Sociolinguistic variable

A sociolinguistic variable is a specific word, pronunciation, or phrase that people use differently depending on factors like social class, region, age, or context. These variations reveal social identities and group memberships. For example, some people might pronounce the word "schedule" as "sked-jool" or "shed-yool," depending on where they’re from or their background. Linguists study these variables to understand how language reflects and influences social identities, showing that language is linked to who we are and our social environment.