Labov's Variation Theory

Labov's Variation Theory explains how people's speech patterns change based on different social factors, such as where they are or who they are talking to. It shows that language is flexible and varies systematically depending on context. For example, someone might speak more formally at work and more casually with friends. These variations are not random but reflect social identities, group memberships, and situational cues. The theory helps us understand that language use is dynamic and connected to social identity, rather than being fixed or uniform across all settings.