Language Variety and Communication: A Comprehensive Guide
Language Variety
Diastratic Variety
Social situations, cultural background, education levels, societal roles, and age groups influence language use. These factors contribute to diastratic variation.
Diaphasic Variety
Circumstances arising from the speakers’ intentions in a given situation contribute to diaphasic variation.
Diatopic Variety
Different geographical areas influence language use, leading to diatopic variation.
Social and Cultural Levels of Language
Standard Language
This level adheres closely to the standardized form of the language. It is characterized by formal usage, wider adaptability, and a superior ability to express emotional nuances and intellectual content.
- Correct pronunciation
- Rich vocabulary
- Clear and precise expression
- Orderly syntactic constructions
Vulgar Language
This level deviates from the standard language. It exhibits limited vocabulary, primarily using adjectives and adverbs. Slang, often a consequence of the speakers’ low cultural level, is prevalent. This level lacks the capacity for nuanced emotional expression and adaptation to various communicative situations.
Types of Slang
- Phonic: Confusion, loss, or addition of sounds.
- Morphosyntactic: Abnormal order of pronouns, leismo, loísmo, dequeísmo, queísmo.
- Semantic: Confusion regarding the meaning of words, solecisms.
Social Slang
Membership in diverse social groups creates social varieties of language. Cultural level is important in these varieties, but factors such as age and profession also play a role. Each group has its own way of speaking, known as jargon.
Types of Jargon
- Professional Jargon: Specific linguistic variations used in various professional activities (e.g., medical jargon). These often involve technical terms that reinforce group identity and sometimes obscure meaning for those outside the profession.
- Social Jargon (Slang): Used by marginal groups, sometimes to create a sense of exclusivity. Examples include underworld slang (gypsy, funk, prison) and youth slang.
Linguistic Registers
Speakers select different linguistic registers to suit various communicative situations. The more competent the speaker, the more likely they are to modify their register appropriately. Less educated individuals may struggle to switch from colloquial language.
Types of Registers
- Formal Register: Used in formal settings like lectures and job interviews.
- Informal Register: Used in casual settings like conversations with friends and family.
Speakers can change registers within a single conversation.
Sounds and Phonemes
Speech consists of a succession of sounds. Each distinct sound unit is a phoneme. Phonemes are the smallest units of language and have no meaning in themselves, but they distinguish meanings between words. There are 24 phonemes, including 5 vowels.
Accent and Intonation
Accent is the emphasis placed on certain syllables in a word. Tonic syllables have an accent, while atonic syllables do not. Intonation is the melodic pattern of speech, which can affect meaning and intention. The final part of a sentence is called the tonème.
Communication
Communication is the process of transmitting information. This can occur between people, animals, or objects.
Transmitter and Receiver
The transmitter (or sender) initiates the communication. This can be a person, group, animal, or object. The receiver is the target of the communication.
Message and Channel
The message is the information being transmitted. The channel is the medium through which the message is sent. For effective communication, the intention of the sender, the shared knowledge between sender and receiver, the chosen channel, and the context are all crucial.
Context
Context encompasses the circumstances surrounding the communication act. These circumstances can significantly influence the interpretation of the message. Context can be linguistic (the surrounding words) or extralinguistic (the physical setting).
Code
A code is a system of signs and rules for combining them. Effective communication requires both sender and receiver to understand the code being used.
Linguistic Sign
A linguistic sign is a symbol within a verbal language. It consists of a signifier (the sound or written form) and a signified (the concept or meaning). Linguistic signs are arbitrary, conventional, and linear.
Functions of Language
- Referential: Conveys factual information.
- Expressive: Expresses the speaker’s mood.
- Phatic: Establishes or maintains contact between sender and receiver.
- Appeals: Directs or attracts the listener’s attention.
- Metalinguistic: Discusses language itself.
- Poetic: Draws attention to the language being used.