Findings of 2 Research Articles on Sociolinguistic Theory Paper Example

Sociolinguistics is the study of the aspects of the society including context, cultural norms and expectations and how they impact the use of language (Coupland, 1998). Additionally, sociolinguistics is the study of the relationship between society and the language and how the two affect each other. The sociolinguistic theory, therefore, defines the various methods analyzing the relationship between language and society in the context of social change, interpersonal relationships, communicative competences, linguistic context and constitution of social structures, social stereotyping, human interactions, social networks and intergroup communication (Coupland, 1998). Several authors have employed empirical research methods on the sociolinguistic journals and made several findings.

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Svendsen conducted an empirical study on the natural dynamism of sociolinguistics among the citizens of a random population, Norway (2018). The aim of the research was to establish statistics of engagement of nonprofessional citizens in conducting sociolinguistics research. The article also focuses on linguistic diversity in Norway as well as the definition of sociolinguistics among the young citizens of the country (Svendsen, 2018). Besides, the article addresses the challenges of citizen science research method in sociolinguistics problem. The major finding of this study is that multilingual competence is very limited in classrooms, the target group for the study (Svendsen, 2018). Extension of the study to the general population revealed a multilingual and linguistically diverse country. The study therefore established that the school languages have spread to the general population; homes, and vice versa.

TARONE empirically conducted a research on the likely methods leading to second language acquisition (2007). The article backs the effort in sociolinguistic model development for predicting second language acquisition process. The main findings in the article include the social mediation between social context and use as well as the acquisition of a second language (TARONE, 2007). The article relates second language acquisition and understanding to the social setting in that linguistic context affect language factors like language use, choice of the communication language and development of the language used. The other finding from the research is that second language learners assume social identities in the sound language in communicating linguistic and social context (TARONE, 2007).

Conclusion

The findings from the two articles are very valuable relative to sociolinguistics theory. Svendsen focuses on how language spreads, from schools to homes and homes to schools in Norway. The article is therefore valuable in terms of sociolinguistics theory because the theory addresses the dynamics of language spread in a population (Svendsen, 2018). Additionally, Svendsen article is critical in sociolinguistics methodology because as it criticizes the challenges of citizen science research method in sociolinguistic theory. TARONE article focuses on the dynamics of acquisition of second language, a factor of sociolinguistic theory. The article findings that second language acquisition is relative to the social context and communication language choice is an elaboration of the sociolinguistic theory underlying facts about language diversity and spread.

References

Coupland, N. (1998). What is Sociolinguistic Theory?. Journal Of Sociolinguistics, 2(1), 110-117. doi: 10.1111/1467-9481.00035

Svendsen, Bente Ailin. (2018). The dynamics of citizen sociolinguistics. Journal of Sociolinguistics. 10.1111/josl.12276.

TARONE, E. (2007). Sociolinguistic Approaches to Second Language Acquisition Research-1997-2007. The Modern Language Journal, 91, 837-848. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-4781.2007.00672.x