 To study language in general, we should know about its theoretical foundations. One of the foundations is sociolinguistics. Every subject that you study, it has its theoretical foundation, whether it is psychology, whether it is sociology, different concepts, different theories, they provide support to that discipline. So, what are theoretical supports of this discipline? We now want to study them and one major theoretical support comes from sociolinguistics. Sociolinguistics studies how use of language varies in different contexts. Mainly, it is study of language variation. How our use of language changes according to use and user? Use and user. How variation in use carries cultural norms with it? Definitely, when we use language, we use language according to certain norms. So, along with use, we are also learning norms of use. Sociolinguistics tells us, particularly, the user's social location. Here, location does not mean geographical location. It is cultural location, social location, where that person stands in society with reference to class, gender, color, etc. Second, who the user is? First, what is his position place in society? Social category. Second, who the user is? The user's social identity. The user is a man, a woman, a doctor, a nurse, professional, etc. Does sociolinguistics have a specific link with our course? Yes, a big yes. Language and gender originated from feminist movement. This is the origin. And the origin of our course, language and gender, goes back to feminism. But it developed through linguistics. This relationship of our course with feminism was just a starting point. It was linguistics and especially sociolinguistics which further boosted it, promoted it. The linguists who brought feminism into linguistics, we called them feminist linguists. Most of these linguists, they are or they were sociolinguists. See some feminist linguists, so that you understand the contribution of sociolinguistics to language and gender. Here is Professor Debra Cameron, she is from UK. And on my left side, extreme left side is her image. And this is her recent work, life and language. And then next to her, we have Carol Chomsky. Carol Chomsky was wife of Norm Chomsky, a well-known American philosopher and linguist and political analyst. The whole world knows him. She was his wife. And her particular interest was language acquisition and gender. She is also counted among top gender scholars of US. And then next on extreme right, we have Robin Lackoff. She is also from US. It was she who first pointed out that women have their own specific language. The language of women becomes their identity.