language, dialect and register in a sociolinguistic

RETORIKA: Jurnal Ilmu Bahasa, Vol. 1, No. 2 Oktober 2015, 379-387 Available Online at http://ejournal.warmadewa.ac.id/index.php/jret

LANGUAGE, DIALECT AND REGISTER IN A SOCIOLINGUISTIC PERSPECTIVE Made Budiarsa

Universitas Udayana [email protected]

Abstrak Sosiolinguistik memberi perhatian pada aspek sosial bahasa manusia. Sosiolinguistik membahas hubungan antara bahasa dengan dengan masyarakat. Artikel ini difokuskan untuk membahas (1) bahasa, (2) dialek, (3) variasi bahasa, (4) tingkatan sosial, dan (5) register. Kelima hal ini merupakan hal problematik yang mengubungkan kehidupan sosial masyarakat lokal suatu daerah. Yang paling penting untuk diketahui adalah pembedaan suatu istilah terhadap yang lain. Ada tiga hal utama yang dibahas; bahasa, dialek dan register. Bahasa memiliki banyak keragaman. Keragaman bahasa terjadi karena adanya perbedaan tingkatan sosial dalam masyarakat. Tingkatan sosial menentukan bahasa yang digunakan oleh penuturnya yang terlibat dalam interaksi tersebut. Variasi bahasa dapat terjadi dalam bentuk dialek dan register. Dialek sebuah bahasa berhubungan faktor-faktor sosial seperti status sosial ekonomi, umur, jabatan penuturnya. Dialek merupakan variasi bahasa yang digunakan oleh kelompok penutur tertentu yang ditandai dengan penanda sistematik seperti penanda sintaksis, fonologi, dan gramatikal. Register adalah variasi bahasa berdasarkan penggunaaanya atau tujuannya. Hal ini bergantung seluruhnya terhadap tujuan utama penggunaan bahasa. Kata kunci: bahasa, dialek, register, dan sosiolinguistik

Abstract Sociolinguistics pays attention to the social aspects of human language. Sociolinguistics discusses the relationship between language and society. this paper, discusses the use of (1) language;(2) dialects; (3) language variation; (4) social stratifications;(5) register. This discussion talks about the five types of those topics because they are really problematic sort of things, which relate to the social life of the local people. In relation to this, the most important point is to distinguish the terms from one to another. There are three main points to discuss: language, dialects and register. Languages which are used as medium of communication have many varieties. These language variations are created by the existence of social stratification in the community. Social stratification will determine the form of language use by the speakers who involve in the interaction. The variation can be in the form of dialects and register. Dialect of a language correlates with such social factors such as socio-economic status, age, occupation of the speakers. Dialect is a variety of a particular language which is used by a particular group of speakers that is signaled by systematic markers such as syntactical, phonological, grammatical markers. Dialects which are normally found in the speech community may be in the forms of regional dialect and social dialect. Register is the variation of language according to the use. It means that where the language is used as a means of communication for certain purposes. It depends entirely on the domain of language used. It is also a function of all the other components of speech situation. A formal setting may condition a formal register, characterized by particular lexical items. The informal setting may be reflected in casual register that indicates less formal vocabulary, more non-standard features, greater instances of stigmatized variables, and so on. Keywords: language, dialect, register and sociolinguistic.

1. INTRODUCTION

term sociolinguistics is used to discuss the

The study of language which pays

relationship between language and society.

attention to the social aspects of language

It has been long known that there are many

is commonly called sociolinguistics. The

approaches used to discuss the function of

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language in society. How people in certain

In order to avoid misunderstanding

communities use their languages to com-

between speakers in the society whenever

municate among them. As mentioned by

the communication takes place is to under-

Southerland and Katamba (1996:540) the

stand the speech varieties. It means that

locus of all sociolinguistic investigations is

speakers must know the norms of language

the speech community. The speech com-

function. Language function is how the

munity where the language is used as a

speakers use their language which has al-

means of communication can be a small

ready bound by the cultural or social

town, village, or even a club or as large as

norms. The understanding of the social

nation or a group of nations. They further

norms which relate to the way how people

note that the important characteristic of a

use the correct language in certain commu-

speech community is that its members

nication domain by recognizing who in-

share a particular language (or variety of

volves in the communication. In all com-

language) as well as the norms (or rules)

munities in the world, people have standard

for appropriate use of their language in so-

language to be developed as a guideline to

cial context. Because of the different lan-

communicate with each other.

guage background of the speakers in vari-

According to Holmes (1992:76) a

ous communities will create different kind

standard variety is one which is written,

of language variety due to the different sit-

and which has undergone some degree of

uation and social stratification of the speak-

regularization or codification; it is recog-

ers. In society, it is found that many causes

nized as prestigious variety or code by a

of speech community differentiation. One

community and it is used for H functions a

of them is the social status of the speakers

long side a diversity of low varieties. It is

such as teachers, workers, government offi-

further stated that standard varieties are

cial who has high rank in the office, reli-

codified varieties. Codification is usually

gion leaders, and so on. These differences

achieved through grammars and dictionar-

influence the form of language choice to be

ies which record, and sometimes pre-

used to communicate among them. They

scribed, the standard form of the language.

have to be aware of each other position. So

The codification process, which is part of

it is really very important for those speak-

the development of every standard variety,

ers who are involving in certain speech sit-

was accelerated in the case of English by

uation take into consideration the language

the introduction of printing in 1476, by

to be used. The wrong choice of expres-

William Caxton, the first English printer.

sions used by speakers of different social

He used the speech of London area the

status will be considered as impolite ex-

newly emerging standard dialect – as the

pressions.

basis for his translation. The most im-

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RETORIKA: Jurnal Ilmu Bahasa, Vol. 1, No.2 Oktober 2015, 381

portant point he emphasizes is that the de-

from Indonesia because they speak differ-

velopment of Standard English illustrates

ent mother tongue. They will be able to un-

the three essential criteria which character-

derstand each other if they use Indonesian

ize a standard: it was an influential or pres-

language. If they use Indonesian language

tigious variety, it was codified and stabi-

their tune of voice or pronunciation will be

lized, and it serves H functions in that it

different because their Indonesian is influ-

was used for communication at court, for

enced by their mother tongues. The differ-

literature and for administration. It is very

ence use of the same language which influ-

interesting to take into consideration the

ence by the local vernaculars or mother

idea proposed by Holmes (1992) in which

tongue of the speakers is normally called

he states that a standard language is always

regional variation. This regional variation

a particular dialect which has gained its

emerges due to the speakers different re-

special position as a result of social, eco-

gions. There are often found that the use of

nomic, and political influence. This is real-

different vocabularies in the varieties spo-

ly in away with the language condition in

ken in different regions. As mentioned by

Indonesia. The language situation in Indo-

Holmes (1992:195), language varies in

nesia is very complex due to the various

three major ways which are interestingly

vernacular languages used by the various

interrelated- over time, in physical space,

communities which have different cultural

and socially. Language variation over time

background. This situation is very im-

has its origins in spatial (or regional) and

portant to be taken into consideration by

social variation. All language change has

those who involve themselves in language,

its origin in variation. The possibility of

particularly socio linguistic study.

linguistic change exists as soon as a new form develops and begins to be used along-

2. LANGUAGE SITUATION

side an existing form.

The linguistic situation in multicultur-

Language choice in multicultural so-

al communities like in Indonesia has long

cieties normally influenced by certain so-

been considered, by linguists, as a complex

cial factors for example the factor of people

and interesting to be investigated for map-

you are talking with, the social context

ping out the linguistic appearance in every

where the communication takes place, and

area in Indonesia. There are many local

other factor like the function and topic of

vernaculars used by different people who

what is being talked. Those are important

live in different places in Indonesia. Ones

factors to determine the form of language

who live in different regions use different

choice in multicultural society likes Indo-

local vernaculars of their own. They won’t

nesia. The difference choice of expressions

understand each other although they are

and vocabularies will be strongly influ-

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enced by the domains of language use.

to share ideas among the community group

These domains of language use will be the

members. Without language human being

focus of our attention in discussing the ap-

cannot do the communication with each

propriate form of language choice. The in-

other. So we are lucky because we have

terlocking system which is related to do-

language to be used to share our way of

mains, addressee, setting, and topics to be

thinking. In the society where he human

found in people real life interactions have

being live as a member of particular group

been identified as very relevant factors to

of people, there are various types of people

describe pattern of code choice in many

and they have different kind of cultural

different speech communities. It can be

background. Due to the fact that there are

said, further, that domain is one thing

many group of tribes living in the world

which is related to three important social

with different knowledge of language rules

factors in dealing with code choice they are

this will result in language variation when

participant who involve in the interaction,

they are dealing with communication with

setting is where the interaction among

each other. To do the communication, hu-

community members taking place, and the

man being should understand each other

third one is the topic of what is being dis-

position or post in order to be able to

cussed in the interaction.

choose the correct language or expressions

In short, it can be said that the form

to be used. It is also often found that there

of language choice in multicultural socie-

are many dialects variation in the life of

ties may be determined by the domains

people in the same community. A part from

when the talk takes place. As what has

dialects variation used by certain group of

been said that the complexity of language

people, the use of specific lexical items al-

choice in multilingual societies because

so illustrate the functional use of language

people who involve in the communication

in particular speech events. Sociolinguistics

must take into consideration many factors

can help us understand why we speak dif-

related to the certain domain. This tells us

ferently in various social contexts, because

very clearly that in choosing the variety of

sociolinguistics also tells us that in some

language to be used in real interaction in

communities the social stratification plays

our daily life is that we have to be clear

important role for language choice.

about what language variety to be chosen

knowing the social stratification of people

which are relevant to the domains. Socio-

who live in the society, at the same time

linguistics is the study of the relationship

they will be able to have the component of

between language and society. Language is

sociolinguistic competence. According to

a very important means of communication.

Canale and Swain (1980) this component

Society is the place where language is used

included both socio-cultural rules of use

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By

RETORIKA: Jurnal Ilmu Bahasa, Vol. 1, No.2 Oktober 2015, 383

and rules of discourse; here only the former

from one to another. We first need to con-

set of rules is referred to. Sociolinguistic

sider the clear concept of the terms men-

competence thus addresses the extent to

tioned above to make it easier to create lan-

which the utterances are produced and un-

guages, dialects, and register mapping.

derstood appropriately in different sociolinguistic contexts depending on contextual

Language

factors such as status of participant, pur-

It is a real means of communication.

pose of interaction, setting and scene. Par-

What does it mean to say that some variety

ticipant is considered to be most important

is a language? How to differentiate be-

aspect for language choice. For example,

tween language and dialect? This is the fo-

you probably wouldn't speak the same to

cus of attention of this paper. According to

your boss at work as you would do to your

Haugen (1966) there are two separate ways

friends, or speak to strangers as you would

of distinguishing them, and this ambiguity

to your family. Sociolinguistics may also

is a source of great confusion. He further

wonder whether women and men speak the

argues that reason for ambiguity, and the

same each other. Or why do people of the

resulting confusion, is precisely the fact

same age or from the same social class or

that dialect was borrowed from Greek,

same ethnicity use similar language? Soci-

where the same ambiguity existed. On the

olinguistics attempts to explain all these

other hand, there is a difference of size,

questions and more. Ultimately, sociolin-

because a language is larger than a dialect.

guistics is everywhere!

This is the sense in which we may refer to

In the following part of this paper we

English as a language, containing the total

are going to consider particular important

of all the terms in all its dialect, with

of making a sociolinguistic mapping of lan-

Standard English as one dialect among

guage use characterized by different group

many others. The other contrast between

of local people in the same community.

language and dialect is a question of pres-

The mapping will be particularly focusing

tige, a language having prestige which a

on the use of (1) language (2) dialects, (3)

dialect lacks.

language variation, (4) social stratification, and register.

Dialects

In this part, the discussion will be

If we are talking about dialects it is

dealing with the five types of those topics

necessary to understand, first of all, what is

because they are really problematic sort of

meant by standard language? Standard lan-

things, which relate the social life of the

guage is the only kind of variety which can

local people. In relation to this, the most

be called a proper language. It is normally

important point is to distinguish the terms

used by the government as a language to be

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RETORIKA: Jurnal Ilmu Bahasa, Vol. 1, No.2 Oktober 2015, 384

used as the administrative matters, in for-

cal, structural, lexical, and discourse fea-

mal situation like the language for educa-

tures of English (McKay and Hornberger

tion, law, economic activities, and so on. In

1996:149). The discussion is followed by

multilingual society, the use of standard

an examination of language variation due

language is very often deviate from its

to age and social class and network.

origin. The deviation is often found in the

Languages in the world will be differ-

form of lexical choices, pronunciation,

ent form one and another. Each language

grammar, phonology, morphology, and

has its rule to be followed by the people of

syntax. This deviation from the standard

the same tribes or groups. In this part of the

use is normally called a dialect of the same

paper, we are going to see what is meant by

language. Dialect may be defined as non-

language variation in more details.

standard use of a particular language. This

important question may be

can also be called a language variety. Dia-

language vary in its use?” The answer to

lect is a variety of a particular language

this question is that the language as a

which is spoken by a group of speakers that

means of communication can be used in

is signaled by systematic markers such as

different purposes in the real world. Due to

syntactical,

grammatical

the fact that the purpose of interaction, who

markers. Dialect may be in the forms of

are the people involving in the interaction,

regional dialect and social dialect.

where does the interaction take place, so-

Language variation

cial stratification, and so on, will contribute

As

phonological,

what

to the language variation. These factors are

Wardhaugh (1986:22) that variety is de-

the main things which will influence the

fined in terms of a specific set of linguistic

form of language choice to be used in the

items

interaction.

human

been

speech

stated

raised “why

by

or

has

The

patterns

(presumably, sounds, words, grammatical

According to Hudson (1980:24) the

features) which we can uniquely associate

term variety of language can be used to re-

with some external factors (presumably, a

fer to different manifestations of it in just

geographical area or a social group). This

the same way as one might take ‘music’ as

paper focuses on how the larger social con-

a general phenomenon and the distinguish

text affects an individual’s use of particular

different varieties of music . What make

linguistic forms illustrate a macro-level of

one variety of language different from an-

social analysis and a micro-level of linguis-

other are the linguistic items that it in-

tic analysis. Moreover, it will be seen how

cludes, so we may differ a variety of lan-

geographical location, ethnic background,

guage as a set of linguistic items with simi-

social class, and gender can all influence

lar social distribution. So, language varia-

an individual’s use of particular phonologi-

tion is considered to be the way of how

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RETORIKA: Jurnal Ilmu Bahasa, Vol. 1, No.2 Oktober 2015, 385

people use their language or languages for

Social stratification

no

According to Southerland and Katam-

speaker of a language or group of people

ba (1996:542) it is possible to correlate dif-

will speak exactly the same as others.

ferences of how people speak with their

Wardhaugh (1987:127) mentions that lan-

membership in various social groups. Per-

guage is varies in a number of ways. One

haps the most frequently invoked social

way of characterizing certain variation is to

correlate of language differentiation is so-

say that speakers of a particular language

cio-economic status. What is meant by so-

sometimes speak different dialect of a lan-

cio-economic status is that something asso-

guage. He further says that sociolinguistics

ciated with income level, type occupation,

today are concerned more with social vari-

type of housing, educational level, and sim-

ation in language than with regional varia-

ilar characteristics of speakers. These so-

tion. Linguists have along been aware of

cial statuses will influence the forms of lan-

variation in the use of language: individual

guage use to communicate in the social

do speak one way on one occasion and an-

groups. The people will be aware of how to

other way on another occasion, and this

use the language with those people who

kind of variation can be seen to occur with-

have high status in the society. The form of

in even the most localized groups. Hudson

language choice depends upon the people

(1980) further claims that the very general

who involve in the communication.

different

purposes.

Consequently,

notion ‘variety’ includes examples of what

It is further explained that the ap-

would normally be called, languages, dia-

proaches to study the linguistic differentia-

lects, and register, it will be noticed that it

tion in the speech community which pro-

is consistent with the definition to treat all

ceed from the assumption that socio-

the languages of some multilingual speak-

economic status is an important (or the

er, or community, as a single variety, since

most important) correlate of differences in

all the linguistic items concerned have a

language usage generally arrive at (or pro-

similar social distribution – they are used

ceed from) a view of vertical variation

by the same speaker, or community. Thus,

which is referred to as the social stratifica-

a variety can be much smaller than a

tion of language. Having seen the short ex-

‘language’, or event that a ‘dialect’. The

planation about social stratification pro-

flexibility of the term ‘variety’ allows us to

posed by Southerland and Katamba about

ask what basis there is for postulating the

the important factor that affects the form of

kind of ‘package’ of linguistic item to

language choice in the society it is reasona-

which we conventionally give label like

ble to claim that social differentiation of

‘language’, ‘dialect’ or ‘register’.

one sort or another is universal. Based on these ideas it is believed that there are al-

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RETORIKA: Jurnal Ilmu Bahasa, Vol. 1, No.2 Oktober 2015, 386

ways differences in speech communities

that an informal setting may be reflected in

and that these differences correlate with the

casual register that exhibits less formal vo-

existence of social group within the com-

cabulary,

munity.

greater instances of stigmatized variables,

The term speech community is wide-

more

non-standard

features,

and so on.

ly used by sociolinguists to refer to com-

Hudson (1980:48) mentions that the

munity based on language, but linguistic

term register is widely used in sociolinguis-

community is also used with the same

tics to river to variety according to use, in

meaning. Although we know that there are

contrast with dialects defined as varieties

many definition of speech community giv-

according to the user. It is very important

en by different linguists, with different sort

to make distinction between register and

of expressions, but we are sure that they

dialect because the same person may use

have the same meaning. In short, it can be

different linguistic items to express more or

said that speech community is the inter-

less the same meaning on different occa-

locking system of where the communica-

sions, and the concept of dialect cannot

tion among people who live in the same

reasonably be extended to include such

community take place. This may be nearly

variation. Each time a person speaks or

the same as what is called speech situation.

writes he not only locates himself with ref-

It is a condition in which there is appropri-

erence to the rest of society, but also relates

ate use of language by speakers of a partic-

his act of communication to a complex

ular community, with specific circumstanc-

classificatory scheme of communication

es such as setting and scene, participants of

behavior.

the interaction, and ends of the communication including both functions and outcomes.

3. CONCLUSION This short paper focuses on the social aspects of language use in real life speech

Register

situation. There are three main points to

The form that talk takes in any given

discuss: language, dialects and register.

context is called a register. Different regis-

Languages which are used as medium of

ter may be characterized in phonological,

communication have many varieties. These

syntactic, or lexical items. A register is also

language variations are created by the ex-

a function of all the other components of

istence of social stratification in the com-

speech situation. A formal setting may con-

munity. Social stratification will determine

dition a formal register, characterized by

the form of language use by the speakers

particular lexical items (Southerland and

who involve in the interaction. The lan-

Katamba, 1996:579). They further mention

guage variation can be in the form of dia-

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RETORIKA: Jurnal Ilmu Bahasa, Vol. 1, No.2 Oktober 2015, 387

lects and register. Dialect of a language correlates with such social factors such as socio-economic status, age, occupation of the speakers. Dialect is a variety of a par-

ticular language which is used by a particular group of speakers that is signaled by systematic markers such as syntactical, phonological, grammatical markers. Dialects which are normally found in the speech community may be in the forms of

regional dialect and social dialect. Register is the variation of language according to the use. It means where the language is used as a means of communica-

tion”. Dalam J. B. Pride, dan J. Holmes. (ed.). Sociolinguistics. Hermondsworth: Penguin Books Ltd. Holmes, janet. 1992 . An Introduction to Sociolinguistics. London : Longman Group Limited. Hudson, R.A. 1980. Sociolinguistics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Hymes, D. H. 1971. “On Communicative Competence”. Dalam J. B. Pride dan J. Holmes. (ed.). Sociolinguistics. Hermondsworth: Penguin Books Ltd. McKay, S. L. 1996. Sociolingustics and Language Teaching. Camridge: Cambridge University Press. O’Grady, W., Dobrovolsky, M., Katamba, F. 1996. Contemporary Linguistics an Introduction. Copp Clark Pitman Ltd. Wardhaugh, R. 1986. An Introduction to Sociolingustics. Oxford: Basil Blackwell. …………….. http://wikipedia.org/wiki/ Sociolect (Accessed 2015-05-10).

tion for certain purposes. It depends entirely on the domain of language used. It is

also a function of all the other components of speech situation. A formal setting may condition a formal register, characterized by particular lexical items. The informal setting may be reflected in casual register that indicates less formal vocabulary, more non-standard features, greater instances of stigmatized variables, and so on. ACKNOWLEDGMENT The author would like to thank Reviewer for the input that has been given to the improvement of substance to this article. BIBLIOGRAPHY Canale, M., Swain, M. 1980. “Theoretical Bases of Communicative Approaches to Second Language Teaching and Testing”. Applied Linguistics. 1, 1: 1-47. Toronto: Ontario Ministry of Education. Haugen, E. 1966. “Dialect, Language and NaCopyright © 2015, RETORIKA: Jurnal Ilmu Bahasa, P-ISSN: 2406-9019, E-ISSN: 2443-0668