LANGUAGE: VEHICLE FOR HUMAN INTERACTION

CARLITO L. MENDOZA

Understanding language in society means that an individual has to understand ways of how a particular language is being used in a speech community. The focus of Sociolinguistics is the effect of the society on the language. It has something to do also with the study of language varieties which differ between groups separated by certain social variables, e.g., ethnicity, religion, status, gender, level of education, age, etc.

As a field of study that involves the interaction of both language and society, Sociolinguistics has contributed to help language teachers achieve a greater understanding of the nature of language, as well as its manifestations, along with the understanding of the nature of society. One of the aims of Sociolinguistics in terms of sociolinguistic investigation is to achieve a further progress in the knowledge, nature and the operation of human language by the study of language in its social context. Furthermore, Sociolinguistics can study a gradual transition of individual values of a word in the context such its semantics which occur in some ethnic, cultural or social groups. The ability to communicate ideas, thoughts, emotions, and opinions to others is truly a remarkable ability. Our use of language can influence our self-concept and identity. Cultural influences are also reflected in our language and encourage how we conceptualize who we are and where we come from. Language has a social feature, which means that it is used by the members of society.

It has been said that it does not matter how well a person knows a language’s grammar, if he or she does not know how it must be used for successful communication, or how people use it in their native environment.

-oOoThe author is Teacher II at San Juan High School, Mexico, Pampanga