Language Varieties

Definition of language variety

A language variety is a set of linguistic items (sound system, lexis and syntax) which we
can associate with non- linguistic factors.

1. Standard Language

Standardization refers to the process by which a language has been codified in some way.
That process usually involves the development of such things as grammars, spelling books,
and dictionaries, and possibly a literature.
Haugen (1966) has indicated certain steps that must be followed if one variety of a
language is to become the standard for that language.
 Selection: A particular variety must have been selected as the ones to be developed
into a standard language. The choice is a matter of great social and political
importance.
 Codification: refers to the development of such things as grammars and dictionaries.
Codification is generally done by specialized academies.
 Elaboration of function: refers to the use of the standard language in such areas as
literature, the courts, education, administration, and commerce.
 Acceptance: The variety has to be accepted by the population as the variety of the
community.
2. Dialect:

Dialect is a variety of language spoken y a group of people that is characterized by

systematic features (phonological, lexical, grammatical) that distinguish it from other varieties
of the same language.

 Social dialects (sociolects): They originate among social groups and are related to a
variety of factors, the principal ones apparently being social class, religion,
educational and economic level …
 Regional dialects (topolects, geographical, regional dialects): These are dialects
that are defined in terms of geographic boundaries.
 Ethnic dialects: These are dialects which are used by specific ethnic groups.
Language vs. Dialect:
  Linguistic criterion: Mutual intelligibility

Varieties which are mutually intelligible are dialects while the varieties which are
mutually unintelligible are languages. However, this linguistic criterion is not always
respected by governments.

 Size: It is hypothesized that languages are richer than dialects however actually this is
not always the case.
 Prestige: The varieties which are prestigious are the varieties chosen to be
standardized.

There is no real distinction to be drawn between language and dialect except with
reference to prestige.

3. Ideolect: is a speech variety particular to one individual.

4. Accent: Where speakers differ (or vary) at the level of pronunciation only (phonetics
and/or phonology), they have different accents. Their grammar may be wholly or
largely the same. Accents can index a speaker’s regional/geographic origin, or social
factors such as level and type of education, or even their attitude.
5. Style: It is a language variety specific to a certain situation. Native speakers may
range their styles from formal into informal based on the occasion, the topic and the
degree of intimacy.
6. Register: It refers to language varieties according to use. Ferguson (1994, p. 20) says,
‘People participating in recurrent communication situations tend to develop similar
vocabularies, similar features of intonation, and characteristic bits of syntax and
phonology that they use in these situations.’