Variation is the norm in language. It is the universal trait that has never been embarrassed by
counterexamples. As language is a joint product of human cognition and human society the
dimensions underlying language variation could potentially reveal the complexity of the human
mind and defines us of what we are as cognitive and social beings be it Austrians speaking
German or Nepalis speaking Dumi. This volume includes eight papers highlighting three
dimensions underlying language variation. The linguistic dimension explores how language
changes across the physical time span and across linguistic breadth. The cognitive dimension
examines how the human mind handles experiential frequency and life experiences and how it
copes with suboptimal processing faculties. Finally the contextual dimension focuses on how
language interacts with its ambiance either in the form of geographical surroundings or in
the form of artistic styles. The uniqueness of this volume lies not only in its wide range of
dimensions investigated but also in its broad spectrum of languages covered. This enables us
to form a fuller understanding of how language evolves and interacts with human cognition.
