A discussion of the social network concept in sociolinguistics is examined from the perspective of language variation. This perspective is taken to gain insight into the actual importance of networks in speech communities and a more thorough understanding of a sociolinguistic concept that has drawn increasing attention in recent years. First, the relevance of sociolinguistic research is examined; next, some aspects of micrological research are highlighted. Research carried out in four communities in Flanders is reported, and its findings are interpreted in light of the standardization process of Dutch and in the more general framework of the network concept. (Author/MSE)