SOCIAL VARIATIONS IN LANGUAGE

Abstract

Distinguishing among social classes in complex modern urban societies is probably becoming more and more difficult, particularly with the growth of twentieth-century 'egalitarianism'. When the group of speakers being investigated shows little variation in social class, however that is defined, a study of the network of social relationships within the group may allow you to discover how particular linguistic usages can be related to the frequency and density of certain kinds of contacts among speakers.