Leibniz-Zentrum Allgemeine Sprachwissenschaft Leibniz-Gemeinschaft

Research Themes

Social meaning

The main objective of this research theme is the examination of the relationship between speech variables and social meaning. How are linguistic features, such as phonetic variants, syntactic structures, lexical choices, and discourse patterns associated with social meanings and/or social contexts? By analyzing this kind of variation, our research on social meaning aims to uncover the social motivations behind language use. This work will explore how social factors, including age, gender, social class, ethnicity, and community norms, influence linguistic variation and choices and cause the associated social meanings. By considering various (social) contexts, studies will aim at capturing the complex interplay between language, identity, and social relationships. Drawing upon theories and methodologies from a wide array of disciplines (sociolinguistics, anthropology, psychology, sociology), the study of social meaning is inherently interdisciplinary when aiming to understand social meaning in linguistics. The integration of multiple perspectives seeks to provide comprehensive analyses of the intricate connections between language and society. 

Research Theme Publications