The role of social networks in language variation has been studied using a wide range of metrics. This study critically examines the effect of different dimensions of networks on different aspects of language variation. Three dimensions of personal network (ethnicity, nationality, diversity) are evaluated in relation to three levels of language structure (phonetic form, accent range, language choice) over three generations of British Asians. The results indicate a scaling of network influences. The two metrics relating to qualities of an individual's ties are more historically and culturally specific, whereas the network metric that relates to the structure of an individual's social world appears to exert a more general effect on accent repertoires across generations. This two-tier typology—network qualities (more culturally contingent) and network structures (more general)—facilitates an integrated understanding of previous studies and a more structured methodology for studying the effect of social networks on language.

中文翻译：

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社交网络对语言变异的标量效应

社交网络在语言变化中的作用已经使用广泛的指标进行了研究。本研究批判性地检验了网络的不同维度对语言变异不同方面的影响。个人网络的三个维度（种族、国籍、多样性）是根据三代英国亚洲人的语言结构（语音形式、口音范围、语言选择）的三个层次进行评估的。结果表明网络影响的扩展。与个人关系质量相关的两个指标在历史和文化上更具针对性，而与个人社会世界结构相关的网络指标似乎对跨代口音曲目产生更普遍的影响。