Language variety space

BASIC THESES:

1. There are many varieties of language, text, discourse.
2. These varieties are conditioned by groupings of speakers according to region (dialect), class (sociolect), and occupation (register).
3. Positions in variety space define a language variety with specific forms, and specific conventions of meaning and use.
4. Understanding of text and discourse, from conversation, through letters to hypertext, requires models of language functions as touchstones of quality.