Terminology for LANGUAGE IN CULTURAL CONTEXT

1. Variety - a version of a language including accents, dialects, jargon, style etc.

2. Lingua franca - a language spoken by people who do not share a native
language
3. Vernacular - opposite to lingua franca. Language that is characteristic of a
region. Comparable to “jargon”. Eg. AAVE (African American Vernacular)
4. Dialect - a variety of language that is unique in pronunciation, grammar and
vocabulary (can refer to regional or social).
5. Accent - the way in which someone pronounces a language - key difference to dialect
→ refers only to the phonetics of the language, not grammar or vocabulary.
6. Jargon - the vocabulary and the manner of speech that define and reflect a
particular profession that is difficult for others to understand
7. Slang - the vocabulary and the manner of speech that is characteristic of specific
social groups
8. Culture - The shared values, practices, and beliefs of a group. Culture
encompasses all aspects of a group's way of life, including their customs,
traditions, behaviors, and worldview. Often seen divided based on country, but
different countries might share very similar cultures.
9. Subculture - a smaller cultural group within a larger culture; people of a
subculture are part of the larger culture but also share a specific identity within a
smaller group. (Hiphoppers and rappers but possibly also, eg. IB students?)
10. Idiolect - a person’s unique use of vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. It
both distinguishes an individual from a group and identifies an individual with a
group
a. accent
b. body language
c. words
d. expressions
11. Register - the level of formality or informality expressed through one’s use of
language
12. Colloquialisms - linguistic features that are associated with informal situations
a. words (such as "y'all" or "gonna" or "wanna"),
b. phrases (such as "old as the hills" and “the new coworker's rudeness
rubbed me the wrong way”)
13. Global village - describes how members of a social group can be spread around
the world, but be interconnected through various media
14. Convergence - a term used in linguistics to describe what happens when people
come together and accommodate for each other through the medium of
language
a. e.g. When attempting to build relationships with potentially disruptive
members of the public in potentially threatening or dangerous
environments, a Police Officer can partially adopt the same level of local
accent, grammar, tone of voice etc. as the member of the public.
15. Divergence - a term used in linguistics for when an individual adjusts their
speech patterns to be distinct from those of people belonging to another group or
 social identity (process of cultures splitting off from each other, developing their
use of language separately, with less (or no)
16. Code-switching - The practice of moving back and forth between two languages
or between two dialects or registers of the same language. Eg. speaking more
formally with your grandparents vs your peers. Or switching between Finnish and
English in a setting with other international Finns.
17. Pidgin - (origin in Engl. word `business'?) is nobody's native language; may arise
when two speakers of different languages with no common language try to have
a makeshift conversation. Lexicon usually comes from one language, structure
often from the other. Because of colonialism, slavery etc. the prestige of Pidgin
languages is very low. Many pidgins are `contact vernaculars', may only exist for
one speech event
18. Creole - (orig. person of European descent born and raised in a tropical colony)
is a language that was originally a pidgin but has become nativized, i.e. a
community of speakers claims it as their first language.
a. Examples: Jamaican Patois, Tok Pisin (Papua New Guinea), Singlish
(Singapore), Nigerian Creole, Nation Language (Guyana)
19. Language death - occurs when the last native speakers of a language have died
and no new generations speak their ancestors’ language fluently
20. Language planning - a term for the efforts made to prevent language death
21. Linguistic imperialism - the dominance of one language over others (English is
often seen as a threat to other languages).