Social Variation in Language

By: Nor Mawaddah binti Norshahrul Marzuki (233145)

DEFINITION OF THE TOPIC

- The diversity that exists in the social variation in language is driven by various factors that cause the skills, perspective of understanding, the tone, face expression, sentence structure, word choices and style of speaking for some people to be different even if they are in the same geographical area or region, for instance. Therefore, social variations in language occurs due to certain reasons such as differences in social class, level of education, standard of living, differences in age, gender and for certain situations where it involves race and religion.

BACKGROUND OF THE TOPIC

- The social variation that exists in language at this point stems from point of view and other people's understanding of the way they speak even though they might live in the same area around the world. This social classification driven from various reasons, which result in a person being in that "class and level". Thus, it is important for us to acknowledge the level in society that bring big impact towards our behavior, style, thinking, level of understanding and so on. Same with language, these social differences cause each individual to speak according to their environment thus creating language variations from the original language. According to Britannica (2020), another important axis of differentiation is that of social strata. In many localities, dialectal differences are connected with social classes, educational levels, or both. More-highly educated speakers and, often, those belonging to a higher social class tend to use more features belonging to the standard language, whereas the original dialect of the region is better preserved in the speech of the lower and less-educated classes. In large urban centres, innovations unknown in the former dialect of the region frequently develop. Thus, in cities the social stratification of dialects is especially relevant and far-reaching, whereas in rural areas, with a conservative way of life, the traditional geographic dialectal differentiation prevails.

CONCEPTS RELATED TO THE TOPIC

1.Social dialect

- Speakers are simultaneously affiliated with a number of different groups that include region, age, gender, and ethnicity, and some of these other factors may weigh heavily in the determination of the social stratification of language variation. Language skills in terms of sociolect have been influenced by the social class classification that forms the middle class and the lower class. A social dialect are also a variety of a specific language modified in terms of vocabulary, accent, and grammar by the social groups using it. For example, Gen Z’ers will likely use a slightly different vocabulary than the baby boomer generation (think of slang). Both age demographics speak English, but that version of English differs. Sociolects typically develop over time amongst people who share the same social backgrounds or environments, such as a job or educational background. When we spend a lot of time with people or groups of people, we may find that our language begins to change and becomes more like the people around us; this is what we call accommodation. Accommodation can happen for several reasons and usually takes place without the speaker even realising they're doing it. One of the most common reasons we change our language to match others around us is to build a sense of identity and belonging. Using the same word choices, slang, and pronunciation as the people we spend time with can show the world which social groups we belong to (StudySmarter UK).

2.Convergence

- Convergence represents behavioral strategies in which a speaker modifies his or her communication to become more similar to the communication styles of others. Basically, the speaker does this to allow communication to go smoothly and more ethically to reduce the social gap between the two speakers. Convergence in social variation in language refers to the process by which languages or dialects become more similar to each other over time due to prolonged contact and interaction between speakers Pfeiler, B., & Stavros Skopeteas (2022). Convergence can be observed at both the individual and community levels. At the individual level, speakers may converge linguistically in the short term during an interaction by temporarily using similar forms. At the community level, frequent interactions within a group can lead to the convergence of individual linguistic usage over time Nardy, A., Chevrot, J.-P., & Barbu, S. (2014).

REAL WORLD EXAMPLE

VID-20240526-WA0022.mp4

WhatsApp Video 2024-06-14 at 23.50.51.mp4

WhatsApp Video 2024-06-14 at 23.50.57.mp4

WhatsApp Video 2024-06-14 at 23.51.01.mp4

First video: Prince William's speech

Second video: The clarity of the words pronunciation as a comparison to the first video starting from 0.07 until 0.15

Third video: The formality of the choice of words as a comparison to the first video starting from 0.02 until 0.10

Fourth video: Sentences structure and arrangement as a comparison to the first video starting from 0.01 until 0.10

HOW THE REAL WORLD EXAMPLE IS RELATED TO THE TOPIC

- The real world example used is a comparison between Prince William of Wales and a homeless teenage boy from Cardiff, Wales. The conversational and speaking styles used by these two individuals have differences that can prove the existence of social variations in language if we examined and observed in detail. Prince William gave a speech in conjunction with the 2023 Coronation Concert held at Windsor Castle in 2023. What can be observed, he made a speech with a confident and determined, strong facial expression in an effort to make a great impression in the eyes of the audience and people (Language and Power: Definition, Features, Examples, n.d.) . The pronunciation of each word can also be heard clearly and smoothly. The choice of words used as well as the structure of the sentence also show formality and suit the situation he is facing. His speech is beautifully perfect, where it is well organized and uncluttered to ensure that the message delivered reaches the people’s heart and understanding. As a prince who will ascend to the throne of the kingdom of England, his ability to communicate is one of the crucial element and based on the interview sessions and official events attended by him, shows that he carries the identity of the royal family very well by giving an effective and convincing response and speech, both to the media and the to people themselves (Panina & Amerkhanova, 2018) . As for the second example, Andy, a homeless man who ran away from home because he couldn't stand his alcoholic father's behavior. Andy expressed his frustration at those who supposedly "sympathize", but only throw fast food like KFC, Burger King and Mc'Donalds when he only needs things like toothpaste, toothbrush and wipes to continue his days (Teixeira, 2017) . Andy's speaking style is basically informal, moreover the pronunciation of each word is sometimes unclear and poorly understood. Furthermore, the sentence structure and word choice are a bit messy, since it is influenced by his unstable emotions when being interviewed (Andrews & Botting, 2020) . A homeless person who comes from a broken family, forced to deal with a difficult social situation, who keeps a thousand of emotions and thoughts, may just release what has been stored in his heart for a long time, where the use of correct language, correct pronunciation, formal and standard language, intonation and appropriate facial expressions, are no longer a priority for him.

BACKGROUND OF THE REAL WORLD EXAMPLE WITH CREDIBLE SOURCES

According to Hyland, R. (2018, August 23) The Prince of Wales is the heir to the throne and the eldest son of His Majesty The King and Diana, Princess of Wales. His Royal Highness is married to The Princess of Wales, Catherine, with whom he has three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. The family's official residence is Kensington Palace. His Royal Highness undertakes a number of charitable activities and projects and carries out public and official duties in support of The King, in the UK and overseas. William is the first British heir apparent born at a hospital (St. Mary’s in London). His childhood also differed from earlier royals. Most notably, he and his younger brother, Prince Harry, were exposed to a world beyond royal privilege by their mother, who sought to give her sons a “normal” upbringing. Having been exposed to charitable activities early in his life by his mother, he volunteered in Chile. He also worked at a British dairy farm and visited Belize and countries in Africa. In 2001 he enrolled at St. Andrews, where he studied art history and, later, geography. William graduated four years later (William, Prince of Wales | Biography, Wife, Children, & Facts | Britannica, n.d.). Of course, as a royal family, Prince William receives a fairly high level of education and quality, plus with his wide experiences as a prince, is merely nothing compared to ordinary people like us, which also contributes to the difference in social class that also brings diversity in languages speaking styles. Meanwhile for Andy, he is homeless boy who has been interviewed by The Invisible People back in 2018, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to educating the public about homelessness to create policy change for more affordable housing and support services (Invisible People - YouTube, n.d.). Invisible People goes beyond the rhetoric, statistics, political debates, and limitations of social services to examine poverty in America via a medium that audiences of all ages can understand, and can’t ignore. (Invisible People: Changing the Story of Homelessness - the Shorty Awards, n.d.). Most people blame homelessness on the person experiencing it instead of on the shortage of affordable housing, gainful employment, living wages, childhood trauma, or countless other reasons that put a person at risk. This lack of understanding creates a dangerous cycle of misperception that leads to the inability to effectively address the root causes of homelessness and poverty, as public sentiment affects public policy.

SOURCES OF THE BACKGROUND

Hyland, R. (2018, August 23). The Prince of Wales. The Royal Family. https://www.royal.uk/the-prince-of-wales
William, prince of Wales | Biography, Wife, Children, & Facts | Britannica. (n.d.). Www.britannica.com. https://www.britannica.com/biography/William-prince-of-Wales
Invisible People: Changing the Story of Homelessness - The Shorty Awards. (n.d.). Shortyawards.com. https://shortyawards.com/5th-socialgood/invisible-people
Young Homeless Man Shares Real Truth About Sleeping Rough in Cardiff, Wales. (2018). [YouTube Video]. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRRbCzZH_HY&t=19s
Invisible People - YouTube. (n.d.). Www.youtube.com. https://www.youtube.com/@InvisiblePeople

INTERESTING ASPECT OF THE REAL WORLD EXAMPLES

The way the British Royal Family speaks, known as Received Pronunciation (RP), is an interesting example of how language can be used to convey prestige and authority. RP is considered the standard accent of English in the UK and is associated with the upper classes, the educated elite, and the BBC. The use of RP by the Royal Family and other powerful institutions like the BBC serves to reinforce their status and authority. It creates an association between the way they speak and concepts of education, sophistication, and social superiority. This linguistic prestige can have real-world consequences, as people who speak RP are often perceived as more intelligent, competent, and trustworthy. The Royal Family's use of RP is an example of how language can be used as a tool of power and social stratification. It highlights how the way we speak is not just about communication, but also about signaling our identity, affiliations, and place in the social hierarchy (karenpalmer, 2022). As for the second example, accroding to Cumbayá & Quito (Homelessness and language difficulties, 2020) an interesting aspect of the way homeless individuals in the UK speak, from a linguistic perspective, is the impact of their experiences on their language skills. Research suggests that people experiencing homelessness tend to have lower language skills, particularly in verbal abilities such as speaking and auditory comprehension. This can be attributed to a combination of developmental language disorders and acquired neurological difficulties, often resulting from malnutrition, substance abuse, and other factors associated with homelessness. Same case with Andy who somehow struggle with verbal expression and auditory comprehension, which can hinder their ability to effectively communicate and access essential services. This highlights the importance of addressing the linguistic needs of homeless individuals, potentially through language and speech therapy, to improve their overall well-being and increase their chances of securing employment and housing (Cumbayá & Quito, 2020).

PERSONAL OPINION ON THE REAL WORLD EXAMPLE

✋👤

Based on a real world example, I could clearly notice and observe the difference between the speaking styles and rules for two different social classes. The royal family managed to show their integrity as rulers by having a clear communication network with the people. Their style of speaking and conveying their opinion shows that they carried the identity of royal family with honour and grace, and it is not just as mere “rank or position”. No wonder, it is the result of a high quality and premium upbringing since childhood that we know for sure, they were brought up with full manners and morals, courtesy and etiquette, rules and protocols to be obeyed, freedom to have fun that is quite limited and the pressure they go through in an effort to protect the dignity of the royal family (A Look at Strict Royal Rules of Etiquette and Strange Traditions, 2024). Their speech style and expression show that they still belong to the upper social class, but at the same time they also convey their emotions, feelings confidently and transparently, and look at things from their own individual perspective. In summary, the Royal Family's speech has a unique style shaped by their status, with features like frequent use of interjections, peculiar word choices, optimistic tone, and avoidance of controversial topics. As for the second example, life as a homeless person is not easy and very challenging. A significant comparison can be seen in the use of language between these two very different social classes. The way homeless in the UK speak and communicate is influenced by a range of factors, including accent, language bias, communication needs, and socioeconomic factors and above all, these factors are surely not their wishes or requests (Cumbayá & Quito, 2020) . These homeless people just want to release their feelings, what has been hidden for a long time, behind the emotionless face and the hidden words that are not spoken. For them, compared to the importance of using appropriate language, finding shelter and food is the priority of everything. In conclusion, the difficult life as a homeless person affects many aspects of life, even as small as the use of language that describes the level of social class that exists today, which sometimes creates stigma and unpleasant perceptions from the surrounding community.

OVERALL CONCLUSION ON THE TOPIC AND REAL WORLD EXAMPLE

Language variation across different social classes is a well-documented phenomenon, reflecting broader societal structures and norms. In the UK, this variation is particularly pronounced, given the country's long history of class distinctions. The social variation that exist between people is used as an indicator of the variety of language that may exist within the community. In the meantime, the two examples of comparison that have been mentioned are proof that the difference in language for the two different social classes exists. In fact, the difference can be said to be many and very easy to identify. Either informally or formally, the arrangement of the sentence structure, the choice of words, the style of conversation, the clarity of the tone of voice, the topic of conversation, facial expressions and so on are very different between the two examples above and they can’t be equated at all (2022).Study.com These observations and findings are not baseless statements simply because we can clearly observe them. Look at the homeless interviewed on the side of the road, what are their wishes, feelings, hopes and dreams NHS England. (2023, October 9) . Then, look at the speeches given by the royal, what are their the goals, objectives, targets and directions. These people’s thoughts and aims of life are really different. In conclusion, the language used by different social classes in the UK, exemplified by the Royal Family and homeless individuals, underscores the deep-seated social divisions. Language acts both as a mirror of social structures and as a tool that can either bridge or widen these gaps. Addressing these linguistic disparities is crucial for fostering greater social equality and understanding.

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