Definition

Related to the study of how language is used in social contexts and how it varies among different groups of people.

Example

The sociolinguistic analysis revealed interesting patterns in how different communities use language.

Conversation

Have you ever thought about the sociolinguistic factors that affect language use?

Yeah, it's fascinating how our social backgrounds influence our speech.

Exactly! I read that different regions have unique sociolinguistic features.

Right, and it can really change how we understand each other.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Sociolinguistic → It is formed from "socio-" (from Latin "socius", meaning companion or associate) and "linguistic" (from Latin "lingua", meaning language). The word refers to the study of how language varies and changes in social groups and contexts.

Memory Tip

Think of 'socio-' meaning companions or groups, and 'linguistic' relating to language — this helps you remember that sociolinguistic is about how language interacts with social factors.

Visually Confused Words