Social dialects

Key terms

Dialect

Dialect

A variety of a language distinguished by variations of accent, grammar, or vocabulary.

Social dialect

Variation in language (pronunciation, vocabulary and/or grammar) relating to the speaker's social background.

Social variable

A social factor which might influence or correlate with language variation.

Standard variety

Language variety which generally has a written form and which has undergone some degree of codification. It is the variety taught in schools and has high prestige. It is generally regarded by the community as the 'correct' variety.

Non-standard variety

A variety of language containing forms that are viewed pejoratively in the community; generally considered "incorrect" by prescriptive grammarians

Characteristics of Vernacular variety

• An uncodified or unstandardized variety

• Acquired in the home

• Typically used for informal colloquial interaction with family and friends

• Associated with less prestigious groups

Class

Refers to a person's social standing or socio-economic position in society.

This is often judged according to level of education and occupation, and in some societies by income and family background.

[h]-dropping pronunciation

Word-initial [h] is not pronounced in English.

(highest social group-less [h]-dropping)

Rhoticity

A term used in English phonology referring to dialects or accents where [r] is pronounced following a vowel, as in car and card.

Non-rhotic

An accent or dialect having the characteristic that /r/ is not pronounced after vowels. Australian English is an example of a non-rhotic variety of English.

(Higher socio-economic status pronounced [r] more frequently than those with lower socio-economic status).

Negation

• Standard English has one in each clause

• Vernaculars have multiple negation

Linguistic Resistance

The use of language as a form of political or cultural resistance against dominant or oppressive forces.

Prestige variants

The dialects or language varieties that are associated with high social status and are widely accepted as the standard or norm in a particular region or country

Covert prestige

The social value and status that speakers of non-standard dialects or varieties may assign to their own speech within their own community, despite being stigmatized by mainstream society.

Overt prestige

The prestige that is linked with variants which are thought to be more 'correct' (mostly because they are the ones that are normally used by more powerful people).