Language Varieties: Geographical, Social, and Specific
Language Varieties
Geographical Varieties (Diatopic)
Diatopic or dialectal varieties relate the speaker to their territorial origin.
Dialects: Linguistic system derived from a language, dead or alive.
Regional Speech: The variety that a language presents in a given region. Its size is usually more limited.
Local Speech: A variety of language that occurs in a very small geographic area: a region, a city…
Social Varieties of Language
The modality of a language in a social layer is called a social dialect.
According to Habitat:
- Rural Language: More conservative, less careful pronunciation.
- Urban Language: More innovative.
By Age:
- Young people: More innovative in vocabulary and expressions.
- Older people: More conservative.
According to Trades:
Differences in lexical-semantic level.
Levels of Language
Cult Level
Used by self-educated people with a high cultural level, identified as the literary and scientific language. It functions as a correction model and ideal for the lower strata. This is the most accurate, structured, and rigid level.
Correction: It affects all levels; phonetic retains the nuances of expression and avoids phonic slang; grammatical rigorous use of syntactic constructions and appropriate use of links; lexical meanings are precise, with rejection of vulgarity and barbarism.
Lexical Richness: It has a rich and precise vocabulary that embraces science and culture in all areas.
Capacity for abstraction: Able to express in depth the more abstract concepts.
Literary Tradition: Includes the weight of the literary tradition with its formal beauty. Is most appropriate for all types of intellectual activities.
Standard Level
Situated at an average but formal level. Serves as a model both in oral and written communication. Respects the lexical and grammatical rules, following the instructions of the Royal Academy of Language. It adapts to changes, such as loans, and is disseminated by the media and education. It is the language common to the vast majority of speakers who belong to a socio-cultural environment.
Grassroots Level
Situated at an average level and is used in everyday life, not intellectual or cultural activities.
- The subjectivity of the speaker: Frequent use of interjections, exclamations, ironical expressions, summoned to the listener.
- Economy in the use of linguistic means: short sentences, INAC, expressive…
- Continues to appeal to the listener: eg Let me know!
- Proverbial language (proverbs related to popular philosophy).
Vulgar Level
Used by more modest layers and those with worse schooling. It has a simple grammar and a limited vocabulary. It is characterized by impairment of the standard and constant use of slang, misspelled words, or linguistic errors.
a) Phonetic Slang
- Displacement accentual
- Indecision vowel
- Simplification consonantal
- Relaxation consonantal
- Alteration r / l
- Change of consonants
b) Slang Lexicons
- Solecisms
- Lexicon figured
- Of Gypsy origin
c) Vulgarisms morphological
- Analogical formations
- Leísmo, laísmo and Loísmo
- Using particle later, I think that …
- Verbal disturbances
d) Vulgarisms syntactic
- Word Order
- Incorrect Matches
- Care and impersonal phrases
Specific Languages
They are the standard varieties of language that identify a sociocultural group. The characteristics of these subsystems affect the lexical and morphosyntactic level.
“The jargon or slang. Languages of social groups are eagerly apart from the pack and critical purposes, underlines the prison language.
The linguistic features of slang affect primarily the lexicon. The synonymy assumes particular importance in the argot of crime (sing (confess), informer, robbing…).
“The sectoral languages. They are employed by members of different trades and professions. Strengthen the ties of a group.
“The scientific-technical language: are the languages of the various sciences. They have no cryptic purpose, but are incomprehensible to the uninitiated.