.gif)
In sociolinguistics, the term variety, also regarded as a lect, is
a specific form of a language, used for any distinctive form of language. Under
the umbrella of this term, it covers languages, dialects, registers, isoglosses,
idiolects, pidgins, creole, and standard variety. In this relation, Fishman
states that each language variety can be identified its sound systems,
vocabularies, grammatical features, and meaning (Fishman,
1972:5). According to R.A Hudson, it can be defined as "a set
of linguistic items with the similar social distribution." Linguistic
items are maybe lexical items, sounds, and constructions. It is the most
debatable topic among linguists that what the difference between Lect and a
standard language is. The standard variety is somehow a controversial term
because some scholars agree that it must be the language of the prestigious
social group with correct English usage while on the other hand, some believe
that it must be written and have literature. Varieties of language emerge due
to many reasons. The major reason is the absolutely geographical
difference. It is generally believed that language, food, style, and
music change after every 20-kilo meter. The peoples, who belong to a specific
group, tend to adopt jargon that is known to and understood by only members of
that select group. Even individuals develop idiolects, their own specific ways
of speaking.
As mentioned earlier, a variety covers language dialect, idiolect
and so on. Let us study them one by one thoroughly.
Dialect
A dialect can be defined as "a form of the language that is
spoken by a particular group of people in a specific geographical region. There
are many different dialects of English and they have different words and
grammar than the standard language. For instance, American English and Canadian
English are seen as two different dialects. If the dialect is spoken by a
specific social class it will be called speech community. According to John
Lyons “All the people who use a given language." but it is not enough to
define the speech community in these simple words.
In a historical sense, the term dialect is sometimes applied to a
language considered as one of a group deriving from a common ancestor. Thus,
English, Swedish, and German are sometimes treated as Germanic dialects.
According to Hudson dialect is different from the language in
three ways.
1. Language is larger than dialect.
2. Language has prestige which a dialect lacks.
3. Some of the people agree that language is written while dialect
is not.
There are five common types of dialect like regional dialect,
phonological dialect, lexical dialect, grammatical dialect, and social
variation.
Register
The register is a variety of languages used in a particular
setting for a particular purpose. The register can be formal or informal.
Fiction, poetry, and drama all employ different registers, sometimes within the
same work. For instance, Father Vs dad, child Vs kid are a very simple example.
It might be like 'I am writing to inform you that, and I just wanted to let you
know' are the examples. Registers are used in all forms of communication,
including written, spoken, and signed.
Jargon
Jargon is the term for a technical language that is only
understood by those who are members of a group or who perform a specific trade
in a specific territory. Lawyers have their own language as well as doctors.
Their specific terms are not understandable. For example, the word BP is a
shorthand word for blood pressure and JT for joint. 'Lingo' is sometimes used
as an interchangeable word.
Idiolect
Idiolect is a variety of languages. It is the personal style of an individual. This term implies an awareness that no two persons speak in exactly the same way and that each person’s dialect is constantly undergoing change. For instance, the person's use of a language and any dialect of the language, including idiosyncratic choice of words and pronunciations.
Pidgin
Pidgin is a language of those people who have no common language
at all. English pidgins include Nigerian Pidgin English, Chinese Pidgin
English, Hawaiian Pidgin English, Queen Island Kanaka English, and Bislama.
According to R.A Hudson, "these are varieties created for very practical
and immediate purposes of communication between people who otherwise would have
no common language whatsoever and learned by one person from another within the
communities concerned as the accepted way of communicating with members of
other community.
