BA VI SEM, ENGLISH (LINGUISTICS), UNIT B

DIALECT
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Dialect:
A dialect is a regional or social variety of a language distinguished by pronunciation,
grammar, and/or vocabulary. The study of dialects is known as dialectology.

Language and Dialect:

The linguistics and political definition and distinction are made on quite different ground.
Such as:
Linguistically:
In linguistics, dialect and language are differentiated based on mutual intelligibility
(common understanding). Two varieties are said to be dialects of the same language if
the speakers understand each other, otherwise, they are said to be different languages.

Politically: A variety is said to be dialect of the language:

 if they have no standard or codified form,
 if they are rarely or never used in writing.
 if the speakers of the given language do not have a state of their own.
 if they lack prestige with respect to some other, often standardised, variety.

There may be dialect under dialect. Such as American English is a standard dialect of General
English, but it also has its own dialect such as; Eastern New England, Mid-southern, Inland
Northern, Southern, General American North, Midland, New York, and Black English
Vernacular.

Standard and non-standard dialect

A standard dialect is a dialect which has its own script and which is supported by institutions.
Such institutional support may include;
 Government recognition
 Presentation as being the "correct" form of a language in schools;
 Have published grammars, dictionaries, and textbooks that set forth a
normative spoken and written form
 Have an extensive written formal literature (prose, poetry, non-fiction, etc.).

There may be multiple standard dialects associated with a single language. For example,
Standard American English, Standard British English, Standard Canadian English, Standard
Indian English, Standard Australian English, and Standard Philippine English may all be said
to be standard dialects of the English language.

Regional and Social Dialects

Regional dialects are dialects based on geography or region. In regional dialects, the
vocabulary is mainly influence by the natural environment and culture and speakers have
certain distinct linguistic features that differentiate them from speakers of other forms of
English. For example: Appalachian dialects in English.
Social dialects are based on different social background. It is the distinct form of a language
spoken by members of a specific socioeconomic class, Working-class dialects, Elite class
dialect etc. in England.