Sociolect

Do you believe that everyone who speaks English uses the language the same way? Or would you agree that we all speak a little differently? You may already know that where we live can significantly impact how we speak, but did you know that social factors can also affect our language? The social groups we associate with can influence our pronunciation, word choices, syntax, and slang. The resulting language variety is known as sociolect which are varieties of language or dialects that are associated with particular social groups.

This article will define the term sociolect and outline the different social factors that influence sociolects. It will then introduce different types of sociolects and provide plenty of examples. Finally, it will explain the difference between the terms ‘dialect’ and ‘sociolect’.

What is a sociolect: definition

In English language and linguistics, the term sociolect refers to a language variety used by particular social groups. The term is a combination of the words social and dialect because that’s precisely what a sociolect is: a social dialect!

What is the meaning of the term social dialect?

A social dialect is 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.

Sociolect: types of social factors

Now we know a sociolect is a language variety affected by different social factors, let’s take a look at those factors.

The main social factors influencing sociolects include socioeconomic status, age, occupation, gender, and ethnicity.

Socioeconomic status

An individual’s socioeconomic status typically refers to their class. The language someone uses will likely differ depending on their socioeconomic status. Why do you think that is? It could be because of the level of education, the books and movies they have read/seen, the type of job, and the places they live.

According to a recent survey conducted by the BBC, there are now seven social classes in the UK:

• Precariat (precarious proletariat)
• Emergent service workers
• Traditional working-class
• New affluent workers
• Technical middle class
• Established middle class
• Elite

How do you think language use will differ across these seven classes? Do you think each class has its own sociolect?

Fig. 1 - Class is one social factor that influences sociolects.

Age

It’s common for younger generations to use different words, especially slang, to their parents or grandparents. Doing so can create a sense of individuality and freedom from the older generations and a sense of belonging with other people their own age. As the younger generation grows older, the new younger generation shows up and develops their slang and sociolects.

Think about the language younger generations use today and someone significantly older. What do you think they would say if you said their outfit was cheugy?

Occupation

This factor refers to the jobs people do and the vocabulary, or jargon, they use because of that job.

As people learn and develop skills for specific jobs, they pick up lots of new vocabulary. This vocabulary might include technical terms, jargon, acronyms, or insider jokes.

Gender

Many linguists have looked into how men and women use language differently. Some suggest that language use differs because of genetic differences between the two sexes, whereas others argue that societal expectations significantly impact language use. On the other hand, some linguists state there is no difference between how women and men use language.

Robin Lakoff, a linguist who focused on women’s language, found that women tended to be more polite, use more hedging tactics (e.g. 'would you mind if…’) and were ‘hypercorrect’ with their grammar. However, this is just one study, and other linguists have questioned Lakoff’s work.

Ethnicity

The term ethnicity is often confused with race, so let’s have a quick look at the definition of ethnicity first.

Ethnic groups may use similar language to create a sense of unity, to set themselves apart from others, or because other languages have influenced their language use. For example, Jamaican Patois, a vernacular form of English considered a sociolect, has been directly influenced by several West-African languages.

Sociolects influenced by ethnicity are often referred to as ethnolects.

As previously mentioned, most people use several different sociolects throughout their lives. Several sociolects can exist inside a person’s brain, and it is up to them to decide which sociolect they wish to use depending on the social situation.

Sociolect: examples in English

As you can probably imagine, sociolects are constantly changing and growing, so there is no definitive list of all the different types. Here are a few examples of the different types of sociolects.

These sociolects represent different ways of speaking that are associated with particular social groups and contexts. Understanding and using these sociolects can be important for effective communication and for navigating different social situations. Let's look in more detail at various social factors and some further examples of their effect on English language use.

Socioeconomic status and sociolects

Basil Bernstein (1934 - 2000) was a sociolinguist who examined the relationship between social classes and language use in an educational setting. He found that working-class students spoke using restricted code, whereas middle-class students used elaborated code.

Typically, restricted code:

• has a smaller range of vocabulary,

• has more words linked to regional dialect,

• is more informal,

• is dependent on social context,

• has linguistic predictability (speech will follow similar patterns).

On the other hand, elaborated code:

• is more formal,

• is explicit in its meaning (more likely to be understood by all),

• is less dependent on context,

• has syntactic complexity,

• has a wider range of vocabulary.

It might be easy to assume that elaborated is ‘better’ than restricted code, but that would be a mistake. Restricted code carries culture and can be an essential part of how people express themselves and their identities.

Age and sociolects

A good example of how age can affect language is the use of slang. Penelope Eckert, an American linguist, carried out research on the features of teenage speak, including slang, in her 2003 study Language And Adolescent Peer Groups. She suggested that teenagers use more slang words to help distinguish themselves from older generations.

Eckert concluded that linguistic change (variation from the standard form) is most common amongst teenagers - this means we have teenagers to thank for many new words that appear in the dictionary each year. She also stated that it is important to remember that not all teenagers speak the same and noted that variation is most prominent amongst the young. This is probably because our speech tends to become more standardised as we get older.

Fig. 2 - Age is another factor that can influence sociolects.

What’s the difference between a sociolect and a dialect?

Now we have a good understanding of what a sociolect is, let’s take a closer look at the term dialect.

The most common definition of a dialect is a language variety used in a specific geographical location. This means that the spoken language (e.g. English) has been changed in terms of lexicon, grammar, and pronunciation by the people living in an area.

Despite the fact regional dialects differ from the standard form of the language, they are usually intelligible to all those who speak the original language. Although, saying that, a non-native English speaker might struggle if a Liverpudlian asked them if they liked their ‘new webs’ (webs = trainers).

We’ve established that the most common definition of a dialect is related to regional differences, but it isn’t just geography that can influence dialects. Social factors, such as class, ethnicity, and age, can also affect dialects. Sound familiar? That’s right; sociolects are a type of dialect.

So, in summary, dialect is an umbrella term for all language varieties that have been influenced by location, social factors, ethnicity, etc.