The way we speak is different between everyone. Different people from different places with different upbringings, learning different languages and different ways to speak, with different idiolects. There are so many things that are different among humans, but what causes us to speak the way we speak?
I was born in Japan, where people usually either speak English, or Japanese. Some people speak English with a Japanese accent, and others speak Japanese with an English accent. A lot of the way I speak is influenced by the people I am with. Though my accent used to sound a bit more Japanese while I had lived there, once I moved to Singapore, I quickly took on an English accent, as well as an american accent, completely dropping the Japanese accent. Which accent I used depends on the mood I’m in. When I’m annoyed, I tend to use an English accent more, and when I’m laid back I use an american accent. I usually don’t notice this myself because I don’t do it purpose.
My idiolect revolves a lot around using words that people generally understand, but putting them in a way that only a few know. For example, the term LOL, meaning laugh out loud, is something everyone should know. The term has a form of covert prestige when it is used that way. The way me or my friends would use it is in a very ironic way, and is sort of influenced by the fact that whenever people say “lol”, they usually aren’t actually laughing out loud.
One of my friends, James, grew up in the UK, and was generally around English people, which influenced a lot about his idiolect and who he is. A lot of the way he enunciates words are influenced by his accent which he gained by being with his family and friends. Both parents lived in England which helped develop and influence James’ accent. His dad can be quite formal but can also joke a lot of the times, which is very similar to him. His mother, being born and raised in Singapore, is able to speak in a Singlish accent, while still being able to hold an English accent. Like James’ father, she can also be speak very formally.
James’ explained how different his idiolect was to his sociolect, and how different he speaks to other people. It could be because of how strange our idiolects are compared to his, but other than that he says that his sociolect is influenced by the people he hangs out with, mostly being friends from school.