Language variation

In order to understand how language variation descriptors are used, we first must understand what language variation is. We can say that the U.S. is linguistically diverse because of the multitude of languages spoken here, but we can also find diversity within these languages. All languages have both dialectical variations and registral variations. These variations, or dialects, can differ in lexicon, phonology, and/or syntax from the Standard Language that we often think of …

…lesser degree or frequency. “Using “in” for “ing”, as in “goin” is universal across status groups, but it is found almost twice as often in the lower working class than in the lower middle class, and almost four times more than in the upper middle class” (Ferguson 61). With all these different variables that intersect and overlap with the different dialect variations is a wonder that any sense can be made of American English at all.