ABSTRACT
Strictly speaking, the speech pattern of one individual is somewhat different from the speech pattern of the next, even though the two speak the same language, and regional varieties of language differ from each other by features of vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. Often, people who live in the same geographic area, have similar occupations, or have the same education or economic status speak relatively similar idiolects compared to those from other groups. These shared characteristics may entail similarities in vocabulary, pronunciation, or grammatical features. The way individuals speak varies not only according to their regional and social dialects but also according to context. The distinctive manner in which people express themselves in a particular situation is referred to as style. Languages must have been in contact as long as there have been human beings. A common way in which individuals and groups interact across language boundaries is by means of a pidgin.
