Adegbite Sociolinguistics and the Sociology of Language

There is generally a large body of studies on the origin, nature and properties of language that to represent them all might distract attention from the main concern of this book. See, for example, Jesperson (1922), Bloomfield (1933), Crystal (1971), Yule (1985) and Encyclopaedia Britannica 10. Most often, definitions or explanations on language have depended on the concern of the scholar. For example, a psychologist may see it as an instrument of thought or representation of behaviour or performance; an educationist may see it as a medium of instruction or subject to be learnt; a philosopher may see it as the vehicle of reason or experience; and a sociologist may see it as a means of communication in society. As a working definition in this book, it would suffice to describe language as a means of social communication through vocal sounds and symbols; it is an instrument of thought and experience used in the perception, organisation, coding and recording of thoughts and experience.