Variation in Language Acquisition

This volume, resulting from the fifth edition of the conference series Variation in Language Acquisition (ViLA), brings together research at the intersection of language acquisition and sociolinguistics. Work within the ViLA tradition explores how learners—from preschoolers to adult second-language users— produce, perceive, and evaluate socially meaningful language variation. Divided in two main parts, the contributions to this volume highlight a rich diversity of linguistic settings, methodological approaches, and learner profiles. Where Part I focuses on the acquisition of variation in children from age three to adolescence, Part II shifts the focus to the role of linguistic input and exposure in the acquisition process. Both parts showcase a broad methodological spectrum, from observational and experimental studies to qualitative and mixed-methods research. By deepening our understanding of the interplay between social context and linguistic development, the chapters in this volume both consolidate and inspire the growing research field of developmental sociolinguistics.