(15) dialect of english

DIALECTS OF ENGLISH

Eka Andriyani, S.Pd., M.Hum

DIALECTS• Dialects are speech and language patterns used by a group

of people in a geographic location.

• Dialects reflect subtle or slight differences in pronunciation, vocabulary, and speech rate. They originated due to geographic isolation and historical influences.

• In the grand scheme of things, American-English is actually a dialect of English. American-English is a direct outgrowth of Early Modern English as it was spoken in the 1600’s in England.

• Because dialectical patterns result in speech and language differences, it is important to remember that no particular dialect is right or wrong.

Historical Background of

English Dialects:

449 – 1100 A.D 1066 A.D 1500 – 1700 A.D

Old English

Northumbrian

(spoken in part of Britain)

Mercian

(spoken in the Midlands)

Kentish

(spoken in the Southeast)

West Saxon

(spoken in the Southwest)

The most Influential

In Old English Period

Angeln Dialect(characterized by

pure vowels)

(characterized by

diphthongization

in numerous

vowels)

NorthumbrianDialect

Northern EnglishDialect

ScottishDialect

The Division Occurred Because of the Political Differences

Mercian Dialect

Western

Dialect

Eastern

DialectRuled by DanelawRuled by King Alfred

Kentish Dialect

Southeastern

Dialect

West Saxon

Dialect

Southern

Dialect

Mercian

Dialect

Western

Dialect

Eastern

Dialect

Kentish Dialect

Southeastern

Dialect

Developed as the standard in England.

The pattern was characterized by various pronunciations of one word and class dialects

existing side by side. It was at this time that received pronunciation developed as the

standard in England.

MODERN ENGLISH

American Dialects

• The main dialect areas in the United

States are: Eastern dialect (New

England), Midland (General American),

and Southern dialect.

• In addition, African-American dialect is

also spoken throughout the United States.

A. Eastern Dialect (New England):

• Spoken in:– Maine

– New Hampshire

– Rhode Island

– Parts of Massachusetts

– Vermont

– New York

– New Jersey

This dialect developed from immigrants arriving from the south of England. This dialectical pattern was a direct descendant of greater London dialect. Many of the immigrants were well educated and left England to seek religious freedom.

B. Midland (General American)

C. Southern Dialect:

North CarolinaSouth CarolinaGeorgiaFloridaAlabamaMississippiLouisiana

Parts of KentuckyTennesseeMissouriArkansasTexasOhioIndianaIllinoisMaryland

Spoken in:

Like the eastern dialect, the southern dialect is a direct

descendant of the greater London dialect of the 1600s.

African-American English (AAE):

• AAE dialect is considered the fourth major dialect spoken in United States. It is located throughout the United States and is not geographical bound.

• Although AAE varies from area to area, it has similarities throughout the United States.

• Some of the characteristics are /t/ for /θ/ in the initial position, /f/ for /θ/ in medial and final positions, and the /d/ for the /ð/ in all positions and the deletion of final consonants. This deletion includes grammatical suffixes and a different use of the verb to be. A nasalized vowel is often substituted for a final nasal consonant such as [mæn] becomes [mæe].

Articulatory Characteristics that

Differentiate Eastern Dialect from GAP:

• The first characteristic differentiating eastern dialect from GAP is the omission of /ɹ/ in all contexts except the initial position. The /ɹ/ is used in the initial position of words such as red /ɹɛd/ or syllables such as around [əˈraʊnd] and in initial position CC contexts such as broom [brum].

• Because each word has a time boundary, the omission of the /ɹ/must be replaced in order to maintain the word timing. The /ɹ/ is replaced with a schwa in all situations such as poor [pɔ:ə] except following the /a/ vowel as in star [stɑ:]. After the /a/, the vowel is lengthened as in the southern dialect.

• The primary vowel differences between eastern dialect and GAP are the use of /a/ in apple [ˈapəl] in the Boston area, and the use of /ɒ/ in coffee [ˈkɒfi], the use of /u:/ in place of /ju/ or /ɪu/.

• In the eastern dialect, /ɜ/ is used for the /ɝ/ and /ə/ for

/ɚ/.

• Eastern speech has more assimilation than General American English and uses a more rapid rate.

Articulatory Characteristics that

Differentiate Southern Dialect from

GAP:

• Similar to eastern dialects, the chief consonantal characteristic is the omission of the /ɹ/ in all contexts except the initial position of CV or CCV contexts. Because the time boundary is affect by the omission of the phoneme, the vowel prior to the omitted /ɹ/ is lengthened. Other r variations include using /ɜ:/ to replace the /ɝ/, the /ə/ for the /ɚ/, /o:/ for the /ɔ:ɹ/, and /e:/ for the /ɛɹ/.

• Vowel differences include the use of the /ɔ:/ for the /ɑ:/, /aɪ/ for both the /aɪ/ and /aʊ/ diphthongs, the use of the /ɪ/ fir the schwa in most unaccented syllables not involving rhoticity particularly at the bisyllabic level, and the use of /ɪ/ for the /ɛ/ at the monosyllabic level.

• The southern drawl (slow rate of speech) that

characterizes southern dialect is not the result of a

slower rate but an increase in pitch range and the

diphthongization of numerous vowels. The addition

of the /j/ or /w/ approximants followed by a schwa is

frequently found in monosyllabic words. This

creates the perception of a slower rate.

• The southern dialect uses less nasality than

General American English.

VOCABULARY CHANGES

AMONG THE DIALECTS:

GENERAL AMERICAN EASTERN SOUTHERN

bucket pail bucket

seeds pits seeds

pizza pie pizza

sack bag sack

take sick get sick take sick

pop soda soda pop

either [ˈi:ðə(r) ] either [ˈaɪðə(r)] either [ˈi:ðə(r)]