Trends In The Study Of Language Variation:Theoretical And Taxonomic Considerations

Abstract

Register study, stylistics, sociolinguistics, discourse analysis, and English for specific purposes all deal with language variation. This can be gleaned from several perspectives. In this paper, however, we have tried to look at the issue of variation from two main perspectives namely: the theoretical and the taxonomic. Our conclusion in this paper is that the five study thrusts listed above are approaches to the study of language variation. This we have tried to validate by looking at their theoretical foundations as well as their dimensions for the analysis of language. Our belief is that they virtually all have similar theoretical thrusts. Also, we hold that the dimensions for the taxonomy of language are similar even if different terminologies are applied. In sum, these approaches ostensibly claim different theoretical backgrounds and paradigms when their focal points are thrust in the same direction.