Social dialects

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Introduction to Dialects
The significance of Social Dialect Studies
The Background of English Social Dialects
Examples of Social Dialects in England
Social Dialects vs. Regional Dialects
CONTENTS

What is a Dialect?
A variety of a language that is a characteristic of a particular group of the language's speakers
A dialect is very different from accent
Standard English
Dialects can be divided into two types : Regional and Social.

Social Dialects vs. Regional Dialects

Examples of Social Dialects in England
Words that initiate with ‘h’
 Two types of pronunciation for ‘h’ in words such as ‘house’ – [h] or Ø
 The rate of ‘h’ omission in world initials increase as we go lower in social class
< Comparison between social class and the rate of ‘h’ omission>

(2) ‘r’ that comes behind a vowel
Two types of pronunciations in ‘r’ in worlds such as ‘car’ or ‘cart’ – [r] or Ø
 People of high social class have the tendency to omit the sound ‘r’ behind a vowel
< The realization of [r] in words >

(3) Suffix ‘-ing’
 Two types of pronunciation in ‘-ing’ in words such as ‘swimming’ and ‘sleeping’ – [in] or [iŋ]
 Higher social classes use more [in] compared to [iŋ]
< Use of pronunciation [iŋ] for suffix ‘-ing’>

The Background of English Social Dialects
Prefix ‘h’
‘h’ in Old English
The evolution of sound ‘h’ after the Norman Conquest
‘h’ pronounciation in Early Modern English
‘h’ during the 18th century
Example
Charles Dickens’ – Great Expectations (1860)
Joe : Old orlick he’s been a bustin’ open a dwelling-ouse
Pip : Whose?
Joe : Not, I grant you, but what his manners is given to blusterous, still an Englishman’s ‘ouse is his castle, and castles must not be busted ‘cept when done in war time. And wotsume’er the failing on his part, he were a corn and seedman in his heart
Pip : Is it Pumblechook’s house that has been broken into then?

(2) ‘r’ that comes behind a vowel
People of high social class have a tendency to omit r behind a vowel
Example
Chales Dickens – Great Expectations (1860)
Pip : Yes, Joe. I tell you, I heard her.
Joe : Which I meantersay, Pip, it might be that her meaning were.

(3) Suffix ‘-ing’
Use of ‘-ing’ from Old English to 18th Century
Example
Swift -Verses on the Death of Dr. Swift (1731)
He labour’d many a fruitless hour
To reconcile his Friends in Power;
Saw Mischeif by a Faction brewing
While they persu’d each others Ruin.
‘-ing’ since 18th Century
Example
Charles Dickens – Great Expectation (1860)
Joe : Old orlick he’s been a bustin’ open a dwelling-ouse
Pip : Whose?

The significance of Social Dialect Studies
Time
Environment
Historical background
Social background Understanding the past
Understanding literature