Style (sociolinguistics)

<p>In <a href="/facts/Sociolinguistics/TVzMJRjV">sociolinguistics</a>, a style is a set of linguistic variants with specific <a href="/facts/Social/twVnad19">social</a> meanings. In this context, social meanings can include group membership, personal attributes, or beliefs. <a href="/facts/Variation_(linguistics)/RXQwE5TT">Linguistic variation</a> is at the heart of the concept of linguistic style—without variation, there is no basis for distinguishing social meanings. Variation can occur <a href="/facts/Syntax/6PxSV98p">syntactically</a>, <a href="/facts/Lexicon/MxfVm3gl">lexically</a>, and <a href="/facts/Phonology/qWAsvnok">phonologically</a>.
</p><p>Many approaches to interpreting and defining style incorporate the concepts of <a href="/facts/Indexicality/WtYFDfvS">indexicality</a>, indexical order, stance-taking, and <a href="/facts/Language_ideology/Cpxjkr70">linguistic ideology</a>. A style is not a fixed attribute of a speaker. Rather, a speaker may use different styles depending on <a href="/facts/Context_(language_use)/eJM44o7x">context</a>. Additionally, speakers often incorporate elements of multiple styles into their speech, either consciously or subconsciously, thereby creating a new style.
</p>

Style (sociolinguistics) open-in-new

Style (sociolinguistics)