7.Variations in English language use

 Variation is a characteristic of language. The English language varies on individual, regional, national and global levels. No two speakers of a language speak exactly the same way, there is more than one way of saying the same thing.

 The most common variations of English are dialects and accents. These two words are often used interchangeably, but they refer to two different things.

One of the most obvious examples of language variation is the difference between British English and American English.

Understanding variations is essential for effective communication.

     "Language changes and moves in a different direction evolving all the time. Where a lot of people see deterioration, I see expressive development."

                                                                   -David Crystal

-Submitted by Jyothika  A.C.

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Language variation and varieties are the different ways in which the same language is spoken by different groups of people. There exist intergroup and intragroup variations. The variation and varieties exist due to several factors, one of which is social factors.

1) Geographical location

                    Different regions have different languages, dialects and accents.(A form of a language that people speak in a particular part of a country, containing some different words, grammar and vocabulary is called dialect. Accent is simply how one pronounces words).For example in United states English language has many variations such as the Southern, Midwest, New York accent etc..

2)Social class

People from lower socioeconomic class often mix slang words with proper English. While people from higher class speak formal version of language.

3)Ethnicity

 Ethnicity is another social factor that influence language variation. For example African Americans often use a unique vocabulary, sentence structure and intonation patterns that are different from those of white Americans.

 The difference between American English and British English is commonly used example for language variation. They have spelling, pronounciation and grammar differences. R L. Trask  says that "Furthermore, it has been discovered that variation is typically the vehicle of language change." in his book called, Key Concepts in Language and Linguistics.

-Submitted by  Nadhi A S.