A sociolinguist studies
A) the interaction of history and sociology.
B) cross-cultural comparisons of phonemic distinctions.
C) the universal grammar of language.
D) linguistic competence.
E) speech in its social context.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Sociolinguistics is the study of how language is shaped by social factors, including cultural norms, social class, race, and gender. It looks at how language is used in different contexts and how it can influence social interactions and power dynamics. Therefore, the best choice is E, which states that a sociolinguist studies speech in its social context.

A Sociolinguist Studies