Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 303 views

    222 - Chapter 18 - Language and Regional Variation

    Uploaded by

    sibtain hassan
    This document discusses language variation and regional dialects. It explains that every language has variation, especially in how it is spoken across different regions. The standard language is an idealized variety that exists in mass media and education, though all dialects are equally valid linguistically. Dialects are distinguished from each other by differences in grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation. Research on dialects focuses on older, rural speakers who were less influenced by other varieties. Bundles of linguistic differences define dialect boundaries. Pidgins are simplified languages for communication between groups, while creoles develop as the first language of a community with its own structures.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    222 - Chapter 18 - Language and Regional Variation

    Uploaded by

    sibtain hassan
    303 views12 pages
    This document discusses language variation and regional dialects. It explains that every language has variation, especially in how it is spoken across different regions. The standard language is an idealized variety that exists in mass media and education, though all dialects are equally valid linguistically. Dialects are distinguished from each other by differences in grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation. Research on dialects focuses on older, rural speakers who were less influenced by other varieties. Bundles of linguistic differences define dialect boundaries. Pidgins are simplified languages for communication between groups, while creoles develop as the first language of a community with its own structures.

    Original Description:

    notes of George yule book

    Original Title

    222_-_chapter_18_-_language_and_regional_variation (2)

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    This document discusses language variation and regional dialects. It explains that every language has variation, especially in how it is spoken across different regions. The standard language is an idealized variety that exists in mass media and education, though all dialects are equally valid linguistically. Dialects are distinguished from each other by differences in grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation. Research on dialects focuses on older, rural speakers who were less influenced by other varieties. Bundles of linguistic differences define dialect boundaries. Pidgins are simplified languages for communication between groups, while creoles develop as the first language of a community with its own structures.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    303 views12 pages

    222 - Chapter 18 - Language and Regional Variation

    Uploaded by

    sibtain hassan
    This document discusses language variation and regional dialects. It explains that every language has variation, especially in how it is spoken across different regions. The standard language is an idealized variety that exists in mass media and education, though all dialects are equally valid linguistically. Dialects are distinguished from each other by differences in grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation. Research on dialects focuses on older, rural speakers who were less influenced by other varieties. Bundles of linguistic differences define dialect boundaries. Pidgins are simplified languages for communication between groups, while creoles develop as the first language of a community with its own structures.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    You are on page 1of 12

    LANGUAGE AND

    REGIONAL VARIATION
    The Study of Language by George Yule
    LINGUISTIC GEOGRAPHY

     Every language has a lot of variation,


    especially in the way it is spoken.
     Linguistic geography:
    Investigating aspects of
    language variation based on
    where the language is used
    (region or country).
    The Standard Language

    Example:
    Standard
    The standard language is an
    English is the idealised variety and exists for most
    one found in
    the mass media people as the version that is
    and taught in
    schools. It is accepted as the official language of
    associated with
    education and
    their community or country.
     It is the variety we try to teach to
    broadcasting
    in public
    contexts
    (written
    those who want to learn English as a
    language more foreign or 2nd language.
    than spoken)
     It
    is found on TV and in newspapers, books
    and schools.
    Accent and Dialect
     ACCENT:
    Aspects of the pronunciation of language that identify
    where the speaker is from regionally or socially.
     Everyone has an accent.
     Example: Hijazi and Najdi accents in Saudi Arabia.

     DIALECT:
    Features of grammar and vocabulary as well as aspects
    of pronunciation that are different among speakers.
     Example: Saudi , Sudanese and Moroccan dialects in the Arab world.
    Dialectology
     It is the study of dialects to distinguish between
    two different dialects of the same language
    (whose speakers can usually understand each
    other) and two different languages (who can’t
    usually understand each other).
     Each different dialect is worthy of analysis.
    Linguistically, none are better than the other –
    they are simply different.
     Socially, one dialect can be more prestigious than
    the other. Standard dialects are connected with a
    political or cultural center.
    Regional Dialects
     A lot of research has been done on different
    dialects, but where do they get their information
    from?
     Norms: They are non-mobile, older, rural, male speakers.
     Why? They were less likely to have influences from
    outside the region in their speech.

     Disadvantage: The research is accurate of a


    period well before the time of the investigation.
    ISOGLOSSES & DIALECT BOUNDARIES

     Isogloss: the boundary  When a number of


    between areas with isoglosses come
    regard to one particular together to form a
    linguistic item. thick line, they
    become a dialect
     Paper bag vs. paper sack boundary.
    in the upper Midwest of the
    United States.
    TERMS:
     Bidialectal: speaking Why be bilingual?
    two dialects.  1-Individual bilingualism
     Bilingual: speaking tends to be for the minority
    two different group.
    languages.  Ex: Spanish in America.

     Canada: an official
    bilingual country:  2- Two parents speaking
    French and English. two languages.
    Diglossia
     Two distinct varieties of a language existing in
    some countries.
    1- Low variety: Acquired locally and used for everyday
    speech.
    2- High variety: Learned in school and used for important
    matters.

     Example: Arabic and German.


    Language Planning

     Government, legal and educational organisations in


    many countries have to plan which variety or
    varieties of the languages spoken in the country
    are to be used for official business.
     Example: Arabic is the official language in Saudi
    Arabia.
    PIDGINS & CREOLES
     A variety of language  When a pidgin
    that was developed develops beyond its
    for practical purposes use as a trade or
    such as trade among contact language and
    people who needed to becomes the first
    communicate with language of a social
    each other but didn’t community.
    know each other’s
    languages.
    Differences between PIDGINS and CREOLES

    Pidgins Creoles
    NO native speakers. DO have native speakers
    Used for specific purposes such as Used also for social functions.
    trade and barter only.
    Limited vocabulary. NO inflections. Expanded vocabulary with inflections.
    Simple syntax and structures. More sophisticated syntax and
    structures.
    More difficult to be learned as they Less difficult to be learned for they
    are full of structural irregularities. are more regularised.
    May die because they are created for Less likely to die as they have native
    specific functions. speakers.

    You might also like