Chapter 18 - Regional variation in language Flashcards
Standard language
The variety treated as the official language, used in public broadcasting, education, publishing.
Accent
Pronunciation that indicates were a person is from (regionally and socially).
Dialect
Differs from accent because it regards grammar, vocabulary and/or pronunciation.
Isogloss
A boundary between areas with regard to one particular linguistic item
Dialect boundary
Several isoglosses combined (set of isoglosses).
Dialect continuum
The gradual merging of one regional variety of language into another.
Bidialectal speakers
People capable of speaking two dialects.
Bilingualism
Having two languages. Often minorities.
Bilinguali vs monolingual
Countries can be assumed to be monolingual, like in San Antonio were population is more likely to listen to radio in Spanish than in English. People who speak only English assumes that it is monolingual English.
Language planning
A plan for which variety or varieties of language are used for official business. Five steps: Selection, Codification, Elaboration, Implementation, Acceptance.
Pidgin
A standard chosen in area who has no native speakers of that language. A contact language. Lacks complex morphology and is somewhat limited in vocabulary.
Lexifier language
The language that is the main source for a pidgin
Creole
A pidgin develops to a creole when it develops beyond a language for contact and trade and becomes the first language of a social community.
Creolization
Development from pidgin to creol.
Decreolization
If a higher variety of a creole (ex English) is associated with education and social prestige users may tend to use less creole forms and structures.
