Language: dialects and registers

Language is systematic or rule governed. Although this is true, it is also

true that there is often variation in the actual use of any language. All
users of the same language do not necessarily use it in the same way.
Often the same speaker may use the same language in different ways
depending on a number of factors.

A dialect is a variant of a language. If it is associated with a

geographically isolated speech community, it is referred to as a
regional dialect. However, if it is spoken by a speech community that is
merely socially isolated, it is called a social dialect. These latter dialects
are mostly based on class, ethnicity, gender, age, and particular social
situations. Black English (or Ebonics) in the United States is an
example of a social dialect.

Code switching: People may quickly switch back and forth between
dialects, depending on the person they are talking to at the time. This
pattern is referred to as diglossia or "code switching." Code-switching
is a term in linguistics referring to alternation between two or more
languages, dialects, or language registers in the course of discourse
between people who have more than one language in common.
Sometimes the switch lasts only for a few sentences, or even for a single
phrase.

More broadly defined, code-switching occurs when people alter their

speech and behavior so as to fit into different social situations. The
most common changes involve vocabulary, levels of casualness or
formality, types of clothing, and facial and hand gestures.

Language variety
All human societies use language. Some societies use just one and are
said to be monolingual. Most societies use more than one language.
Such societies are bilingual, trilingual or even multilingual. Sometimes
individuals within a society might be bilingual or multilingual. There is
a difference between a society that is bilingual and an individual who is
bilingual. In bilingual societies such as Canada, provision is sometimes
made for equal treatment for speakers of either language. Road signs
and other public use of language are often presented in both languages.
The bilingual individual usually has to make a choice of language
depending on her audience.

Usually the history of a language is the history of the people who speak
it. The Caribbean provides good examples of this. It is a complex
linguistic area. The original inhabitants spoke, and in places like
Guyana and Suriname still speak, a range of indigenous languages
brought to the region many hundred years ago. These languages are
mainly the Arawaccan or Cariban language groups but there are also
speakers of Warrau.

The official languages of the Caribbean are local or regional forms of

European languages such as Spanish, French, Dutch and English. In the
special case of Haiti, the French-lexicon Creole language, called
Haitian, is also regarded as an official language along with French.

It must be remembered that many of the Europeans who came to the

Caribbean territories were themselves speakers of non standard
dialects of English.

Communications forms and contexts : Verbal and Non-verbal

Communication
COMMUNICATION FORMS & CONTEXTS

Verbal & Non-Verbal Communication

In general, human beings communicate using two main forms: verbal communication
and non-verbal communication.

Verbal communication, simply put, is any form of communication that uses words in
order to convey meaning or transmit messages. Essentially, verbal communication is either
speech or writing. There are four main skills that human beings put into practice when
engaging in verbal communication: reading, writing, speaking and listening. Any verbal
communication involves at least two of these skills.

Language is the one thing that all four verbal communication skills have in common; it is a
specifically human form of communication that uses symbols to represent ideas and concepts.
Later on in the course, we will look more closely at the concept of language, its uses and
variations.

Non-Verbal Communication is the form of communication that does not involve the use
of speech or writing. In effect, non-verbal communication is the use of voice, space, objects,
movement, time and the five senses to convey meanings that without using words. Because
the types of non-verbal communication focus on physical actions and manipulations to
convey meaning, they are often referred to as communicative behaviours.

Communicative behaviours comprise the following:

Vocalics refers to the use of voice in communicating messages. This does not include actual
words, but modulations in tone of voice, rate of speech, pitch and non-verbal utterances.
Because vocalics is often used in conjunction with speech communication (i.e. – verbal), it is
often referred to as paralanguage.

Proxemics is the use of space to communicate. Standing close to someone may indicate that
you like her; likewise, changing seat during an exam may indicate that you suspect your
neighbour of cheating or some sort of discomfort.

Artifacts are objects that convey some sort of message about you. These include clothes,
jewellery, home decorations, book bags etc.

Movement incorporates several movements of the body – eye contact, facial expressions,
posture and gestures all communicate information. Failing to meet eye contact when
speaking to a parent may indicate nervousness, shame or the possibility of untruthfulness;
sitting straight in a chair could indicate attentiveness.

Chronemics refers to the use of time. By being early for class you show respect for the
teacher and fellow classmates; similarly, a teacher who arrives consistently late for class is
exhibiting a lack of respect for her students and profession.

The five senses (sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell) are also used in non-verbal
communication. For example, a normally good cook who over-salts a dish for her cheating
spouse may be using taste to indicate her unhappiness or displeasure.

There are also six functions of non-verbal communication. That is, we use non-verbal
communication for six main reasons:

i. Substituting is where we use non-verbal communication instead of, or to replace verbal

communication. Waving goodbye instead of saying it out loud is one example of this.

ii. We also use non-verbal communication to reinforce or complement our verbal

communication. Pounding your hand onto a table when arguing may reinforce whatever point
you’re making.

iii. The regulating function of non-verbal communication is used mostly in conversation to

control the flow of messages. Raising your hand to answer or ask a question in class helps to
regulate the communication going on in the room.

iv. Sometimes we use non-verbal communication to contradict our verbal communication.

The most common example of this is using vocalic sarcasm – when you say one thing, but
your tone of voice says the opposite.

v. We often manage impressions through the use of non-verbal communication. The way
we dress, for example, often coincides with the impression we want others to have of us.

vi. Finally, we use non-verbal communication to establish relationships. The wearing of a

wedding band is a non-verbal indication that the person is married.

More on Context

As stated earlier, the context of communication is its environment. Context is particularly

important in choosing the types of verbal and non-verbal communication we use every day. A
doctor does not wear short pants and slippers at the clinic; this would be inappropriate. A
lawyer may choose to speak in simple language to a client while using more complex language
to a colleague. A hip-hop star covers himself in “bling” and speaks a version of English that is
not standard when addressing his fans. All of these are examples how communication context
influences form of communication.

* When deciding on which form of communication to use, always ask yourself this:
* Who am I communicating with?
* What is the attitude of my audience?
* Where is this communication act taking place?

Usually, communication contexts occur along a scale from formal to informal. Formal
contexts require certain types of communication and communicative behaviours; informal
contexts require others. A conversation between employer and employee, for example, is not
the same as one between friends, even if the subject matter under discussion is the same.

Basically, a formal situation is one where behaviour is dictated by social norms and patterns,
and an informal situation is one where there are no constraints on behaviour and
communication.