Final answer:
Sociolinguistics and linguistic anthropology are fields of study focused on the relationship between language, society, and culture. Sociolinguists analyze variation in language use among social groups, while linguistic anthropologists study language's role within broader cultural practices and its influence on social identities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Individuals who study language in its social and cultural contexts are known as sociolinguists or linguistic anthropologists. Sociolinguistics is the subfield of linguistics that explores how language use varies depending on social factors like age, gender, class, and race and is crucial for understanding the dynamic nature of language in different social situations. In contrast, linguistic anthropology examines language as part of broader cultural processes, considering language one aspect of complex, sociocultural life. This field involves analyzing how language shapes and is shaped by social identities and cultural norms.
Linguistic anthropologists research the role language plays in everyday life, from formal speeches at ceremonies to casual conversations, observing how people use language to navigate their social worlds. Another aspect addressed by scholars in this field is linguistic relativity, which implies that language reflects and influences the way individuals perceive and interact with their world, different across cultures due to diverse environmental, historical, and sociocultural conditions.