ling-23 dialectology terminology (rev.4/10/2010)

8/7/2019 LING-23 Dialectology Terminology (Rev.4/10/2010)

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DialectologyDialectology

Refers to the study of a particularRefers to the study of a particular

variety of language within avariety of language within alanguagelanguage


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English is not a uniform orEnglish is not a uniform or

monolithic languagemonolithic languageMany national varieties existMany national varieties exist

AmericanAmericanAustralianAustralian

BritishBritish

CanadianCanadian IrishIrish

New ZealandNew Zealand

South AfricanSouth African


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English VariesEnglish Varies

From country to countryFrom country to country

Also varies within each countryAlso varies within each country People refer to people in another part ofPeople refer to people in another part of

the country as speaking with anthe country as speaking with an accentaccentdifferent from their owndifferent from their own

To a linguist everybody has a dialectTo a linguist everybody has a dialect


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DialectDialect

We could define dialect as a mutuallyWe could define dialect as a mutuallyintelligible form of a language thatintelligible form of a language thatdiffers in systematic ways from anotherdiffers in systematic ways from anotherformform

We could define dialect as aWe could define dialect as a varietyvariety ofof

language spoken by the members of alanguage spoken by the members of aparticular region or social communityparticular region or social community


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Region

al DialectRegion

al Dialect

Refers to a set of linguisticRefers to a set of linguistic

features spread over a specificfeatures spread over a specificgeographic areageographic area


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ocial DialectSocial Dialect

Refers to linguistic features sharedRefers to linguistic features shared

by speakers of a social groupingby speakers of a social grouping


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Dialect differencesDialect differences

We distinguish a one dialect fromWe distinguish a one dialect fromanother through (regional or social)another through (regional or social)differences in:differences in:

PronunciationPronunciation

VocabularyVocabulary

GrammarGrammar


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Pronunciation DifferencesPronunciation Differences

Regional DifferencesRegional Differences

North /North /grisigrisi//

South /South /grizigrizi//

Inland North /ayInland North /ay layklayk fraydfrayd kknn//

SouthM

idland /aSouthM

idland /a laklak fradfrad kk

nn//


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Vocabulary DifferencesVocabulary Differences

Inland NorthInland North Bean fieldBean field

SouthMidlandSouthMidland Pea patchPea patch


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Grammatical DifferencesGrammatical Differences

Black EnglishBlack English

I haveI have livelive three years in Atlantathree years in Atlanta(deletion of past tense morpheme)(deletion of past tense morpheme)

HeHe bebe fooling around (Progressive formfooling around (Progressive formis different from the standard regionalis different from the standard regional

dialect)dialect)


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IdiolectIdiolect

Refers to the peculiarity orRefers to the peculiarity orcharacteristics of an individuals speechcharacteristics of an individuals speechpatterns pronunciation, grammar, orpatterns pronunciation, grammar, orvocabularyvocabulary

My wife Julie pronouncesMy wife Julie pronounces vailvail as /as /vvll//

sail as /sail as / ssll/ and mail as // and mail as /mmll//


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DialectologistDialectologist

We define dialectologist as a scholarWe define dialectologist as a scholarwho studies varieties of languagewho studies varieties of language-- bothboth

regional and social aspectsregional and social aspects

Regional Dialects (Inland North, SouthRegional Dialects (Inland North, SouthMidland, etc.Midland, etc.

Social Class (Upper class, workingSocial Class (Upper class, workingclass, male,female differencesclass, male,female differences

Ethnic differences (Black ,HispanicEthnic differences (Black ,Hispanic

Yiddish,etc.)Yiddish,etc.)


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InformantInformant

We define informant as a representativeWe define informant as a representativespeaker (specimen or guinea pigspeaker (specimen or guinea pig

metaphorically) used for dialectmetaphorically) used for dialectinformationinformation


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IsoglossIsogloss

We define an isogloss as a line drawnWe define an isogloss as a line drawnon a map to show the outeron a map to show the outer --limits of alimits of a

particular linguistic featureparticular linguistic feature-- or where aor where aspeech feature is foundspeech feature is found

We should not think of an isogloss as aWe should not think of an isogloss as a

dividing line between two usages, butdividing line between two usages, butrather the approximate outer limits of arather the approximate outer limits of acertain featurecertain feature


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Total PatternTotal Pattern

We refer to a feature which isWe refer to a feature which isapparently distributed throughout theapparently distributed throughout the

entire vocabularyentire vocabulary-- such as the loss ofsuch as the loss ofthe r in word medial and finalthe r in word medial and finalposition in New England dialectposition in New England dialect

Neighbor /Neighbor / nebneb //


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Partial PatternPartial Pattern

Refers to the behavior of a speaker whoRefers to the behavior of a speaker whouses a variation in pronunciation whichuses a variation in pronunciation which

is not consistent throughout the entireis not consistent throughout the entiredialect.dialect.

TheMidland speaker who inserts an rTheMidland speaker who inserts an r

as inas in worshworsh forfor washwash will not carry thiswill not carry thisfeature into other analogous wordsfeature into other analogous words


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JargonJargon

We refer to words used in a profession,We refer to words used in a profession,trade, or occupationtrade, or occupation-- likelike morpheme,morpheme,

allophone, syntactic category,allophone, syntactic category, oror bibi--labial fricativelabial fricative in Linguisticsin Linguistics

Interface, boot up, format, downInterface, boot up, format, down--loadload

in computer talkin computer talk Identifies the user as a student orIdentifies the user as a student or

practitioner in that fieldpractitioner in that field


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ArgotArgot

Refers to a variety of language used byRefers to a variety of language used bymembers of a socially marginal groupmembers of a socially marginal group

Narcotics dealers refers to :Narcotics dealers refers to :

HashHash forfor HashishHashish

MainlineMainline for injecting directly into thefor injecting directly into thebloodstreambloodstream

UppersUppers amphetaminesamphetamines

DownersDowners barbituatesbarbituates


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EuphemismEuphemism

Refers to a less offensive or more politeRefers to a less offensive or more politeword or phrase which replaces a tabooword or phrase which replaces a taboo

wordword

To pass awayTo pass away forfor diedie

Powder roomPowder roomforfor toilettoilet


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IdiomIdiom

An idiom is a fixed phrase orAn idiom is a fixed phrase orexpression consisting of more than oneexpression consisting of more than one

word whose meaning cannot beword whose meaning cannot beinferred by knowing the meaning ofinferred by knowing the meaning ofeach individual wordeach individual word

Set her straightSet her straightBe here in nothing flatBe here in nothing flat

By and largeBy and large

ling-23 dialectology terminology (rev.4/10/2010)

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