CultureAugust 28, 2026

sociolinguistic

SO-see-oh-lin-GWIS-tik

Definition

Relating to the study of how language interacts with social factors, such as identity, regional background, and societal perceptions.

Etymology

The word is a combination of 'socio-' (from Latin 'socius,' meaning companion or partner) and 'linguistic' (from Latin 'lingua,' meaning tongue). It emerged in the 20th century to describe the field of study examining the intersection of society and language.

In the news

The article uses the term to explain the social pressures and ideologies that influence how a person's accent evolves during their adult life.

Donald Trump’s New York accent has subtly shifted over the past five decades

Read the full article ↗

PsyPost

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