This paper re-examines the question of the presence of distinct sociolects in Classical Athenian tragedy (Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides). While the general idea is that all characters in tragedy spoke a similar language, without much distinction between sociolects that could have marked their socio-political status, some recent research has nonetheless highlighted a number of ways in which characters from different backgrounds do indeed speak differently.
Thanks to a digital tool built by Audric Wannaz (available in OA upon completion), we have been able to measure significant differences in the ‘degree of complexity’ (rarity of words and POS, length of sentences) of the discourses uttered by various characters in the tragedies of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides.
While our data only point at slight differences in sociolects, we could nonetheless highlight relevant patterns that seem to encourage the idea that some groups of characters (defined by status, or opposition between mortal/divine) spoke markedly differently from others.