Linguistic variation is the study of the differences in language use that occur among speakers of a particular language. This research area examines how language varies across different social groups, regions, and time periods, as well as the factors that influence this variation. Linguistic variation can include differences in vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar, and syntax, and is often studied in sociolinguistics, dialectology, and historical linguistics. Researchers in this field seek to understand how and why languages change and evolve, and how variation in language use reflects social, cultural, and historical factors.