Definition of Sociolinguistics
Dell Hymes
A socially constituted linguistics is concerned with social as well as referential meaning, and with language as part of communicative conduct and 
social action. Its task is the thorough going critique of received notions and practices, from the standpoint of social meaning, that is, from a functional 
perspective.
Context of situation (Bronislaw Malinowski)
Context refers to the situation, within which language functions. It may be physical/environmental, social context or institutional situation
Linguistic Context (Linguistic environment): the set of words in the same sentence or utterance
 Example : the word “shoot” dribble
goal
over the bar
1. Interpersonal Context : Psychological considerations that influence speech or talk (happy, sad, bord, 
excited) 
Situational/socio-cultural Context : socio-cultural considerations. The context of culture includes 
beliefs, value system, religion, conventions
Institutional Context : the context in some specialized kind of settings like educational institutions
(University, collage, faculty etc)