Sociolinguistic language variation and change is a fascinating topic that involves the study of how

languages change over time and how they vary across different regions, social groups, and historical
periods. It involves analyzing the interaction of language, culture, and society, and how they shape and
are shaped by linguistic structures and processes. Some of the types of language variation and change
include sound changes, lexical changes, semantic changes, and syntactic changes 12.

For example, sound changes refer to the systematic alterations in the pronunciation of sounds in a
language over time, such as the Great Vowel Shift in English during the 15th and 16th centuries 2. Lexical
changes refer to the introduction of new words or the loss of old words in a language, such as the
adoption of loanwords from other languages or the obsolescence of archaic words 2. Semantic changes
refer to the evolution of word meanings over time, such as the shift in the meaning of “gay” from “happy”
to “homosexual” in English 2. Syntactic changes refer to the modifications in the grammatical structure of
a language, such as the simplification of inflectional endings in English from Old English to Modern
English 2.

Language variation and change is an important area of research because it sheds light on the dynamic
nature of language and its role in shaping human communication and culture. It also has practical
implications for language teaching, language policy, and language planning, as it helps us understand how
languages evolve and how they can be preserved or revitalized in different contexts 1.

I hope this helps!

Language and identity are closely related. Language is a powerful tool for expressing one’s identity, both
individually and socially. Sociolinguistic research has investigated the link between language and
identity, and has discussed various kinds of identity - individual, ethnic, social and national -
introducing major theoretical approaches to sociolinguistic identity research 1. Language and identity
are closely related. According to sociolinguistic research, language is a powerful tool for expressing one’s
identity, both individually and socially. There are different types of language identity that are related to
how people use language to express who they are and how they belong to different groups. Some of the
types of language identity are individual, ethnic, social, and national identity. Theoretical approaches to
language and identity are frameworks that help us understand how language is used to construct, express,
and negotiate one’s identity in different contexts. Some of the major theoretical approaches are social
identity theory, poststructuralist theory, and investment theory.

If you are preparing a presentation on language and identity, here are some ideas for your slides:

1. Introduction: Start with a brief introduction to the topic of language and identity. You can define
what language and identity mean, and why they are important.
2. Types of identity: Discuss the different types of identity that are related to language, such as
individual, ethnic, social, and national identity. You can provide examples of how language is
used to express these different types of identity.
3. Theoretical approaches: Introduce some of the major theoretical approaches to sociolinguistic
identity research. You can explain how these approaches help us understand the relationship
between language and identity.
4. Case studies: Use case studies to illustrate how language and identity are linked in different
contexts. You can choose examples from different parts of the world to show how language is
used to express identity in different cultures.
5. Conclusion: Summarize the main points of your presentation and provide some final thoughts on
the topic of language and identity.
You can also use PowerPoint’s real-time, automatic captions or subtitles feature to make your
presentation more accessible to people with hearing difficulties. If you need to change the language of
your PowerPoint presentation, you can follow these steps:

1. Select File in the PowerPoint menu.

2. Go to Options.
3. Select Languages.
4. You can change both editing language (to check spelling and grammar) and display language
(defines language of tabs and features).

I hope this helps!

Departing from the notion of ‘native speaker’, understood as the speaker of one’s proper, inborn
language, this chapter investigates the link between language and identity. It discusses various kinds of
identity – individual, ethnic, social and national – introducing major theoretical approaches to
sociolinguistic identity research. On the basis of the Welsh language and its function for Welsh identity,
the chapter argues that ethnolinguistic identity is variably emphasized by different speech communities,
often playing a more important role for minority groups existing in the shadow of an overbearing
neighbour than for speech communities whose language is not at risk of being replaced. It furthermore
demonstrates that the language–identity link, rather than being an inalterable fixture, is historically
contingent and can be either foregrounded or downplayed. The problem of shifting and multiple identities
is discussed, and it is explained that identity research has moved from a predetermined concept to a more
dynamic notion of identity as flexible and negotiable on both the group and individual level 1.

In summary, language is a powerful tool for expressing one’s identity, and sociolinguistic research has
investigated the link between language and identity. The chapter discusses various kinds of identity -
individual, ethnic, social and national - introducing major theoretical approaches to sociolinguistic
identity research. It also explains that identity research has moved from a predetermined concept to a
more dynamic notion of identity as flexible and negotiable on both the group and individual level 1.

Here are some examples of case studies related to language and identity:

1. Foreign Language Learning and Identity Reconstruction: This study explores the relationship
between English language learning and identity reconstruction from the viewpoints of Iranian
language learners 1.
2. Language Attitudes and Identities in Multilingual China: This book provides in-depth case
studies that offer novel insights into the fast-changing language situation in multilingual China,
and how it changes the meanings of language identity and language learning 2.
3. Multilingualism and Identity Construction: This article presents a case study of a Uyghur
female youth and examines how multilingualism and identity construction are related 3.
4. Identity, Language Learning, and Social Change: This article reviews the research on identity
and language teaching in different regions of the world and examines how digital technologies
may be affecting language learners’ identities 4.
5. Research Tasks on Identity in Language Learning and Teaching: This article reviews the rich
body of investment-oriented identity work and applies the model of investment, incorporating
identity, capital, and ideology, to the case of a female language learner in a poorly resourced
Ugandan village and the case of a male language learner in a wealthy neighborhood 5.
I hope this helps!

Language and Power

Language and power are closely intertwined in sociolinguistics. Language can be used to communicate
ideas and assert or maintain power over others. Power in language is not only about CEOs or politicians
making rules for their subordinates, but it can also manifest in everyday situations such as conversations
with friends, lessons at schools, and reading the newspaper or engaging in social media. According to
linguist Shân Wareing, there are three main types of power: political power, personal power, and social
power.

There are many stable processes of communication in society that we take for granted but which clearly
express and maintain power relationships related to social factors such as economic position, education
level, gender, or language. One manifestation of power can be found in the grammar and lexicon of
languages which use what linguists call “the T-V distinction”, i.e., tu/Lei in Italian, du/Sie in German, or
tu/Vous in French. Using them is a matter of subscribing to and reproducing different social norms and
rules of behavior.

Powerful institutions and individuals use language as both a means to construct their power and as a way
to maintain it. Language can be used to create and maintain ideologies, and it can also be used to persuade
or influence our thoughts or beliefs. Therefore, it is important to understand the power of language so that
we can recognize when language is being used to manipulate us.

Theoretical approaches to language and power are frameworks that help us understand how language is
used to construct, express, and negotiate one’s power in different contexts. Some of the major theoretical
approaches are:

 Critical discourse analysis: This approach examines how language is used to create, maintain,
and challenge power relations in society. It focuses on the ideological and political aspects of
language, and how language shapes and is shaped by social structures and practices.
 Systemic functional linguistics: This approach analyzes how language is used to achieve
different functions and purposes in different contexts. It focuses on the grammatical and semantic
features of language, and how they relate to the social and cultural meanings of language.
 Conversation analysis: This approach studies how language is used to organize and manage
social interactions. It focuses on the sequential and pragmatic aspects of language, and how they
create and display power dynamics in conversations.
 Sociocultural theory: This approach views language as a social and cultural phenomenon that
mediates human cognition and activity. It focuses on the historical and cultural aspects of
language, and how they influence and are influenced by power relations in society.
Explore

There are different types of power that are related to language, such as political, economic, social, and
cultural power 1. According to French and Raven’s study in 1959, there are five types of power 1:

1. Coercive power: This type of power is based on the ability to punish someone for
noncompliance, such as through fear of losing their job or their annual bonus.
2. Reward power: This type of power is based on the ability to issue rewards, such as through a
bonus or allowing time off in lieu.
3. Legitimate power: This type of power is based on a person’s formal right to issue directives or
commands because of their position in the organization, such as the CEO’s right to dictate the
strategy.
4. Expert power: This type of power is based on a person’s experience or knowledge, such as a
senior surgeon displaying expert knowledge for subordinates to trust them.
5. Referent power: This type of power is based on being trusted or respected, such as the boss who
treats everyone fairly and with respect.

In addition to these five types of power, Raven added a sixth type of power: Informational power. This
type of power is based on controlling the information that others need to achieve something, such as the
boss who gives away a secret about a specific situation 1.

I hope this helps!