Prace komisji nauk.pdf - Instytut Filologii Angielskiej Uniwersytetu ...

In order to distinguish the differences between sociolect and dialect, I start
with the nature of sociolect. According to Stanisław Grabias (2003), the term is
viewed as a social aspect, and belongs to one of the varieties of language. It
developes in human communities that are characterized by social bonds.
Aleksander Wilkoń (1987: 92) refers to sociolects as a “variety of language
combined with social groups as class, social stratum and environment”. As can
be seen, the term sociolect is undoubtedly connected with social interaction. The
notion appears on the level of social behavior and is specific for it. The character
of the group, the type of the bond that joins the participants of that group and the
location of that group refer to social phenomena and also to their sociolect.
Furthermore, Stanisław Grabias (2003: 119) claims that sociolects, as a variety
determined by the existence of other social groups and shaped by those social
groups, are combined with the durability of social phenomena. Stanisław
Grabias (ibid.) distinguishes stable and ephemeral groups. The first group is
characterized by a durability that takes care of its tradition (e.g., hunters, sailors,
etc.). However, the second is characterized by continuous changes (e.g., groups
of students, friends, etc.). The ephemeral group is seen in the range of speech,
not in range of language varieties.
In order to understand the ambiguous nature of sociolects it is needed to
illustrate its classification. The types of factors determining the diversity of
sociolects have an influence on the description of their various kinds. The types
of factors are as follows (Grabias 2003: 136):
(1) the social stratification;
(2) the influence of functional factors;
(3) language basis.
The first type concerns the existence of groups of various social bonds.
The second one states that the character of each sociolect depends on its
function, be that communicative or expressive. The last one reflects the situation
where the sociolect develops. The nature of speech focuses on the second
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