The widespread usage of generative AI (genAI) challenges traditional notions of authorship, raising questions about how readers perceive and attribute textual origin. As this sociolinguistic issue is recognized by people, the study presented in this paper was initiated from a collaboration between professional researchers and citizens engaging in encounters discussing language-related social issues. Following a citizen sociolinguistic approach, we engaged 576 participants in a questionnaire study assessing their ability to distinguish AI-generated (GPT-3.5) from human-authored narrative texts in Hungarian. The results of the study show that respondents were significantly more successful than chance (66%) in identifying the author of the text regardless of their age, gender, occupation, or self-reported AI skills. However, the performance score was dependent on the author of the text, as AI-authored texts were identified more successfully than those written by humans. We also found that respondents preferred texts they believed to be human-authored over those they assumed to be generated by AI, demonstrating an anthropocentric bias. Beyond these results, the study highlights how the growing invisibilization of genAI technologies challenges long-standing ideas about authorship, even in the case of narrative texts. • Respondents identified the author with greater accuracy than random chance, but did not reach perfect accuracy. • Performance scores were not affected by respondents' occupation, gender, age, self-reported AI skills and AI literacy. • Performance scores were significantly higher for AI-generated texts compared to those authored by humans. • Respondents preferred texts they believed were written by a human over texts assumed to be written by AI.

ABSTRACT This article advances a methodological shift in narrative identity research by addressing the field’s protagonist bias – the tendency to rely on first-person autobiographical accounts as the primary evidence for identifying cultural master narratives. We integrate Erikson’s psychosocial identity framework, Vygotsky’s ‘tool and result’ methodological insight, and sociolinguistic approaches to narrative to develop a three-stage analytic logic: (1) identifying small-n narratives through scenes conveyed in discourse; (2) grouping these into Big-N narratives that cohere thematically across scenes; and (3) assessing candidate master narratives. We demonstrate this approach through a case example from an interview-based study on rural youth outmigration. Our approach broadens narrative sampling beyond first-person accounts, avoids assumptions about parallelism between personal and cultural narratives, and offers a method for tracing how master narratives circulate, gain normative force, and shape identity beyond protagonist storytelling in autobiographical interviews.

Historical and sociolinguistic approaches to French

Introduction This study examines ritualised gift-receiving in Jordanian Arabic as a site for the enactment of gendered moral personhood rather than merely a matter of politeness management. Methods Drawing on semi-structured interviews and scenario-based interactional reconstructions with 40 native speakers, equally divided by gender, the study analyses how participants respond linguistically to gifts and favours in everyday service and semi-service encounters. The analysis integrates interaction ritual theory with sociolinguistic approaches to gender and stance. Results Both men and women participate in the same ritual framework of insistence and refusal, but they follow different interactional trajectories. Men more often combine gratitude with minimisation, refusal, and closure, projecting restraint, autonomy, and non-entitlement. Women, by contrast, more often foreground extended appreciation, affective alignment, blessings, and relational reassurance, sustaining the exchange even while resisting material acceptance. Discussion Ritualised insistence in Jordanian Arabic thus operates as a flexible moral order accommodating multiple socially ratified forms of gendered enactment. Gift-receiving emerges not simply as politeness, but as a key interactional arena for displaying dignity, care, generosity, and relational responsibility within ordinary interpersonal and service-oriented social life.

This study analyzes how Carroll Shelby uses swear words in Ford v Ferrari, focusing on his interactions with his subordinate and his superiors. Using Pinker’s (2007) types of swear words and Holmes’s (2013) sociolinguistic approach, this study aims to identify the types and frequency of swear words, as well as the social factors and dimensions involved in both interactions. A descriptive qualitative method is applied by analyzing selected scenes from the movie. The findings show that Shelby uses three types of swear words, namely idiomatic, emphatic, and abusive, in interactions with both groups. The results further show that the overall frequency of swear words toward subordinates and superiors is not significantly different. Emphatic swearing is the most dominant type in both interactions, while abusive swearing is used more toward the subordinate. Overall, similarities in swearing patterns are more prominent than differences, showing that swearing is shaped by context and pressure.

This current research sought to examine the use of language and choice of languages in a common public Nigerian secondary school setting through a sociocultural and sociolinguistic framework, with special emphasis on the dynamics of bilingual practices, especially the interaction between English and Yoruba languages. This research was based on a qualitative case study research methodology with a component of quantitative data. The data was collected through observations of classes and semi-structured oral interviews of 120 students, 15 teachers, and 10 administrators and support staff of Osogbo Grammar School in Osun State, Nigeria. The results of the research showed that the school was a bilingual setting where situational and metaphorical code-switching were common. English was dominant in the formal sphere of the school, while Yoruba was dominant in the informal sphere. The research further showed that factors like educational goals, cultural identity, and prestige of languages were major determinants of the language preferences and attitudes of the students, teachers, and non-teaching staff. The research concluded that the language use of the Osogbo Grammar School reflects the general sociolinguistic patterns of multilingual communities.

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence has significantly transformed digital communication practices, particularly within social media environments. Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies are increasingly used to produce text, captions, and various forms of digital content, influencing how users communicate and create online discourse. This study investigates the role of generative AI in shaping digital communication patterns, social media content creation, and linguistic innovation in contemporary online environments. Using a qualitative sociolinguistic approach combined with communication analysis, the research examines digital interactions and AI-assisted content within social media platforms, with a focus on TikTok as a dynamic communication space. The findings indicate that generative AI contributes to noticeable changes in digital communication patterns. Messages tend to become more concise, structured, and frequently influenced by AI-generated templates. In addition, AI technologies play an important role in social media content creation by assisting users in generating captions, constructing narratives, and producing digital posts more efficiently. The integration of AI in communication processes also contributes to linguistic innovation, including the emergence of hybrid language forms, creative expressions, and new types of digital slang. These developments demonstrate that AI-mediated communication is increasingly shaping how language is used and adapted in digital environments. The study further highlights several sociolinguistic implications related to the growing presence of AI in communication practices, including transformations in digital identity, evolving forms of linguistic creativity, and broader cultural changes in online interaction. Overall, generative artificial intelligence functions not only as a technological tool for content production but also as a significant factor influencing the evolution of digital communication and language use in social media ecosystems.

The rapid expansion of digital communication has significantly influenced language use in urban societies, particularly among younger generations. This study investigates the transformation of urban dialects in digital communication among Generation Z and explores the sociolinguistic factors that contribute to these linguistic changes. Using a qualitative sociolinguistic approach supported by mixed methods, the research analyzes language patterns in online interactions, including social media conversations, digital posts, and participant interviews. The study focuses on identifying forms of dialect transformation and examining how digital environments shape linguistic innovation. The findings reveal that urban dialect transformation in digital communication occurs through several linguistic patterns, including digital abbreviations, code mixing, hybrid linguistic structures, and semantic shifts. These forms of language innovation reflect the adaptive and creative communication strategies used by young speakers in fast-paced digital environments. The results also demonstrate that social media platforms play a crucial role in accelerating language change by facilitating rapid dissemination of new expressions across online communities. Furthermore, the study identifies several sociolinguistic factors influencing language transformation, including generational identity, popular culture, digital interaction intensity, and global linguistic exposure. These factors contribute to the development of hybrid linguistic practices that blend elements of local dialects and global languages. The transformation of urban dialects also has implications for the construction of linguistic identity, as digital communication allows young people to express social belonging, generational affiliation, and community membership through language use. Overall, this research highlights the dynamic relationship between digital communication and language change in contemporary urban societies. The findings contribute to sociolinguistic scholarship by demonstrating how digital environments function as important spaces for linguistic innovation and identity formation among younger generations.

This study examines the harsh and vulgar language found in public graffiti in the capital of Kosovo, focusing on the linguistic analysis of slogans encountered on the walls of Pristina such as “Death to the oligarchs,” “Men kill women, the state remains silent,” “Fuck police,” “Porno,” “Adios mother fucker,” “Kill hip hop.” Employing a sociolinguistic and critical discourse perspective, we analyze the lexicon in use, the syntactic structures, and the semantic connotations of these phrases, as well as their stylistic and pragmatic functions within contexts of protest, rebellion, and identity expression. We discuss how Pristina’s graffiti shape public discourse and the local sociolinguistic milieu. The study also incorporates references to scholarly literature on vulgar language and urban art, alongside observations concerning Kosovo’s legislation on graffiti and offensive language in public spaces. Our findings indicate that the use of vulgar language in graffiti is closely tied to expressions of social and political discontent; their content is inherently protest- oriented, critical, or identity-driven, while the presence of profanities underscores a desire to shock the public and challenge the sanctioned norms of official discourse. Nevertheless, graffiti remain illegal in Kosovo and are frequently treated as property damage—evidenced by reports that “graffiti continue to be outlawed, and the police still arrest”. This phenomenon highlights the tensions between urban art as a form of free expression and the legal constraints imposed on public spaces. KEYWORDS: Public graffiti, vulgar language, linguistic analysis, sociolinguistic approach, critical discourse, protest and rebellion, identity expression, public discourse, Kosovo legislation

Background: This study analyzes the phenomenon of code-switching between Standard English (SE) and African American Vernacular English (AAVE) in the dialogue of the black maid character in Kathryn Stockett's novel The Help. Objective: The main focus of this study is to reveal how language use functions as an indicator of the transformation of character identity from a submissive position to one of resistance to racial oppression in 1960s Mississippi. Methods: Using a descriptive qualitative sociolinguistic approach, data from Aibileen Clark and Minny Jackson were collected through a listening-note technique and analyzed based on the interlocutors and narrative stages. The data were classified into three phases: a submissive phase characterized by SE accommodation for self-protection, a transition phase through intra-sentential switching negotiation, and a resistance phase that emphasized the use of strong AAVE features. Results: The research findings suggest that linguistic features such as zero copulas and double negatives are not merely dialectal variations, but rather instruments of symbolic power struggles and assertions of self-sovereignty. This shift in code-switching patterns reflects the evolution of the servants' collective identity from muted servants to individuals who boldly challenge racial and gender hierarchies. Conclusion: This study fills the gap in previous studies by integrating the analysis of linguistic features with the psychosocial dynamics of characters in the context of segregation.

This study investigates the unique English first names used by families in Zimbabwe, Kenya and Botswana. The majority of these names are first conceived in the first language spoken by the name-giver(s) such as Shona, Kikuyu, Setswana and Kalanga and then literally translated into English. This often results in unique English names which are hilarious. The research collected data through a random survey, focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with parents who have used some chosen names for their children. The collected data were analysed using socio-onomastics, a sociolinguistic approach that examines names through sociolinguistic lenses. The study found that unique English names which are first conceived in the name-giver’s first language are given to newborn babies by Shona-, Kikuyu-, Kalanga- and Setswana-speaking parents and are either coincidences or expressions of deep emotions related to sociocultural experiences such as infidelity, poverty, divorce, disease, barrenness and family feuds. The study also established that some individuals with these names avoid making reference to their names, or dislike being addressed by them. Instead, they resort to creative renaming, such as front or back clipping, abbreviations and acronyms, instead of their full names. This results in the creation of new English names that are later adopted by other families and given to their newborns. In addition, in cases where individuals with unique English names have multiple names, they abandon their unique English names and resort to using their middle Shona, Kiswahili, or Setswana names.

A key parameter to measure (dis)continuity between Romance languages and the ancestor language, Latin, is mood selection, especially the use of the subjunctive as opposed to the indicative according to syntactic environments and semantic meanings supposedly conveyed. This study explores the trajectory of mood selection in that-completive clauses from Latin to modern Romance languages, with a particular focus on Italian. It challenges the assumption that subjunctive selection is semantically motivated, highlighting recent variationist findings that identify the main clause verb’s lexical identity as the subjunctive’s major predictor. By employing a variationist sociolinguistic approach, this research delineates the evolution of subjunctive selection, revealing that contemporary patterns in Romance languages may reflect a continuation of lexicalization processes initiated in Vulgar Latin, rather than a recent desemanticization phenomenon. This analysis contributes a nuanced understanding of subjunctive selection, offering new perspectives on its function and evolution across Romance languages.

Introduction. The article is devoted to the analysis of nominations referring to persons with disabilities in the modern German language. The aim of the study was to identify the main structural features of these nominations, their semantics and functioning across various discourse types. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the integrated approach to the study of nominations, combining linguistic and socially oriented parameters of analysis. The relevance of the study is due to the growing attention of society to issues of inclusion and the need to form a correct linguistic norm regarding the designation of persons with disabilities. Methodology and sources. The methodological framework of the study is the cognitive, pragmatic and sociolinguistic approaches, allowing to consider the nomination as a result of the interaction of language and social representations. The empirical basis of the study is German-language texts of medical, legal and media discourses. The data were collected through continuous sampling from six publications about people with disabilities. The analysis includes the systematisation of the identified designations, the determination of their discursive functions and their interpretation within contemporary linguistic practice. Results and discussion. The total number of extracted nominations was 209 units. The obtained results show that the analysed texts are dominated by neutral and inclusive nominations aimed at emphasising the individual rather than his/her health problems. Legal texts are dominated by nominations established by law, reflecting the legal status of persons with disabilities. Medical texts demonstrate a high level of detail in describing the disabilities of individuals, which is reflected in their designations. In media texts, a combination of neutral and evaluative nominations is observed, which is associated with the influence of social stereotypes and emotions. Conclusion. The obtained results indicate the formation of an inclusive norm in the German language, focused on respectful and neutral designation of disability. Nominations serve as an important tool for representing individuals and reflect dynamic changes in society.

This study examines the sociolinguistic approach based on Kitābun Marqūm developed in order to improve Arabic digital literacy among university students. Using an explanatory sequential mixed methods design, quantitative data related to learning gains were collected through a quasi-experimental pre-test–post-test control group design, which was then followed up with a qualitative inquiry in order to explain and contextualize the statistical findings. Quantitative results showed that the students who are taught using Kitābun Marqūm's sociolinguistic approach make significantly better gains in digital literacy than those learning through a non-sociolinguistic approach, as shown by t-test and N-Gain scores. Qualitative results demonstrate that the CAF (complexity, accuracy, fluency) gains were due to sociolinguistic awareness, use of digital Arabic texts, and contextualized meaning-making, and indicate limitations related to technology infrastructure and access. Instead of advocating a one-size-fits-all model, the study promotes a context-specific pedagogical approach referred to as Sociotechnical Arabic Literacy (SAL), which encourages sociotechnolinguistic and digital technology literacies and uses AI-supported solutions that aim not only at fostering an informed understanding and critical use of digital media in Arabic but also at promoting a broader sociopolitical awareness of the world. The findings add to the emerging discussion on sociotechnical aspects of language learning in digitally enhanced ecologies.

This study focuses on the discussion of language attitudes, ideologies, and general discourse patterns surrounding the Kazakh language in sociolinguistic research. Additionally, the research aims to determine how and in what contexts different subfields of sociolinguistics approach Kazakh from their own contextual perspectives. The discourse analytical approach used is the Seven Building Tasks. The findings demonstrate varied approaches to Kazakh in sociolinguistic research discourse in general and across specific subfields. The analysis of twenty scholarly articles revealed the recurring patterns in how Kazakh is linked to policies and identity issues. The structured framework for linguistic attitudes and ideologies demonstrates predominantly positive scholarly attitudes towards Kazakh, as it was recognized as vital for national development. The results of this study contribute to the development of the fields of sociolinguistics and discourse analysis in Kazakhstan by providing an in-depth exploration of how the Kazakh language is discursively constructed in academic literature.

This study explores the impact of digital media on the linguistic development of of undergraduate students at the Faculty of Humanities at “Ismail Qemali” University, Vlora. Using a sociolinguistic approach, the research analyzes the use of anglicisms, abbreviations, and visual symbols (emojis) in new forms of online communication that are shaping the students’ everyday language. Data were collected through questionnaires and content analysis of posts on social networks. The results show a clear trend toward language informalization of language and the impact of technology on the structure and pragmatics of spoken and written Albanian. The results show that digital media is not only a means of communication, but also a powerful factor in the transformation of linguistic structures and cultural identity. Ultimately, this study is indicative of how digital media has influenced lexical lexical enrichment, syntactic simplification, and the creation of a hybrid linguistic identity.

This article examines the history and development of Colloquial Arabic (ʿĀmmiyya) usage and the role of Islamic education within the Diponegoro Islamic Education Foundation (YPID) in Pasar Kliwon, Surakarta. Known as the “Arab Quarter,” this area has long served as a site of interaction between the Arab-Hadrami community and Javanese society. Using historical and sociolinguistic approaches, the study shows how language and education function as two key media for building social integration and cultural identity from 1966 through the 2020s. The findings indicate that the everyday use of ʿAmmiyya among Surakarta’s Arab community has shifted in tandem with the community’s growing integration with local society. At the same time, Islamic educational institutions such as YPID have played a strategic role as multicultural bridges, sustaining cultural identity while fostering social harmony within a diverse Muslim context.

Arabic-Indonesian code-switching on Instagram illustrates dynamic bilingual practices within Islamic communities, yet often fuels ideological contestation in Indonesia, occasionally erroneously linked to radicalism by state authorities. This study examines the linguistic forms and ideological dimensions of code-switching among Salafi (@muslimorid) and Nahdlatul Ulama (@nuonline_id) communities, using a sociolinguistic approach that combines code-switching theory, Islamic ideological frameworks, and critical discourse analysis to explore language structures and power relations. Through a qualitative-comparative design, 366 Instagram posts and comments were examined using Spradley’s ethnographic method, which systematically analyzes domains, taxonomies, componential analysis, and cultural themes, and Sudaryanto’s distributional method, which examines frequency and distribution of linguistic units. Findings identify seven code-switching forms: textual segment switching, clause-level switching, non-hybrid phrase switching, hybrid phrase switching, non-hybrid lexical insertion, hybrid lexical insertion, and formulaic insertion. Code-switching in Salafi and NU digital discourse reflects ideological orientations, with Salafi favoring hybrid phrases and formulaic insertions emphasizing personal identity, while NU primarily uses non-hybrid phrases and lexical insertions linked to fiqh and classical texts. This study affirms code-switching as a discursive map of religious ideology with global implications for discourse studies, Arabic language pedagogy, and inclusive digital Islamic outreach strategies.

This research aims to enhance multicultural awareness for university students through the integration of Pro-Tech Learning in sociolinguistic instruction. A qualitative classroom action research design was employed through two instructional cycles consisting of planning, action, observation, and reflection. The participants were 19 undergraduate students of the English Language Education Department enrolled in a sociolinguistics course. Data were collected using questionnaires, classroom observations, performance-based projects, interviews, and documentation. The data were analyzed through descriptive quantitative analysis and paired-sample t-tests, supported by thematic qualitative analysis. The findings reveal a significant improvement in students’ sociolinguistic conceptual understanding, learning engagement, and technology integration after the implementation of Pro-Tech Learning. Students demonstrated stronger critical analysis of sociolinguistic phenomena, increased tolerance, and greater sensitivity toward cultural and linguistic diversity. This study concludes that integrating Pro-Tech Learning with practitioner involvement effectively bridges theoretical knowledge and real-world sociolinguistic practice, thereby fostering inclusive and multicultural-oriented learning in higher education.

Discrimination based on accent is a recurring sociolinguistic issue in multilingual cultures that stigmatizes regional accents and associates them with poor competence or social degradation. Such bias in the Philippine context shapes how speakers are appraised in both day-to-day and media interactions. The paper employs Empowerment Theory as the theoretical framework to analyze how accent stigma might be redefined as identity empowerment through the mediated speech of Filipino TV celebrity Melai Cantiveros Francisco. It explores the role of her linguistic and extralinguistic resources as means of signifying empowered authenticity, including speech patterns, diction, humor, body language, and audience engagement. The study was conducted following an Interactional Sociolinguistics approach, employing a qualitative discourse-analytic design. As the main data, two publicly available episodes of the Magandang Buhay talk show on YouTube were used. The videos were selected based on premeditation, transcribed at their natural frequency, and analyzed through repeated coding, in which empowerment-specific aspects were identified in both the power of speech and the non-speech of verbal and nonverbal interactions. The results show three interconnected dimensions of empowerment: intrapersonal (self-efficacy and confidence, as reflected in the retention of accents and stance), interactional (social validation and supportive alignment with co-participants and interactional framing), and behavioral (consistent authenticity and agency across communicative situations). Taken together, these trends show that a regionalist accent does not function as a deficit but rather serves as an interactional tool for self construction and validity within the discourse. The paper identifies how the empowered accent performance conveys the current ideology of the standard language in a negative manner and shifts toward a scenario in which the regional voice is treated as a positive attribute of originality. The findings contribute to knowledge of linguistic identity formation in Philippine media and underscore the importance of inclusive media practices that recognize linguistic diversity as a tool of social empowerment.