What defines a speech community?

A speech community is defined as a group of people who use a particular dialect and share knowledge of communicative constraints. This definition emphasizes the shared linguistic practices of the group, which includes their specific dialect or variation of a language, as well as their mutual understanding of the social rules that govern communication within their community. Such norms can influence aspects like conversational style, turn-taking, and the appropriateness of language use in different contexts, thereby facilitating effective communication among the members of the community.

In contrast, the other options do not encapsulate the essence of a speech community. A group of people with different languages does not typically align with the concept of a speech community, as the focus is on shared linguistic features. Regarding idiolects, while they reflect individual language use, a speech community is more concerned with the group’s shared language practices rather than individual variations. Lastly, defining a group as one that only uses formal language structures ignores the diversity of language use within communities, which can often include both informal and formal varieties depending on context and social norms.