In linguistics we sometimes might seem to treat language as though it was nothing to do with people. It is seen as a sealed system, subject to its own rules.
Social context recognises that people use language and that language is a part of society. Social context tries to describe, and account for, the different ways that different people use language.
Social context looks at relationships between language and society and looks at language as people use it. It considers the relationship between a person’s language and their social identity.
We observe the way that people use language differently and try to explain why this is. This explaining is not always easy.
Social context asks