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Linguistic insecurity
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<p>Linguistic insecurity comprises feelings of <a href="/facts/Anxiety/Geekl883">anxiety</a>, <a href="/facts/Self-consciousness/Y3QL5nvp">self-consciousness</a>, or lack of <a href="/facts/Confidence/DReLXePT">confidence</a> in the mind of a speaker surrounding their <a href="/facts/Usage_(language)/arBgNK1u">use of language</a>. Often, this anxiety comes from speakers' <a href="/facts/Belief/HbPvkGT6">belief</a> that their speech does not conform to the <a href="/facts/Standard_language/1AV0uont">perceived standard</a> and/or the <a href="/facts/Style_(sociolinguistics)/zretcHTv">style</a> of language expected by the speakers' interlocutor(s). Linguistic insecurity is situationally induced and is often based on a feeling of inadequacy regarding personal <a href="/facts/Linguistic_performance/NW8hnQIe">performance</a> in certain contexts, rather than a fixed attribute of an individual. This insecurity can lead to stylistic, and <a href="/facts/Phonetic/ljAVT8fv">phonetic</a> shifts away from an affected speaker's default <a href="/facts/Variety_(linguistics)/QyllMQha">speech variety</a>; these shifts may be performed <a href="/facts/Consciousness/IAxmgt6c">consciously</a> on the part of the speaker, or may be reflective of an unconscious effort to conform to a more <a href="/facts/Prestige_(sociolinguistics)/PCApCH33">prestigious</a> or context-appropriate variety or style of speech. Linguistic insecurity is linked to the <a href="/facts/Perception/xLK0n2q4">perception</a> of speech varieties in any <a href="/facts/Community/LIptGwqy">community</a>, and so may vary based on <a href="/facts/Socioeconomic_class/gJbHDVNc">socioeconomic class</a> and <a href="/facts/Gender/LfjRHcJy">gender</a>. It is also especially pertinent in <a href="/facts/List_of_multilingual_countries_and_regions/FKVKmyGS">multilingual societies</a>. </p>