Variability in American English

Sociolinguistic’s Assignment
By: Quantrilla J.B (1621020)

Introduction
The study of language variation is an important part of sociolinguist to the extent that is
requires reference to social factors. Languages vary from one place to another, from one special
group to another, and from situation to another. There are many ways of speaking and each way
of speaking is a variety. In a more precise manner, a variety may be defined as a set of linguistic
items with similar social distribution. (Richardson Hudson 1996: Sociolinguistics. 2nd ed.
(Cambridge Textbooks in Linguistics.) Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
When we speak about “a language” – in our case “the English language” – the term
“language” refers to a dialectical unity of the universal and the individual. The English language
is not a single homogeneous phenomenon, but a complex of many different and interpenetrating
varieties of language that use in kind of situations in many parts of the world.
The social differentiation of English received a certain amount of attention before
sociolinguistics was ever heard of. H.C. Wyld’s pertinent observation concerning the
development of modern colloquial English and Victor Grove’s book ‘The Language Bar’ (1949)
come to mind in this connection. The variety of British English that is traditionally called
Standard English. At the same time Standard British English pronunciation became a significant
marker or social class in all parts of Britain, being opposed practically everywhere to the local
accents of lower-class people.

Content
Alan S. C. Ross, professor of linguistics at Birmingham University gave long lists of
words and phrases which he regarded as peculiar to the extremes of society between upper class
(U) and lower class or non-upper class (non-U).
1. Non-U : Pardon?
U : What? And Sorry?
Said if one didn’t hear a speaker properly.
2. Non-U : Pleased to meet you

Social and Regional Varieties of Present-Day English (Tartu State University, 1977) – by Oleg Mutt
 U : How do you do?
3. Non-U : Serviette
U : Table-napkin
4. Non-U : raincoat
U : mac (mackintosh)
The U speaker today says He’s at Oxford (or Birmingham, Susser, etc.) for non-U He’s at
university (if a U-speaker doesn’t know what university a man is, he would make do with He’s at
a university).

Linguistics variations depending on the age or sex of the speaker or writer are likewise
coming to be more intensively studied. English is a living and growing language and its
pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar are all changing slowly but constantly. The
characteristics features of the latter include the use of specific words like;
a. Dickey-(bird)
b. Tootsie-(wootsie)
c. upsa-a-daisy : a markedly labialized pronunciation; the use of the 3rd person singular (e.e.
Now how is he today, the little fellow?), etc.
Elements of nursery English continue to be used informally by adults speaking to other
adults
a. Tummy
b. Doggy
Turning to the differences between the kinds of English used by men and by women,
there are said to be four main fields where women native speakers of English have their own
words and expressions:
1. Swearing
2. Euphemism
3. The nursery
4. When talking of the opposite sex.
Men tend to avoid words that sound feminine or weak (e.g. hankie, cutie, etc.). There are
also certain other words and expressions that are more often used by men and vice versa, e.g. the
words person, nice, and common (in the sense of vulgar) are perhaps used more often by women,
while chap and fellow are possibly more characteristic of men.

Social and Regional Varieties of Present-Day English (Tartu State University, 1977) – by Oleg Mutt
 There are some differences likewise in the preference for certain sounds and intonation
patterns. Thus, for instance, female speakers tend more often to use the voiceless labio-velar
fricative and to distinguish word-pairs such as:
 Which – Witch
 Where – Were
 Whether – Weather
Sociolinguists in most cases study social distribution of particular linguistic items, for
example words, sounds or grammatical constructions. The English pronouns yous ‘2nd person
plural’ and you ‘2nd person singular or plural’. (Richardson Hudson 1996: Sociolinguistics. 2nd
ed. (Cambridge Textbooks in Linguistics.) Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Other example in Variability in SAE:
1. Beyonce (Song) : “If I were a boy” – Jika saya adalah seorang lelaki
“If I was a boy” – Jika saya adalah seorang lelaki
2. Word : Happy – coming or happening by good luck especially
unexpectedly. (e.g. a happy discovery, finding the letter that
would prove her innocence)
Cheerful – having or showing a good mood or disposition. (e.g. a
cheerful person who is always fun to work with and a pleasure to
be around).
Grateful – feeling or expressing gratitude. (e.g. she was grateful
for her neighbor’s help after she broke her foot)

Conclusion:
One word can have many meaning and different usage. Especially, the variability in SAE
(Standard American English) which there are a different between the way we speak with the
older and the younger, different dialogue and accents, different in the use of grammar structure
and different in pronunciation. All difference make the people sometimes confused with the used
of the word in English.

Social and Regional Varieties of Present-Day English (Tartu State University, 1977) – by Oleg Mutt