speech community

A speech community is a group of people who share a common language or dialect and use it to communicate in similar ways. This could be based on geographic location, social status, profession, or cultural background. Within a speech community, members often understand each other's slang, expressions, and linguistic norms. This shared understanding helps build a sense of identity and belonging among the members. Speech communities can vary widely, from small groups, like a local club, to larger ones, like entire regions or countries, influencing how language is used and evolves over time.