English Dialects
vs.
Standard English
By
Heather Knapp
English Dialects
Here are a variety of definitions to help you in the formation
of your own definition of what an dialect is:
• The form of a language spoken by people in a particular
region or group. Pronunciation, vocabulary, and sentence
structure are affected by dialect.
• An alternate form of a language that differs in some way
from the standard form.
• A variety of language, spoken in one part of a country
(regional dialect), or by people belonging to a particular social
class (social dialect or sociolect), which is different in some
words, grammar, and/or pronunciation from other forms of
the same language.
Example: He been had dat job.
Index
Standard English
Here are a variety of definitions to help you in the formation of your
own definition of what Standard English is:
• The form of English taught in schools and used widely by
professional Americans, including politicians, journalists, and
lawyers. Example: Magazines such as Newsweek and television
news programs generally use Standard English
• A dialect representing English speech and writing
comprehensible to most users
• The variety of English that is generally acknowledged as the
model for the speech and writing of educated speakers
Example: He has had that job for a long time.
Index
Is the sentence a dialect of
English or is it Standard English?
English
Dialect
Standard
English
Index
Is the sentence a dialect of
English or is it Standard English?
English
Dialect
Standard
English
Index
Is the sentence a dialect of
English or is it Standard English?
English
Dialect
Standard
English
Index
What is the Standard
English meaning of the
sentence?
Outen the lights.
A. Turn on the lights.
No
B. Turn off the lights.
Yes
C. Please move the lights.
No
Index
What is the Standard
English meaning of the
sentence?
He finna go to work.
A. He is about to go to work.
B. He goes to work often.
C. He is working
Yes
No
No
Index
Homework
• Write down
conversations you
have or observe
others having.
Next, write those
sentences as you
think they would be
written in Standard
English.
Index
Index
Definitions of English Dialects
Definitions of Standard English
Dialect or Standard English #1
Dialect or Standard English #2
Dialect or Standard English #3
Standard English Meaning #1
Standard English Meaning #2
Homework
THE END