--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We focus upon pairs of words very often…" description: "\"We focus upon pairs of words very often which are the same in some areas and different in other areas.\" — William Labov" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07d/william-labov-38600_areas_we-focus-upon-pairs-of-words-very-often_2237794.png" --- # We focus upon pairs of words very often which are the same… ![“We focus upon pairs of words very often which are the same in some areas and different in other areas.” quote by William Labov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07d/william-labov-38600_areas_we-focus-upon-pairs-of-words-very-often_2237794.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07d/william-labov-38600_areas_we-focus-upon-pairs-of-words-very-often_2237794.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07d/william-labov-38600_areas_we-focus-upon-pairs-of-words-very-often_2237794.png) > “We focus upon pairs of words very often which are the same in some areas and different in other areas.” [William Labov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-labov/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Language varies across contexts; words can be identical in meaning yet differ in usage. **In simple terms:** Words can be same meaning but used differently. Key Takeaway Notice context in communication. Themes language communication variation context Mood analytical curious Type educational observational When to use this quote - teaching - translation - marketing - cross‑cultural dialogue Key Concepts Sociolinguistics semantic shift Questions to Reflect On - How does context change word meaning? - When do you assume words mean the same? A Different Perspective Words may mislead if context ignored. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Areas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/areas/) [Areas Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/areas-different-4555998/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Different Areas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-areas-451521/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Focus Pairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus-pairs-5059934/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Pairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pairs/) [Pairs Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pairs-words-5059933/) [Words Areas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-areas-5059935/) ## Related quotes > [The logic for me, in writing it is that the different areas or different years are almost like different rooms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-brooker/the-logic-for-me-in-writing-it-is-that-the-different-areas-or/) [Charlie Brooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-brooker/) > [Our future can't be separated from the fact that we are all going to be increasingly compacted into urban areas, though we're different in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/our-future-can-t-be-separated-from-the-fact-that-we-are-all-going-to/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [Different areas present us with possibilities to test different theories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torbjorn-tannsjo/different-areas-present-us-with-possibilities-to-test-different/) [Torbjorn Tannsjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torbjorn-tannsjo/) > [Country music, like rock or blues, can move over into a lot of different areas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dusty-hill/country-music-like-rock-or-blues-can-move-over-into-a-lot-of/) [Dusty Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dusty-hill/) > [I've always created solo work. When I first came to New York I was working in a few different areas; I was working as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-e-brown/i-ve-always-created-solo-work-when-i-first-came-to-new-york-i-was/) [Guillermo E. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-e-brown/) > [Some of the best ideas throughout the company's evolution have been from places all throughout the company whether it's an engineer or someone on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zuckerberg/some-of-the-best-ideas-throughout-the-company-s-evolution-have-been/) [Mark Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zuckerberg/) > [A performer, that's what I am, only I can perform in different areas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-allen/a-performer-that-s-what-i-am-only-i-can-perform-in-different-areas/) [Keith Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-allen/) > [Any performer would love to have the opportunity to be able to express themselves in many different areas. If you feel confident in those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-cranston/any-performer-would-love-to-have-the-opportunity-to-be-able-to/) [Bryan Cranston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-cranston/) > [I got involved in lots of different areas round about 2007, 2008. Just working with lots of different people and stretching myself in different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-jackson/i-got-involved-in-lots-of-different-areas-round-about-2007-2008-just/) [Stevie Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-jackson/) > [I like to combine different aspects in my work, to cover different areas, but I do see them as being separate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-nauman/i-like-to-combine-different-aspects-in-my-work-to-cover-different/) [Bruce Nauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-nauman/) > [I try to just find motivation in different areas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-harris/i-try-to-just-find-motivation-in-different-areas/) [Tobias Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-harris/) > [Analytics, math, science has gone into a lot of different areas of the NBA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-korver/analytics-math-science-has-gone-into-a-lot-of-different-areas-of-the/) [Kyle Korver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-korver/) > [I get noticed for different things I've done in different areas of town. If I'm in a rock club, it'll be Skid Row, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-bach/i-get-noticed-for-different-things-i-ve-done-in-different-areas-of/) [Sebastian Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-bach/) > [When we go to different areas and look at doing period pieces and movies shot in other states and locations, even overseas, it's hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-kendrick/when-we-go-to-different-areas-and-look-at-doing-period-pieces-and/) [Alex Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-kendrick/) > [I do like to be creative and I'm very lucky that I've been given different areas in which I'm able to do that -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-o-brien/i-do-like-to-be-creative-and-i-m-very-lucky-that-i-ve-been-given/) [Richard O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-o-brien/) ## More by William Labov > [And instead of getting a pepper-and-salt effect, we find very clear and sharp divisions between the dialects of the United States, which are getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-labov/and-instead-of-getting-a-pepper-and-salt-effect-we-find-very-clear/) [William Labov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-labov/) > [“possible topics around which the currents of speech may flow: Death and the danger of death: violence, fighting, sickness, fear, dreams, premonitions and communication…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-labov/possible-topics-around-which-the-currents-of-speech-may-flow-death/) [William Labov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-labov/) > [I have resisted the term sociolinguistics for many years, since it implies that there can be a successful linguistic theory or practice which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-labov/i-have-resisted-the-term-sociolinguistics-for-many-years-since-it/) [William Labov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-labov/) > [Well, American dialects have been studied for a hundred years or so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-labov/well-american-dialects-have-been-studied-for-a-hundred-years-or-so/) [William Labov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-labov/) > [It appears that the present-day form of African American English is not the inheritance of the period of slavery, but the creation of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-labov/it-appears-that-the-present-day-form-of-african-american-english-is/) [William Labov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-labov/) > [However, research in the years that followed found that in many of its important features, African American Vernacular English was becoming not less, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-labov/however-research-in-the-years-that-followed-found-that-in-many-of-its/) [William Labov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-labov/) > [I am now completing research supported by NSF and NEH that is mapping changes in the English language through all of North America, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-labov/i-am-now-completing-research-supported-by-nsf-and-neh-that-is-mapping/) [William Labov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-labov/) > [An important aspect of the current situation is the strong social reaction against suggestions that the home language of African American children be used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-labov/an-important-aspect-of-the-current-situation-is-the-strong-social/) [William Labov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-labov/) > [But unlike European countries, America has never finished a map of the United States, only the eastern United States is covered and a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-labov/but-unlike-european-countries-america-has-never-finished-a-map-of-the/) [William Labov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-labov/) > [This African American Vernacular English shares most of its grammar and vocabulary with other dialects of English. But it is distinct in many ways,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-labov/this-african-american-vernacular-english-shares-most-of-its-grammar/) [William Labov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-labov/) [Explore all 11 William Labov quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-labov/) ## More Areas quotes > [The very purpose for being in this body, for every one of us, is to live and rejoice in that virgin area, that untouched,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/the-very-purpose-for-being-in-this-body-for-every-one-of-us-is-to/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [I am somewhat influenced by the years that I've spent trying to actually get things done, whether it was reforming education in Arkansas or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-am-somewhat-influenced-by-the-years-that-i-ve-spent-trying-to/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [The earliest language was body language and, since this language is the language of questions, if we limit the questions, and if we only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-freire/the-earliest-language-was-body-language-and-since-this-language-is/) [Paulo Freire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-freire/) > [This ball was so crowded that it took me - a trained professional journalist with vast experience in this area - forty five minutes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/this-ball-was-so-crowded-that-it-took-me-a-trained-professional/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [People don't want to believe that technology is broken. 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