Social class significantly influences language variation, particularly in how much a community's language differs from standard forms and other regional dialects.
Social Class and Language Divergence
Based on linguistic observations, a key way social class affects language is through divergence.
- Divergence from Standard: The language variety spoken by individuals from lower social classes tends to deviate more significantly from the recognized "standard" version of a language (like Standard English) compared to the language of higher social classes.
- Divergence from Other Vernaculars: Beyond the standard, lower social class language varieties also show greater differences from the vernaculars (everyday language) spoken in other regions, even within the same country or language area.
This means that while regional differences exist across all social strata (e.g., an educated Texan sounds different from an educated Bostonian, though both use their region's standard), the language of a community with a lower social class will exhibit more pronounced variations away from these widely accepted forms and other regional norms.
In summary, referencing available information: "The lower the social class of a community, the more their language variety will differ from both the standard and from the vernaculars of other regions."
Understanding Language Variation
Language is not monolithic; it varies based on many factors, including geography, age, gender, and crucially, social class. These variations can include differences in:
- Pronunciation (Accent): How words are spoken.
- Vocabulary (Lexicon): The words used.
- Grammar (Syntax): How sentences are structured.
While everyone uses a specific variety of language, social class influences the degree to which that variety aligns with or diverges from perceived norms and other community languages. This isn't a judgment of correctness, but rather an observation of linguistic patterns and their correlation with socioeconomic factors.
