EXERCISES OF UNIT 5

1. What is the difference between dialect and dialectology?

A dialect is any variety of a language characterised by systematic differences in pronunciation,
grammar, and vocabulary from other varieties of the same language, while dialectology is a branch of
linguistics in which linguists study regional dialects, or dialects defined by geographical regions.

2. Are idiolects regarded as an individual style of usage?

Yes. An individual uses a unique language as a variety which is called an idiolect. This individual
uses his own patterns of word selection and grammar, or words, phrases, idioms, or pronunciations.
As a result, each individual has an idiolect.

3. Why is sociolect used as a product of class and status?

When people of so many races live in a place, the issue of social dialects is extremely complex. A
sociolect is the variety of language characteristic of a social background or status. So it is used as a
product of class and status.

4. How many major dialects are there in Vietnam?

There are three major dialects in Vietnam: Northern dialect, Central dialect and Southern dialect.
People in the North, in the Central and in the South of Vietnamese speak with different accents and
dialects.

5. How many major dialects of English are there in the world?

There are three major dialects of English in the world: the British Isles dialects, those of North
America, and those of Australasia.