Understanding Dialects and Communication Disorders

Standard dialect

A widely accepted, often institutionalized form of language used in education, media, and formal communication.

Vernacular dialect

A non-standard, often informal version of a language spoken by particular groups based on region, class, or ethnicity.

Language

A structured system of communication used by a particular community or country.

Dialect

A regional or social variation of a language, with distinct vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.

L1 accent

The way a person pronounces their native language (first language).

L2 accent

The influence of a person's native language on their pronunciation of a second language.

African American English (AAE)

A rule-governed, systematic dialect of English spoken by many African Americans, also known as African American Vernacular English (AAVE).

Characteristics of AAE: Deletion of the copula

Example: 'She running' instead of 'She is running.'

Characteristics of AAE: Use of invariant 'be'

Example: 'She be working' to indicate habitual action.

Hispanic English

A variety of English influenced by Spanish phonology and syntax, commonly spoken by individuals from Spanish-speaking backgrounds.

Characteristics of Hispanic English: Substitution of /ch/ for /sh/

Example: 'Chop' for 'Shop'.

Characteristics of Hispanic English: Omission of final consonants

Example: 'Fee' for 'Feed'.

Asian English

English influenced by native Asian languages, often reflecting specific syntactic, phonological, and pragmatic patterns.

Characteristics of Asian English: Omission of plurals or articles

Example: 'I have dog' instead of 'I have a dog.'

Characteristics of Asian English: Confusion between /r/ and /l/ sounds

Example: 'Lice' for 'Rice.'

Native American English

A dialect of English influenced by the grammatical and phonological rules of various Native American languages.

Characteristics of Native American English: Limited use of verb tense markers

Example: 'He go store yesterday.'

Characteristics of Native American English: Differences in intonation or pitch patterns

Compared to General American English.

Regional dialects vs social/cultural dialects

Regional dialects are based on geographic location, while social/cultural dialects reflect cultural, ethnic, or social group identity.

Examples of regional linguistic varieties across North America

Southern American English, New England English, Midland, Western, and Northern varieties.

Prevalence

The total number of individuals with a disorder at a specific time.

Incidence

The number of new cases of a disorder within a specific time period.

Interrelated factors influencing communication disorders

Environmental, sensory, developmental, and neurological factors.

Types of communication disorders

Speech disorders, language disorders, and hearing disorders.

Articulation disorder

Difficulty producing specific speech sounds correctly due to issues with motor speech skills.

Phonological disorder

Difficulty understanding or implementing the rules of the sound system of a language.

Fluency disorder

A disorder that affects the flow, rhythm, and speed of speech.

Types of stuttering

Repetitions, prolongations, and blocks.

Cluttering

A fluency disorder characterized by rapid, unclear, and disorganized speech, often with abnormal pauses or syllable deletions.