Exploring sociolects in audiovisual texts. A new concept?

Abstract

This article is based on a consideration of the audiovisual text as a system in which different signifying codes converge, giving it a multimodal nature. Studies on the nature of the audiovisual text have addressed a multitude of aspects to date, although there are still concepts to be explained within the audiovisual paradigm. One such aspect has to do with varieties of language, specifically with the notion of sociolect. After a review of the literature, fragments of television sitcoms will be analysed to observe the possible audiovisual nature of the given sociolect. Specifically, it will be illustrated how language levels, slang, and scientific-technical language deal with audiovisual humour. The idea will be fostered that in this type of text, sociolects go beyond the linguistic scope and connect with the aural and visual dimensions. Accordingly, phenomena such as humour can be constructed thanks to elements that surpass a purely linguistic conception of sociolects.