Abstract
<jats:p>This article examines the formation and development of the concept of social differentiation of language, its theoretical foundations, and its scientific evolution. The purpose of the study is to analyze the formation of scholarly views on the social differentiation of language and, by generalizing the main theoretical approaches in world linguistics, to identify the specific features of the development of sociolinguistic ideas in Kazakh linguistics. The research employs methods of historical-comparative analysis, systematization of scientific literature, and sociolinguistic analysis. The article explores the relationship between language functioning in society and social structure, demonstrating that differences in language use among various social groups, professional environments, age groups, educational levels, as well as cultural and historical conditions represent the main manifestations of the social differentiation of language. The study analyzes the works of foreign scholars who made significant contributions to the development of theoretical ideas about the social stratification of language, including I.A.Baudouin de Courtenay, A.Meillet, E.Sapir, W.Labov, and L.P.Krysin. In addition, the article examines the stages in the formation and development of sociolinguistic ideas in Kazakh linguistics and analyzes scientific views on the social differentiation of language in the works of A.Baitursynuly, K.Zhubanuly, and B.Khasanuly. The results of the study show that the social differentiation of language reflects the social structure of society, while language changes are closely related to historical, cultural, and political factors. The findings of the research can be applied in studying the functioning of the Kazakh language in the contemporary social space, its use among different social groups, and the characteristics of language communication in new communicative environments such as the Internet, social networks, and professional communities. The scientific significance of the article lies in the comprehensive consideration of the social differentiation of language within the historical and contemporary context of the development of Kazakh linguistics.</jats:p>