Cultural and Linguistic Varieties in Language Use
Cultural Varieties
Language is a system of linguistic signs and rules for combination and use.
Speech is the concrete embodiment of language and is individual: each person selects a few items and uses them differently.
Register is the set of linguistic features that result from the adaptation of language use to a particular situation communicated by a speaker.
All the factors mentioned determine different varieties that can be used:
- Diastratic varieties, or language registers, reflecting differences in social and cultural level and degrees of knowledge.
- Diaphasic varieties, or styles of language, determined by the communication situation.
- Diatopic varieties, or dialects, determined by geographical area.
1. Diastratic Varieties or Language Registers
1.Variedades diastratic or records of languages: This sociocultural variety is related to membership in a social stratum.
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Cultured level (developed code): It is used by people of a certain cultural level and can express any content. Features: precision and propriety, correctness, richness and variety.
In phonetics, the standard pronunciation is expected, including correct word stress and an intonation that is generally relaxed rather than over-emphatic.
In morphosyntax, sentences are carefully constructed, with abundant connectors and correctness in plural formation and gender use.
In semantics, lexical precision is evident, with wide use of adjectives, abstract nouns and technical terms.
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Colloquial or ordinary level: Also known as the family register; we usually use it in conversation with family, friends and acquaintances. It is characterized by improvisation, spontaneity, naturalness and expressive nuances.
In the paralinguistic and phonetic dimension there is a diversity of resources to show expression.
In morphosyntax, it uses short, simple and often unfinished phrases, interjections, exclamations, questions and many ellipses.
In the lexical-semantic level, it includes pet words, filler words, idioms and sayings, vocabulary of a popular character, metaphoric expressions and expressions of affection.
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Vulgar level: A restricted code, poor and full of inaccuracies and routine linguistic errors. It is characterized by poverty of vocabulary, syntactically incorrect constructions and vulgarisms.
Phonetically, it shows unstressed vowels, hiatus issues and simplification of diphthongs.
At the morphosyntactic level, it may show omission of articles with proper names, altered negative imperatives, and changes in the order of pronouns (me, te, se).
In the lexicon, there is improper use of words whose meaning is unknown, abusive nicknames and a rude or profane vocabulary.
2. Diaphasic Varieties or Styles of Language
2.Variedades diaphasic or styles of language: These are conditioned by the communicative situation. A formal situation corresponds to a conventionalized formal speaking mode, while informal situations correspond to informal speech.
There are alternative approaches: formal written language is often sophisticated, but there is also a formal oral variant. The formal style requires more organization, careful syntactic and lexical selection. Informal style is common in oral language but can appear in writing as well.
The oral or written channel identifies two variants: spoken language is more relaxed in its modes, and written language is more careful. The oral channel favors brevity of the message, a shared context and a lower degree of formalization. The written channel favors durability of the message, different location of transmitter and receiver, and a greater degree of formalization.
On the other hand, certain varieties are linked to specific functional communicative situations related to typical social activities; these are called the specific uses of the language or language registers. Members of certain professional groups use professional slang: lawyers, doctors, plumbers, etc., with the use of a specific lexicon (technical terminology). Slang also exists in marginal groups.
3. Diatopic Varieties or Dialects
3.Variedades diatopic or dialects: These are geographic varieties. This topic was studied in another subject.