What do we mean by language variation?

Variation is a characteristic of language: there is more than one way of saying the same thing. Speakers may
vary pronunciation (accent), word choice (lexicon), or morphology and syntax (sometimes called
"grammar"). But while the diversity of variation is great, there seem to be boundaries on variation.
Variationists study how a language changes by observing it. This is accomplished by looking at authentic data.
For example, variation is studied by looking at linguistic and social environments, then the data is analyzed as
the change occurs. Variation in research programs must be malleable due to the nature of language itself. This
is because language is also fluid in transition and does not shift from one state to another instantaneously.
The concept of language variation is central in sociolinguistics. The English language varies on individual,
regional, national and global levels. Unfortunately, some people are unaware of various social and regional
dialects, and different varieties of English in the world. Understanding variation within a language is
important for every member of our community, and especially for those who receive a university or college
education. Sociolinguistics investigates all these language variations.

Different factors affect how a language is spoken within a country. They can be regional (geographical), ethnic
(national and racial), and social (class, age, gender, socioeconomic status and education). All these factors are
interconnected. They are reflected in every language variety’s pronunciation, vocabulary, grammatical
constructions and syntax.

One of the common misunderstandings of speakers of any language is the question of standard and non-
standard varieties of the language. The latter is often called a dialect, and people who speak it are considered
to be inferior to the speakers of the standard variety.

It is erroneous to believe that the standard variety is the ‘correct’ one. Every language has dialects, and no
dialect is substandard to other dialects. We all speak a dialect and we all have an accent.

All varieties of a language are systematic in their use, have a large number of speakers and thus have their
right for existence. The term dialect refers to any variety of a language, and from the point of view of
sociolinguistics, all dialects are equally correct, systematic, logical, and meaningful.

The issue of standard vs. non-standard variety of a language is not a linguistic one, but political. The standard
dialect is associated with prestige in the society. That is why many people prefer it to other varieties. Some
people feel pressured to use the standard dialect to conform to the rules of the society. However, some speakers
of a non-standard dialect prefer to use it to demonstrate their sense of belonging to their community or
social/ethnic group.

Besides all these variations, there are individual variations of language use that are called idiolects. We all have
unique ways of speaking that reflect our personal identities. Through our linguistic choices we have an
opportunity to express who we are and where we are from. Our language changes over time as it gets into
contact with various idiolects of people who we interact with. It changes with our life experiences. There are
no two speakers who speak exactly the same way.

However, people are often unaware of their own dialects/accents, and sometimes they negatively judge those
whose ways of speaking differ from their own. Often, people who speak non-standard dialects are erroneously
marked as being uneducated, not knowing English or having a speech pathology. This can lead to
discrimination in professional and educational settings, and irreversible personal tragedies.

These kinds of linguistic misperceptions are among the reasons why sociolinguistics is important to everyone
in our society. People need to know more about how dialects work to avoid language prejudice.
The English language varies not only on individual and national levels but also even more on the global level.
It is becoming the language of international communication and is acquiring the status of a global language.
English is a major language because Great Britain and the United States have been powerful militarily,
politically, and economically for the past two centuries. Crystal (2003, p. 59) observed that English received
its world status due to “the expansion of British colonial power […] and the emergence of the United States as
the leading economic power of the twentieth century”. It is used worldwide in such areas as business, science,
aviation, music, sport, and now the Internet. In spite of its popularity in the world, we need to remember that
English is not superior to other languages, and the use of other languages should be respected.

Standard American and standard British English are just two of many varieties of the language. Many other
varieties of English (so called Englishes) can be found in countries across the world, as well as within each
country where it is widely spoken.

Different varieties of English are used throughout the world. Kachru (1985) identified three concentric circles:
(1) the Inner Circle, which includes countries where English is used as a primary language, such as the U.S.
and Canada; (2) the Outer Circle, which consists of countries where English is used as a second or official
language, such as India or Singapore; and (3) the Expanding Circle, which refers to countries where English
is studied as a foreign language, such as Russia or China. According to Crystal (2003), non-native speakers of
English outnumber native speakers of English. Therefore, it is important to understand that no variety is
superior over another variety, and develop an increased tolerance for all varieties of English.The study of
sociolinguistics can build people’s awareness of different varieties of English and help us become more
respectful to all other languages and their dialects.

Pidgin vs Creole
What happens if a German individual who does not know English is made to sit and try to converse with a
person who knows nothing but English language? Well, they may try to communicate using their hands and
body language but ultimately what happens is that the two of them develop a new language that combines
the elements of both the parent languages. This is what happens when a pidgin language takes birth when
two cultures come in contact with each other. There is another word called Creole that confuses many
because of its similarities with pidgin language. Despite similarities, there are differences that will be talked
about in this article.

Pidgin

In a multiethnic society where different groups speak different languages but are required to communicate on
account of trade or any other necessity, there is often the birth of a common language that is composed of
words from several languages spoken by the population. This is called a pidgin, a crude language that has
simplified grammar and is task oriented and not a language in the classic definition of the word.

A pidgin is a language that does not have any native speakers. In other words, it is a younger language that is
developed as a means of communicating between two groups who do not speak the same language.

Pidgins are frequently developed for business and trading. Buying and selling and other transactions are
reasons for the development of a pidgin. Pidgins are not used as a form of group identification but rather for
practical communication.Pidgins are highly simplified in their grammar and syntax. For example, pidgins are
often missing affixes, inflections, and a smaller vocabulary compared to other languages.

A pidgin is often a necessity when two groups come in contact with each other and these groups do not have a
common language. A pidgin never develops as a full-fledged language past a certain stage of development. It
does, however, give birth to a Creole language.

Creole
Creole is a language that is developed as a result of mixing of two languages. Many believe that when children
adopt a pidgin as their primary language of communication; it develops and becomes a Creole. Adults develop
pidgin as a tool for communication, but children adopt it as their primary language and develop it as a Creole.
Creole develops as a result of extended contact between two different groups of people having different
languages of their own. Creole becomes a standard language in its own right.

A creole is a pidgin that now has native speakers. Children grow speaking a creole as their first language. There
are also other differences between a pidgin and creole. Since it is the first language of a group, creoles are used
in many more areas of life and have a much richer structure. Furthermore, a creole has a much more
standardized grammar rules.

People’s attitudes towards a creole are often different as well. Since it is the first language of many people,
there is a sense of pride over using the language. A creole can also be used to identify members of a group.
This was not possible with a pidgin as pidgins serve as a way of communicating between two groups while
creoles are for communicating both between groups and within a group.

What is the difference between Pidgin and Creole?

• Pidgin is the first stage of development of a language while Creole is the secondary stage of development.

• Creole becomes a mother tongue of the later generation of speakers whereas pidgin remains a mere tool of
communication.

• Grammar in Creole is fully developed, whereas it is rudimentary in pidgin.

• Extended contact between speakers of two different languages gives birth to Creole as children of adults that
develop pidgin adopt Creole as their primary language.

• The word pidgin comes from English pigeon who was used as a messenger in early times.

• Creole comes from French creole that means to create or to produce.

• Pidgin is not a standard language while Creole is a fully developed language.

Pidgins and creoles serve the purpose of communicating among people groups who have different languages.
With time a pidgin may become a creole if native speakers of a pidgin develop.