DEFINITIONS (ENG-503) 1

Definitions
Language Variety: Hudson (1996, p. 22) defines a variety of language as ‘a set of linguistic items with
similar distribution,’ a definition that allows us to say that all of the following are varieties: Canadian
English, London English, the English of football commentaries, and so on.

In sociolinguistics, language variety is a general term for any distinctive form of a language or linguistic
expression.

Linguists commonly use language variety (or simply variety) as a cover term for any of the overlapping
subcategories of a language, including dialect, idiolect, register and social dialect.
In The Oxford Companion to the English Language (1992), Tom McArthur identifies two broad types of
language variety: "(1) user-related varieties, associated with particular people and often places . . . [and] (2)
use-related varieties, associated with function, such as legal English (the language of courts, contracts, etc.)
and literary English (the typical usage of literary texts, conversations, etc.)."
Dialect: A particular form of a language which is peculiar to a specific region or social group.
Edward (2009) define dialect as a variety of a language that differs from others along three dimensions:
vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation (accent). Because they are forms of the same language.

A regional, temporal or social variety within a single language is known as dialect. It is the product of
individual's geographical and class origin. It differs in grammar, pronunciation and vocabulary from the
standard language, which is in itself a socially favoured dialect. So a dialect is a variation of language
sufficiently different to be considered a separate entity, but not different enough to be classed as separate
language.
There are two kinds of dialect; they can be regional dialect and social dialect.

Regional Dialects: Regional dialects are spoken by the people of a particular geographical area within a
speech community; Cockney in London, for example.

Regional dialect is geographically based. It means that a dialect that differs because of geographical area.
The differences can be in terms of pronunciation, choice of words, and syntax.

Sociolect: A sociolect or social dialect is a variety of language (a register) associated with a social group
such as a socioeconomic class, an ethnic group (precisely termed ethnolect), an age group, etc.

Sociolect, defined by Peter Trudgill, a leading sociolinguist and philosopher, is “a variety which is thought
of as being related to its speakers’ social background rather than geographical background”.
The basic concept of a sociolect is that a person speaks in accordance with their social group whether it is
with regard to one’s ethnicity, age, gender, etc.
Idiolect: The speech habits peculiar to a particular person.
All people in the same place can talk to each other and for the most part understand each other. Yet not two
speak exactly alike. Some differences are due to the age, sex, state of health, size, personality, emotional
state, and personal idiosyncrasies (Fromkin, Rodman, Collins, and Blair; 1990: 245). That each person
speaks somewhat differently form all others is shown by our ability to recognize acquaintances by hearing
them talk. The unique characteristic of the language of an individual speaker are referred to as the speaker’s
idiolect.
DEFINITIONS (ENG-503) 2

Register: A variety of a language or a level of usage, as determined by degree of formality and choice of
vocabulary, pronunciation, and syntax, according to the communicative purpose, social context, and
standing of the user.

Crystal (1991, p. 295) defines register as "a variety of language defined according to its use in social
situations, e.g. a register of scientific, religious, formal English.’’ Register is widely used in linguistics to
refer to ‘’varieties according to use’’.

Register is another complicating factor in any study of language varieties. Registers are sets of language
items associated with discrete occupational or social groups. Surgeons, airline pilots, bank managers, sales
clerks, jazz fans and pimps employ different registers.
Registers are the varieties of language associated with people's occupation. Registers are the languages that
are used in the pursuance of one's job.

Registers are functional varieties; they ‘function’ in different types of speech situations. Accordingly, a
register is a linguistic variety regarded as appropriate to use in a particular speech situation. Register is
usually associated with a particular speech situation (Kortmann 2005: 255f). Legal language, or Legalese, is
an example of a register normally only used in the field of law and justice. According to the subject matter
or field of discourse, registeral varieties are scientific, religious, legal, commercial, of airport announcers, of
telephone operators, etc.

Style: The study of dialects is further complicated by the fact that speakers can adopt different styles of
speaking. You can speak very formally or very informally, your choice being governed by circumstances.
Ceremonial occasions almost invariably require very formal speech, public lectures somewhat less formal,
casual conversation quite informal, and conversations between intimates on matters of little importance may
be extremely informal and casual.

In Crystal & Davy (1969), however, the word style is used in the way most other people use register: to refer
to particular ways of using language in particular contexts.

All people, regardless of what dialect they speak, control a range of speech styles. Depending on whom we
are talking to, and where we are. Variation in speech style involves pronunciation, syntax, and vocabulary.

The choice of register in different types of speech situations is termed ‘situational variation’. The term
‘style’ is also occasionally used to refer to situational variation. However, it includes variation in
grammatical structures, too. It is less predictable and more dependent on personal preferences than register
(Kortmann 2005: 256).
There is a terminological distinction between register and style. Both are associated with a specific speech
situation but whereas register often refers to the specific vocabulary chosen and expected in connection with
a particular speech situation, style also includes grammatical variation (cf. Kortmann 2005: 255ff).

Style relates to the typical ways in which one or more people do a particular thing, and Registers can simply
be described as variations of the language according to its use.

Standard language: A standard language variety is a variety that's recognized as more "correct" and
acceptable than other varieties. Standard languages are usually based on an existing dialect of the language.
For example, the British variety of English is based, historically at least, on the dialect of the area
surrounding London, Continental French on the dialect of Paris, and Italian on the dialect of Florence or
Tuscany (although Rome and Milan became important influences in the late twentieth century).