ABSTRACT
While social variables are critical for any sociolinguistic study, their inclusion or exclusion as well as uncovering their meaning and significance can sometimes be challenging. The difficulty of grouping speakers into social classes has led some researchers to adopt different methods of grouping such as social networks, life-modes, and communities of practice. In small communities, such as Oyoun Al-Wadi, researchers may have to take different approaches to social class because although people may vary socioeconomically, they live in a small area, are all in contact with each other, and may be related to each other. They follow the same rhythm of life. They all participate in a local funeral. They all are invited to the same wedding. Thus, linguistic differences may not depend on their socioeconomic status as much as they may depend on the people they are in constant contact with, on the social identity they intend to reflect, or on the strength of attachment to their locale.
