social v. societal

[englishman]

I've always considered "societal" to be an unpleasant abomination of a word, which should always be replaced with the word "social" - however, I'm willing to be convinced that there's a need for "societal".

Is there any real difference in meaning between the two ? Examples welcome.

 

[river]

According to the dictionary, these words sound very similar: Social - concerned with the mutual relations of human beings. Sounds like of society. Societal - relating to or dealing with society. Sounds like of society.

I hear of societal influences or concerns, but it seems social would work there too.

 

[ullex]

Social seems more limited than societal; Or, perhaps, only more particular. A social interaction is gernally more limited (comparable to interpersonal encounters, even), while a societal interaction is an interaction with a society on a bigger level (such as mass interactions). Synonyms for societal include nationwide, vernacular, and widespread. Synonyms for social, however, are common, neighborly, familiar, and the like.

 

[A-friend]

Hi there
I was wondering what is the difference between:

a. societal norms
b. social norms

or

c. societal behavior/life/disease etc.
d. social behavior/life/disease etc.

To me, each sentence means the same as its corresponding sentence in each set.

 

[Myridon]

Hi there
I was wondering what is the difference between:

a. societal norms
b. social norms

With no context and no sentences (corresponding or otherwise), I would take phrase a. to mean the norms related to an entire society and phrase b. to be the norms for social (interpersonal) interaction.

 

[A-friend]

With no context and no sentences (corresponding or otherwise), I would take phrase a. to mean the norms related to an entire society and phrase b. to be the norms for social (interpersonal) interaction.

Hi Myridon
Thank you very much. I got the point.

 

[dojibear]

"Societal" means "of a society". Each society has many characteristics. Those things vary drastically between different societies (different cultures) on earth. Is the staple food wheat noodles, wheat bread, or rice? What is the clothing like?

To me, "social" is more local. It is about how people interact in one sub-section of one society. For example there are different "social rules" and "social norms" for upper-crust people (the rich and famous), for street bums, for college students, for blue-coller manual laborers, and for white-coller office workers. That is 5 sets of "social rules/norms", just in one country (one society).

 

[sound shift]

'Societal' strikes me as a learned/academic word: I only come across it in serious writing. I have never heard it in a conversation. 'Social' sounds like an ordinary word.

 

[A-friend]

'Societal' strikes me as a learned/academic word: I only come across it in serious writing. I have never heard it in a conversation. 'Social' sounds like an ordinary word.

But sound shift, I wonder if "social" can be used always instead of "societal".

 

[sound shift]

But sound shift, I wonder if "social" can be used always instead of "societal".

No, I don't think it can. But I am not the best person to ask, as the groups to which I belong have no use for the word 'societal'.

 

[PaulQ]

I've always considered "societal" to be an unpleasant abomination of a word, which should always be replaced with the word "social"

1959 Sunday Times 22 Nov. 16/4 His [sc. Kipling's] passion..for the values of what D. H. Lawrence (borrowing the revolting word from Dr. Trigant Burrow) called ‘societal man’.

It is not possible to replace societal with social and maintain the same meaning.

I wonder if "social" can be used always instead of "societal".

You will see that this is not possible.

Social implies the interactions between members of society.
Societal implies the composite action of society as a whole.