of slang where special words are used which are too difficult for others to understand.  
  • 19.
    Slang   Slang is theuse of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker’s dialect or language to describe an object or condition Non-standard vocabulary that is meant to be interpreted quickly but not necessarily literally slang words or terms are often a metaphor or an allegory    usage of slang expressions can spread outside their original arenas to become commonly used some words eventually lose their status as slang, others continue to be considered as such by most speakers In any case, slang is the complete opposite of jargon, since it is a taboo term in ordinary discourse with people of a higher social status or greater responsibility 
  • 20.
    Examples of Slangs; –Old words, new combos: Spaced out, right on, hangup, rip-off – New words: Barf, flub – Shortened forms: dis, narc, fan – Old words, new meanings: grass, pot, pig, rap, stoned, slit _ Slangs that have become standard – tv – Fan – Phone – mob – Etc. 
  • 24.
    Difference Between Jargonand Slang Definition- Jargon is a particular type of language that is used by those engaged in a specific profession or activity. Slang is a type of language consisting of words and phrases that are regarded as very informal. Written Context- Jargon can be used in both written and spoken context. Slang is only used in spoken language. Formality level- Jargon is formal and can be used in a professional context. Slang is informal and can not be used in a professional context.
  • 27.
  • 28.