The Relationship between Social Psychology and Language

Authors : Esra Küçüksakarya

Pages : 18-27

View : 58 | Download : 34

Publication Date : 2025-06-30

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Understanding the nature of language as an action and thinking about the world that shapes reality seems to be inseparable parts of social psychology. Although conversation intersects with psychology, linguistics, and sociology in many ways, participating in a conversation demands more than just linguistic competence or the psychological inclination to engage with others. It requires additional skills beyond mere linguistic knowledge and usage of language. There are many approaches to the interface between social psychology and language. Three major approaches are as follows: Communication Accommodation Theory (CAT), Language Style Matching (LSM), and Discursive Psychology utilizing Conversation Analysis (DPCA) (Gasiorek et al., 2021). This paper overviews sociological and psychological perspectives on language- related issues building the bridge between social psychology and language. Language plays a key role in gathering social psychological data, but its impact on this process is less obvious. Gaining insight into how we use language can enhance our comprehension of what it means to function as a social being. Together with this aim, the main objective behind the social psychology of language is regarding language as a behavior influenced by other people and as a tool for affecting others’ behavior mutually. That’s why, the primary themes in this field could be seen as language use as an action, an interpersonal action, a context- dependent action, a coordinated action, and a deliberate action. To this end, in the current paper in addition to presenting a general overview, suggestions are made for developing the field taking the missing or challenging points into account.
Keywords : Sosyal Psikoloji, Dil, Dilbilim, İletişim

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