Varijacije

Varijacije is the plural form of varijacija in several South Slavic languages, including Croatian, Serbian, and Bosnian. The word translates roughly as variations, deviations, or alterations. In scholarly and everyday usage, varijacije denotes different expressions or forms that originate from a common source, statement, or theme.

In music, varijacije describe a technique in which a theme is introduced and then repeated with changes in melody, harmony, rhythm, or texture. The form, often called a theme and variations, appears in works from the Baroque period to modern repertoire and can vary in degree and style of elaboration.

In mathematics, the term is used in the calculus of variations, where varijacije are small perturbations of a function or functional. By studying the effects of these changes, researchers determine extrema. This approach yields foundational tools such as the Euler–Lagrange equation and variational principles.

In linguistics, varijacije refer to language variation across dialects, sociolects, or registers, including differences in pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary. In biology and genetics, varijacije describe differences among individuals or populations, such as genetic variation, which provides material for natural selection and evolution.