Language V. Dialect

^^Dialect is…:^^

  • a regional variation of a language distinguished by distinctive vocabulary, spelling, and pronunciation.

^^What’s the Difference Between Dialect and Accent?:^^

  • accent is variations in word pronunciation
  • dialect is a variation in broad language features, including pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, and informal language

^^How Do Dialects Develop?:^^

  • when speakers of a language migrate to other locations, various dialects of that language may develop
  • ex: when English speakers migrated to North America…different dialects developed as different cultures and backgrounds mixed together.

^^Dialects in the United States:^^

  • significant difference in US dialects originated because of differences in dialects among the original settlers along the Atlantic coast
  • these settlements can be grouped into three principal dialect regions:
    • ^^northern (New England)^^
    • ^^midlands^^
    • ^^southeastern^^
  • these dialects further diffused as a result of westward expansion

^^Dialects in the United Kingdom:^^

  • regional dialects of English can also be found in the United Kingdom
  • three principal dialects are:
    • northern- Angles
    • midlands- Jutes
    • southern- Saxons

^^Differences between US and UK English:^^

  • ^^Vocabulary^^
    • American settlers encountered many new physical features, animals, and experiences unknown in the UK
    • As new inventions appeared in the 19th century, they acquired different names on either side of the Atlantic
  • ^^Spelling^^
    • American spelling diverged from British because of a strong national feeling in the US for an independent identity
  • ^^Pronunciation^^
    • from the time of their arrival in North America, colonists began to pronounce words differently from the British because most of the correspondence happened through letters and other printed matter, rather than speech