Dialects, Sociolects, Idiolects Flashcards
What is a dialect?
A form of language with distinct features of grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation.
How many dialects does each language have?
Multiple and they can be divided up into many different categories.
Why are they called dialects and not languages?
Because they are mutually intelligible versions of the same language
What are regional dialects?
Dialects which are specific to a certain graphological area
How does dialect differ from accent?
It is a broader term and accent only refers to the pronunciation used
What can also be said about accent and dialect?
Dialect could also only be seen to refer to vocabulary and grammar.
Therefore a specific dialect may be spoken with a number of different accents
What dialect is very popular to be spoken in different accents?
Standard English
What is a “standard” variety of dialect?
It is the widely accepted dialect (SE) and is the most socially prestigious dialect, being favoured by education, government and written communications
Where did Standard English originally come from?
South East England
London, Cambridge, Oxford
What are Sociolects?
The variety of language used by a particular social group
What are the basis of sociolects?
Socio-economic status Age Occupation Education Gender Belief system and culture
What is believed about sociolects of different socio-economic statuses?
People from different social statuses will use language in different ways:
What are the differences of language use in different socio-economic status groups?
People from a higher social status are more likely to use a variety closer to Standard English and Received Pronunciation
People from a lower social status are more likely to use regional variations
What is believed about sociolects of different age groups?
Most notable difference between teenagers and older members of the same community
What are the differences of language use in different age groups?
Teenagers include more non-standard and slang forms, this strengthens their identity and separates them from the world of adults
What is believed about sociolects of different occupations?
Each has its own jargon and specific lexis as well as slang used to make conversation humorous or more economical than using the SE equivalent
What is believed about sociolects of people with different educational backgrounds?
People who are more educated are more likely to use Standard English and Received Pronunciation than regional dialects
What is believed about sociolects of men and women’s languages?
They use language in different ways
What are the differences of language use for the two genders?
Women tend to use more prestigious forms, being closer to Standard English and Received Pronunciation
Women are also more cooperative and offer more encouragement and sympathetic feedback, whereas men are more competitive and are inclined to interrupt
What is believed about sociolects of different religious and cultural backgrounds?
Use of specialist vocabulary of certain groups
However this has spread more due to society being multicultural
What are idiolects?
The language used which is unique to a specific individual
What affects a person’s idiolect?
Where they are from
Their social background
How they were educated
Personal characteristics
What affects a person’s social background?
Who they’re friends with and are they a part of any groups or clubs
Generally their sociolect
How can personal characteristics affect someone’s idiolect?
If they have particular feelings or emotions
Their general personality
e.g. nervousness = use of more fillers
