Spanish Language Varieties: Geographical, Social, and Formal
Varieties of Spanish: Geographical, Social, and Formal
When languages are spoken in large areas, they develop characteristics specific to that area. This occurred with Latin, which diverged so much from one place to another that it evolved into other languages. In Spain, Spanish varies in several ways.
The Spanish language is not spoken uniformly everywhere. Each geographical area possesses traits of pronunciation, morphology, syntax, and lexicon. Differences can even be found between nearby areas, such as Seville (which *sesea*) and Cádiz (which *lisp*).
Geographical Varieties (Diatopic)
These differences are known as geographical or diatopic varieties.
Social Varieties
Social varieties are influenced by factors such as age, gender, and socio-cultural level. Age often conditions language use; speakers typically use age-appropriate language.
Gender Differences
There are certain differences in speech between men and women. For example, women sometimes use diminutives more often than men.
Socio-Cultural Level
The difference between the social standing of two people often affects their language. A person with a high level of education uses a different vocabulary, syntax, morphology, and even phonetics compared to someone without. Speakers with a high level of cultural awareness use a variety closest to the standard.
Language Levels
Cultured Level
This level involves careful and correct language use, implying a good knowledge of grammar, vocabulary, and written forms. It is found in literary and scientific texts, speeches, etc.
Its features include adherence to code, correct pronunciation and spelling, a rich vocabulary, a lack of extralinguistic resources or gestures, and varied, fair, and orderly syntax. In short, it is a level defined by the absence of phonetic, morphosyntactic, and lexical errors, and by wealth in various and varied language elements. Restricted code is linked to writing, and this variety is used in formal papers (science, humanities, literature).
Medium Level
This is common among the majority of speakers who have a medium level of education. It is defined by the use of simple lexical phrases, but without errors. Standard language is the set of applications that a speaking community has developed over centuries, considering them preferable to other possibilities.
Popular Level
In all languages, some words and syntactic structures are considered popular, while others are considered normal. Vulgarity alone is not a sign of ignorance. Educated people often use vulgar expressions in careless talk with family.
Revealing a lack of popular culture means not knowing those expressions. Therefore, individuals may face unjust situations and limited opportunities in social life.
Language Registers
Formal Register
Formal register is used in situations requiring reliability. Essential characteristics include a wealth of words and accuracy and correctness of grammar (well-built and structured sentences).
Colloquial Register
Colloquial register is routinely used, whatever the cultural level and the language level, in familiar situations where the language employed is not closely monitored (conversations with friends, family). Within colloquial register, we find many levels. In the same relaxed and familiar situation, an individual may speak at a cultured level or a vulgar level (the latter being an informal-vulgar register).