Language, Dialects, Registers, and Idiolects

Language, Dialects, Registers, and Idiolects LANGUAGE: “A code whereby ideas…are represented through a conventional, rule-based, system of arbitrary symbols for communication.”

DIALECT: A variation of a language. • Regional dialects • Pacific northwest (Oregon, Montana…) • Pacific southwest (California, Nevada…) • Central plains (Nebraska, Kansas…) • North central (Minnesota, Dakotas…) • South central (Kentucky, Tennessee…) • Southern (Louisiana, Alabama…) • New England (Maine, New Hampshire…) • New York City • Mid-Atlantic (New Jersey, Delaware…) • Western Pennsylvania • Appalachian (Virgina, North Carolina…) • Ethnic dialects • African-American English • Asian English • Hispanic English

IDIOLECT: Each individual’s own dialect, affected by numerous variables. • Where have you lived? • Where did your parents grow up? • Who were your friends? Where did they grow up? • What languages do you know?

REGISTER: Styles of speech, adjusted to the needs of our listeners How does your speech change when you talk to • Your pastor? • Your mom? • Your roommate? • Your college professor? • Your waitress? • Your best friend? • Your 3 year old niece?

Regional Dialect Classes • General American (Standard American) • Pacific NW, Pacific SW, Central, North Central • Eastern American • New England, New York City, Mid-Atlantic, Western Pennsylvania • Southern American • South Central, Southern, Appalachian

Eastern American dialect sample http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1V-4boT_ts

Ethnic/Cultural Dialects • African-American Dialect • Black English • Ebonics • African-American Vernacular • Asian English • Affected by first language • Hispanic English • Affected by first language

Asian English dialect sample http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46WcFObgYhI

Sample of AAE bathe /bev/ pen /pn/ skates /sket/ zipper /zpo/ egg // tame /te/

Sample of HE van /b/ bead /bit/ cheese /tis/ yellow // feather /f/

Sample of British English http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OBlgSz8sSM&feature=related

Bilingual Phonology • Divided into 2 groups • Simultaneous bilinguals • Successive bilinguals • Simultaneous • Single systems til 50 word lexicon • Dialect affected by exposure to each language • 3 possibilities • 2 independent systems identical to monolinguals • A degree of integration with one system dominant • 2 systems that differ in some way from monolinguals

Successive • Influence of first language more pronounced than for simulataneous • Phonology system most affected. • Syntax, semantics, morphology less affected

Accent modification therapy • Vowel errors • Prosody errors • Word stress • Message level intonation • Consonant errors • Syllable structure differencesOpen syllables of Asian languages • Ligatures • She took a bit of butter for the potato.

Sample of accent modification in reverse http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozIZBvEZ814

How would a child who uses AAE produce these words?bathepenspoonneverthatleg

How would a child who uses HE produce these words? vacuum mother yesterday wish think

Language, Dialects, Registers, and Idiolects