How do social factors affect language?

In: Literature and Language, Sociology

Language is a social factor. The languages of developed societies - let's call it Civilization - all distinguish between more and less refined or elevated speech. Whether a speaker is educated will be obvious from his speech, and his economic status, geographical and ethnic background may be deduced.

Politics inevitably infects the language. Most Americans of a certain age struggle not to say some words that were ok a while ago. And it works both ways. Language affects social behavior. For example, we say we ride a bicycle, even though we drive it (our legs are pistons delivering power through the chain to the driving wheel), and so bicyclists in traffic are understood to be harmless, charming eco-champions instead of the worst drivers the world has ever seen. All because the first bicycles had no pedals, and all you could do was ride 'em.

First answer by ID3489720171. Last edit by Bennett hammond. Contributor trust: 166 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 3 [recommend question]

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