The use of language allows a person to maintain relationships with others in social interactions. Language is a crucial tool in social society that brings them into relationships within the environment. The attachment between language and society is very close because they influence each other like two sides of a coin. This complex interaction phenomenon demands the adoption of language varieties as an adaptive strategy to ensure the smooth exchange of information in various situations.

The application of these variations plays a role in controlling the substance and purpose of communication accurately so that the ideas expressed are always coherent in the context behind them. This language variation is in the form of a system that is formed conventionally in society. Therefore, understanding language means also understanding the social order, where these variations function as markers of identity, social status, and tools for building and maintaining relationships between individuals in a community.

Modern society is composed of layers or social stratifications that influence the way individuals speak. A simple example is the difference between when we use language at home and on campus. When we are in the home environment or society, with diverse individual backgrounds, of course we cannot speak various languages as used in academic environments. This will result in unequal understanding in reaching certain vocabulary or definitions to maintain stable communication flows. Ordinary people will be unfamiliar with hearing words such as rational, substance, variables, manifestations, and so on. Alternatively, it is necessary to look for other articulations, or change the logical point of view, for example by parables or reducing meaning to make it more practical.

In Indonesia, standard languages often occupy high variety positions used in education, government administration and law. Meanwhile, regional languages or informal conversational varieties function as low varieties used in the realm of family, friendship and solidarity. A concrete example can be seen in Javanese society which has a level of speech (undhak-usuk), which consists of a variety of Krama (smooth) used to honor older people or have high status. The Ngoko variety (rough/ordinary) is used by peers or younger people. This situation requires Indonesian speakers to become bilingual people who are capable of changing modes according to the realm of conversation.

Apart from situation factors, language variety also influences gender identity. Research shows that language incompatibility between men and women is often demonstrated in everyday interactions. In practice, women often use language that is often associated with the use of a more refined and polite vocabulary, sometimes even too hyperbolic. Meanwhile, men are synonymous with firmness, to the point, and even rudeness. This scheme is as proposed by Robin Lakoff in the 1970s. He observed "female language" which tends to use hedges (limiting words or phrases, such as "maybe," "somewhat") and tag questions (additional questions at the end of a sentence, such as; "right?", "yes?"). This is often interpreted as an expression of uncertainty and doubt in an effort to maintain social harmony and more intimate relationships.

The importance of understanding language varieties shows language skills beyond just mastery of grammar and vocabulary. As social creatures, we need deeper sensitivity to package what we want to say based on context and situation. As a mirror of people's lives, language records the cultural footprints, values and social hierarchies of its users. By understanding and adapting to these diversity, we can interact more effectively and empathetically. To value the variety of languages is to appreciate the complexity of human identity and the social structures that make it up, so that communication becomes not only an exchange of information, but also a bridge of understanding between people.

Author: Andika Pratama

Editor and Reviewer: Muhammad Husein Fadhlillah

Reference

Chaer, A., & Agustina, L. (1995). Sociolinguistics: An introduction. Rineka Cipta.

Herisetyanti, T., & Suharyati, H. (2019). Language Variety in Speech Components. Media Language, Literature and Culture Wahana, 25(2), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.33751/wahana.v25i2.1602

Lakoff, R. (1973). Language and Woman's place. Language in Society, 2(1), 45–79.

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