variationist sociolinguistics

Variationist sociolinguistics studies how people's language choices vary based on social factors like age, gender, class, or community. It examines why certain words, pronunciations, or speech styles change depending on the situation or audience. Essentially, it explores the link between society and language use, showing how language reflects identity, social relationships, and cultural context. This approach helps us understand that language is not static but constantly influenced by social dynamics.