“Change in language is inevitable.”

How do speakers of the same language differ in how they use it? In this session, Professor Van Engen demonstrates how even when speakers share a language, there can be significant and legitimate differences.

Key Terms

Phonetics and Phonology: The way we produce the sounds of language.

Lexicon and Morphology: The words we use and how they are formed.

Syntax: The way words are put together.

Semantics: What words mean.

Aspect marker: A linguistic element that signals how a state of affairs extends over time.

Main Points

• Variation within a language is totally natural, and it’s found in all languages.
• Many factors influence variation, including regionality, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, age, and gender.
• Languages are always changing. Humans continually innovate, name new things, change the way they put words together, and change how they pronounce them. 

Content Questions

• What word do you use…soda, pop, or Coke?
• How does language vary within your community?
• Do you find it hard to understand/connect with people who vary from you in dialect? 
• How might being aware of linguistic differences help people feel more comfortable?

Application Questions

• How does language variation affect your Christian community? How is variation (or a lack thereof) dealt with? How can you lead others to think about variation as something that is natural and legitimate?
• Think about a time when variation in language has made a situation more difficult for you. If you’re with a group, share that experience, and discuss whether these kinds of experiences might be happening at your Church or other Christian community.