Formulation of the Problem Objectives of the Research
Etymologically, the term sociolinguistics comes from the word sociology and linguistics. Based on Hornby 1995:1128, sociology means
the scientific study of the nature and development of society and social behaviour. Hornby also defines linguistics as the scientific study of
language or of particular language. Crystal 1985:440 also adds that sociolinguistics has been broadly defined as a branch of linguistics which
studies all aspects between language and society. Meanwhile, the term sociolinguistics itself is the field that studies
the relationship between language and society, between the use of language and the social structures in which the users of language live.
Spolsky 1998:3 argues that sociolinguistics is the field of study that assumes that human society is made up of many related patterns and
behaviours, some of which are linguistics. It means that one of the principal uses of language is not only to communicate meaning, but it is
also used to establish and maintain social relationship. Furthermore, Trudgill 1992:68 gives a clear explanation about
sociolinguistics that it is intended to achieve a better understanding of the nature of the relationship between language and society. He explains that
sociolinguistics is the study that analyzes about the relationship between language and its society. This study is intended to achive a better
understanding about the nature of human language in its social context and the nature of the interaction between language and society. It is clearly
seen that Trudgill does not consider sociolinguistics as an independent
subject, rather he takes it as a part of linguistic, a sub-discipline within linguistics. Based on Trudgill’s theory, sociolinguistics is a part of
linguistics which is concerned with language as a social and cultural phenomenon.
Chaika 1994:3
also gives
another definition
about sociolinguistics. She states that sociolinguistics is a study of language use
in social interaction. It means that this study focuses on the way people talk naturaly in everyday communication in their social environment. In
addition, Wardaugh 2006:13 explains that sociolinguistics is concerned in observing the relationship between language and society. The focus of
the study is to obtain the understanding of the structure of language and the function of language in the social environment. Moreover, by studying
sociolinguistics, people can learn more and understand deeper about the social structure through the use of language.
Identically, the notion of sociolinguistics is also emphasized by Holmes 1997:1. He points out that sociolinguistics is the study between
language and society. Society plays as an important role because in society, there are many different people who are lived there.
Sociolinguistics are interested in explaining why people speak differently in a society, and it concerns to identify the social functions and the ways it
is used to convey social meaning. Sociolinguistics affects and is affected by social relations and
culture. It studies how language varieties differ between groups separated