Sociology of language is the study of the relations between language and society. It is closely related to the field of sociolinguistics, which focuses on the effect of society on language. One of its longest and most prolific practitioners was Joshua Fishman, who was founding editor of the International Journal of the Sociology of Language, in addition to other major contributions. The sociology of language studies society in relation to language, whereas sociolinguistics studies language in relation to society. For the former, society is the object of study, whereas, for the latter, language is the object of study. In other words, sociolinguistics studies language and how it varies based on the user's sociological background, such as gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic class. On the other hand, sociology of language (also known as macrosociolinguistics) studies society and how it is impacted by language. As Trent University professor of global politics Andreas Pickel states, "religion and other symbolic systems strongly shaping social practices and shaping political orientations are examples of the social significance such languages can have." The basic idea is that language reflects, among several other things, attitudes that speakers want to exchange or that just get reflected through language use. These attitudes of the speakers are the sociologist's information.
Sociology of language seeks to understand the way that social dynamics are affected by individual and group language use. According to National Taiwan University of Science and Technology Chair of Language Center Su-Chiao Chen, language is considered to be a social value within this field, which researches social groups for phenomena like multilingualism and lingual conflict. It has to do with who is 'authorized' to use what language, with whom and under what conditions. It has to do with how an individual or group identity is established by the language that they have available for them to use. It seeks to understand individual expression, which the investment in the linguistic tools that one has access to in order to bring oneself to other people.
See also
- Anthropological linguistics
- Code-mixing
- Code-switching
- Linguistic anthropology
- Linguistic relativity
- Language variety
- Sociolinguistics
References
- Fishman, Joshua A. (1972). The sociology of language: An interdisciplinary social science approach to language in society. Newbury House. ISBN 978-0-912066-16-5.
- Mesthrie, Rajend (2007). "Sociolinguistics and sociology of language". In Bernard Spolsky; Francis M. Hult (eds.). The Handbook of Educational Linguistics. pp. 66–82. doi:10.1002/9780470694138.ch6. ISBN 9781405154109.
- "About this website – All About Linguistics". Retrieved 2018-12-10.
- Fisherman, Joshua (1985). "Macrosociolinguistics and the Sociology of Language in the Early Eighties". Annual Review of Sociology. 11: 113–127. doi:10.1146/annurev.so.11.080185.000553. JSTOR 2083288.
- Pickel, Andreas (December 2013). "Nations, National Cultures, and Natural Languages: A Contribution to the Sociology of Nations". Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour. 43 (4): 425–445. doi:10.1111/jtsb.12018.
- "Full-Time Staff". National Taiwan University of Science and Technology.
- Chen, Su-Chiao (2012). "Sociology of Language". In Nancy Hornberger and David Corson (ed.). Encyclopedia of Language and Education: Research Methods in Language and Education. Springer. pp. 1–14. ISBN 978-94-011-4535-0.
Further reading
- International Journal of the Sociology of Language. Mouton de Gruyter. Editor: Ofelia Garcia Otheguy. ISSN (Print) 0165-2516.
- Fishman, Joshua A. (1968-01-01). Readings in the Sociology of Language. Walter de Gruyter. ISBN 9783110805376.
- Guardado, Martin (2018). Discourse, Ideology and Heritage Language Socialization: Micro and Macro Perspectives. Walter de Gruyter. ISBN 978-1-61451-384-1.
Sociology of language is the study of the relations between language and society It is closely related to the field of sociolinguistics which focuses on the effect of society on language One of its longest and most prolific practitioners was Joshua Fishman who was founding editor of the International Journal of the Sociology of Language in addition to other major contributions The sociology of language studies society in relation to language whereas sociolinguistics studies language in relation to society For the former society is the object of study whereas for the latter language is the object of study In other words sociolinguistics studies language and how it varies based on the user s sociological background such as gender ethnicity and socioeconomic class On the other hand sociology of language also known as macrosociolinguistics studies society and how it is impacted by language As Trent University professor of global politics Andreas Pickel states religion and other symbolic systems strongly shaping social practices and shaping political orientations are examples of the social significance such languages can have The basic idea is that language reflects among several other things attitudes that speakers want to exchange or that just get reflected through language use These attitudes of the speakers are the sociologist s information The EU has 24 languages it translates and operates within The image shows MEPs adopting their position on the 2020 EU budget through translator communication Sociology of language seeks to understand the way that social dynamics are affected by individual and group language use According to National Taiwan University of Science and Technology Chair of Language Center Su Chiao Chen language is considered to be a social value within this field which researches social groups for phenomena like multilingualism and lingual conflict It has to do with who is authorized to use what language with whom and under what conditions It has to do with how an individual or group identity is established by the language that they have available for them to use It seeks to understand individual expression which the investment in the linguistic tools that one has access to in order to bring oneself to other people See alsoAnthropological linguistics Code mixing Code switching Linguistic anthropology Linguistic relativity Language variety SociolinguisticsReferencesFishman Joshua A 1972 The sociology of language An interdisciplinary social science approach to language in society Newbury House ISBN 978 0 912066 16 5 Mesthrie Rajend 2007 Sociolinguistics and sociology of language In Bernard Spolsky Francis M Hult eds The Handbook of Educational Linguistics pp 66 82 doi 10 1002 9780470694138 ch6 ISBN 9781405154109 About this website All About Linguistics Retrieved 2018 12 10 Fisherman Joshua 1985 Macrosociolinguistics and the Sociology of Language in the Early Eighties Annual Review of Sociology 11 113 127 doi 10 1146 annurev so 11 080185 000553 JSTOR 2083288 Pickel Andreas December 2013 Nations National Cultures and Natural Languages A Contribution to the Sociology of Nations Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour 43 4 425 445 doi 10 1111 jtsb 12018 Full Time Staff National Taiwan University of Science and Technology Chen Su Chiao 2012 Sociology of Language In Nancy Hornberger and David Corson ed Encyclopedia of Language and Education Research Methods in Language and Education Springer pp 1 14 ISBN 978 94 011 4535 0 Further readingInternational Journal of the Sociology of Language Mouton de Gruyter Editor Ofelia Garcia Otheguy ISSN Print 0165 2516 Fishman Joshua A 1968 01 01 Readings in the Sociology of Language Walter de Gruyter ISBN 9783110805376 Guardado Martin 2018 Discourse Ideology and Heritage Language Socialization Micro and Macro Perspectives Walter de Gruyter ISBN 978 1 61451 384 1
