Embodiment and the V.A.R.I.E.S. Model of Language and Culture Variation
Don and Alleen Nilsen are suggesting the VARIES acronym to explain how embodiment affects language variation. The VARIES acronym explains linguistic diversity in the following ways:
V-VOCATIONAL JARGON AND HUMOR
Computer Guys, Doctors, Lawyers, Linguists, Teachers
A-AGE-RELATED LANGUAGE AND HUMOR
Children, Teenagers, Old People
R-REGIONAL LANGUAGE AND HUMOR
California, Canada, New York, South
I-INFORMAL OR FORMAL LANGUAGE AND HUMOR
Casual Acquaintances, Lovers, Friends, Relatives
E-ETHNIC LANGUAGE AND HUMOR
Blacks, Jews, Mexicans, Native Americans
S-SEX-RELATED LANGUAGE AND HUMOR
Males, Females, Lesbians, Gays
Give examples of how our world view is affected by our bodies: tall vs. short, fat vs. skinny, old vs. young, athletic vs. intellectual, boy vs. girl, etc.