sociolinguistics

[soh-see-oh-ling-gwis-tiks, soh-shee-]

noun

(used with a singular verb)

1. the study of language as it functions in society; the study of the interaction between linguistic and social variables.

sociolinguistics

/ ˌsəʊsɪəʊlɪŋˈɡwɪstɪks /

noun

1. (functioning as singular) the study of language in relation to its social context

Other Word Forms

• sociolinguist noun
• sociolinguistic adjective
• sociolinguistically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of sociolinguistics¹

First recorded in 1935–40; socio- + linguistics