Language Variation In Sociolinguistics

Language is the evidence of human´s evolution, time is running and it won 't stop. Sociolinguists are concern on how language is used in different contexts. Data has been collected from speakers´ language variations. Approaches and theories are proposed by different authors. Some studies applied in different parts of the world are used to explain how language works. Indexicality, matched-guised, code-switching, gender are some of the topics discussed in this paper. Examples are given in order to create a better understanding of the contents covered. Sociolinguistics studies are interested in language variation in monolingual communities, where two or more languages are spoken. Four important aspects are considered to explain this

It was created in order to explain how code switching occurs. It is divided into four categories: code switching as a series of unmarked choice between different languages, code switching itself as an unmarked choice, code switching as marked choice and code switching as an exploratory choice. First, code switching as a series of unmarked choice between different languages remains to the usage of two languages in a context, the community expects to perceive it. For example English or Spanish are expected to be used in the Paso by the bilingual community. Second, code switching itself as an unmarked choice is related to the use of an expected language. For instance: an Spanish native speaker travels to New York, this person does not expect to listening Spanish, the individual expect to listen English. Third, code switching as marked choice is applied in conversations where someone is talking in a language and suddenly the person changes to another. It is unexpected to be used. For example: speakers of English and Spanish start speaking in Spanish and immediately English is spoken in the conversation. There is an Individual exchange. Four, code switching as an exploratory choice is characterized, when the speaker is trying to find out what kind of language is used by the interlocutor to hold a conversation. It means exploring the languages to accommodate or fit in. Mesthrie introduced the author

Mesthrie pointed out that feminists have contributed more studies related to gender and language use (pg: 213). Data collection has demonstrated that some languages mark distinctions between males and females. Rosalie Finlayson was interested on hlonipha women´s language of respect. Hlonipha has to do with avoidance. Married women need to evade any syllable in the names of their in-laws. This is associated in terms of respect from women to men. An example of this is Japanese. Women are requested to use more formal pronouns than men because it is a way of being respectful. Conversational styles are evident in genders. Pamela Fishman analyzed conversations between couples. She found that women tend to make minimal responses in a conversation. Supportiveness is something expected from women. For instance, a girl having a conversation with a boy, this girl speaks softly because is part of being female. This means that cultural backgrounds are related to language. People expect certain behavior and language use according to the