An idiolect is a specific variant of a language that is used by one person. Language can be expressed through unusual wording of sentences or pronunciation. Also, an idiolect in linguistics consists of individual catchphrases or idioms that a person invents himself or remakes well-known ones in his own way.
General information
Every person has his own idiolect, different from others. And this does not apply to some made-up words. Namely, those whose meaning no one knows. Idiolect is a special construction of sentences, different from other pronunciation of words. This concept in the process of its development can become a dialect, that is, such a construction of speech will be acceptable for family members and friends.
Idiolect is often used in legal proceedings. This is necessary to understand whether the submitted text or its transcript really belongs to a particular person. For example, the confession to Dereka Bentley was different from his usual idiolect, and that is why the deepest apologies were sent to him posthumously.
This process is sometimes invisible in the flow of speech. But it also happens when frequently used phrases are attributed as nicknames to famous people.
Idiolect is a part of any language?
Everyone looks at the appearance of an idiolect from a different angle. Therefore, it is believed that the concept appeared on the basis of some linguistic ideas recognized by the standard. There is also a judgment that the language itself consists of a set of idiolects, they just change due to the individual qualities of people.
In line with these ideas, many researchers suggest that the truth lies somewhere in between. Despite this, language analysis is carried out using only two points of view. There can be no question of any middle or only one of the two representations. The first assumption, in truth, is the usual one for many scientists.
The second idea about the idiolect is the necessary basis for analyzing the evolutionary processes of the language, its genesis. There is a specially developed model for this - the existence of a particular language continues due to the presence in it of many idiolects that have a number of common features. The overall evolution of a language is determined by the fact that its components undergo a process of modification. Idiolects, by their properties, can contact other, similar ones, which is why they change.
The situation today
Currently, there is no exact point of view on this concept, and there has not yet been a general theory of communication that would include a section withidiolects. Despite this, this term is popular, as it is actively used by every person at an unconscious level. In linguistics, the idiolect is a fundamental concept for the analysis of language.
