variationist approach

The variationist approach is a way linguists study how language varies among different groups of people or in different contexts. It looks at how factors like region, social class, age, or situational settings influence the way people speak. Instead of viewing language as fixed, this approach sees variation as natural and meaningful, helping us understand social identities, group membership, and cultural influences through speech patterns. It combines detailed analysis of language use with social context, revealing how language functions in real-life interactions and societal structures.