Sociolinguistics: Language and its speakers. Cases of variation in nahuatl and cuicatec Marcela San Giacomo Trinidad

Abstract

In this article I study of linguistic phenomena that link internal (grammatical) with external factors (socio-cultural, geographic, etc.), and endeavor to account for such phenomena holistically. Specifically, I present two case studies, one regarding Spanish loans in Nahuatl and another on Cuicatec’s phonetic variation where I apply this analytical model. Finally, I conclude that while there are linguistic phenomena that are independent of their socio-cultural context, there are many other phenomena, where it is necessary to explain the link through linguistic and non-linguistic factors that define and restrict them. Any linguistic research, regardless of the perspective from which it develops, must be anchored in the language. The dichotomy of language versus context is a false problem, the link between the two, from my perspective, is indivisible.