In studying sociolinguistic rules, researchers must be aware of some guiding principles: that (1) these rules are below the conscious level of awareness, and (2) rules of speaking differ across cultural groups, with none being more correct than another. Even when members of different cultural groups interact in the same language they may find it difficult to interpret the intended meaning of their culturally different interlocutors. Because sociolinguistic rules of speaking are largely unconscious, we are rarely aware of their existence until they are broken, and then we often react negatively. The study of sociolinguistic rules of speaking can contribute information about the interaction process and the situations in which interlocutors negotiate their relationships with each other. A study of the dynamics of speech behavior among middle class speakers of American English reveals qualitative differences between behavior with intimates, status-unequals, and strangers on the one hand and with non-intimates, status-equal friends, co-workers, and acquaintances on the other. This supports the idea that the extremes of social distance call forth similar behavior, while relationships toward the center show marked differences. Understanding sociolinguistic relativity is an important factor in understanding diversity of speech behavior. A 31-item bibliography is included. (MSE)