2016م - 1444هـ
BASIC CONCEPTS IN

SOCIOLINGUISTICS

BENZOUKH HALIMA

UNIVERSITY OF OUARGLA ( Algeria)





BASIC CONCEPTS IN

SOCIOLINGUISTICS

BENZOUKH HALIMA

UNIVERSITY OF OUARGLA ( Algeria)

ABSTRACT

In this paper, we will try to find out the essence of the social

function of language. Language and society are intertwined because a

society moves with language. A language defines the linguistic behaviour

of a group of people in a given society. We will find out what

sociolinguistics means by examining various definitions and unearth their

points of convergence.

Key Words: sociolinguistics, language, society

INTRODUCTION

Sociolinguistics is a developing branch of linguistics and

sociology which examines the individual and social variation of language

(Spolsky, 2010). Just as regional variation of language can give a lot of

information about the place the speaker is from, social variation tells

about the roles performed by a given speaker within one community

(ibid.). Sociolinguistics is also considered as a branch of sociology in that

it shows the relationship between language use and the social basis for

such use (Hudson, 1996). It differs from sociology of language in that the

focus of sociolinguistics is the effect of the society on the language,

whereas the latter’s interest is on the language’s effect on the society

(Bell, 1976). Sociolinguistics is a practical, scientific discipline which

researches into the language that is actually used in order to formulate

theories about language change (ibid.).