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A Dialect is a form of language that is spoken among a specific group or in a particular region. To level is to make something equal or similar. With this understanding, what do you think Dialect levelling is? Fig. 1 - Dialect levelling involves minimising or reducing one's dialectal features.The definition of dialect levelling…
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Jetzt kostenlos anmeldenA Dialect is a form of language that is spoken among a specific group or in a particular region. To level is to make something equal or similar. With this understanding, what do you think Dialect levelling is?
Fig. 1 - Dialect levelling involves minimising or reducing one's dialectal features.
The definition of dialect levelling is the process by which the differences and variations between certain dialects are reduced or eliminated over time.
Dialect levelling occurs through the mixing of different cultures, typically through migration and other forms of interaction over a long period of time. As a result, the unique features of dialects are often lost. It seems to occur most frequently in languages following the industrialisation and modernisation of the areas where they are spoken.
Dialect levelling can occur over several generations, merging two or more dialects into one compromised dialect and typically erasing individual regional features. The dialects experience standardisation, eliminating the distinctiveness of each dialect and establishing a singular mainstream dialect.
As it unfolds over time, dialect levelling results in the dialects and speech varieties of various parts of a country becoming increasingly similar. It is the process of reducing language diversity.
Fig. 2 - Dialects can emerge over several generations and so can dialect levelling.
What are the causes of dialect levelling? According to Gerard Van Herk, researchers in New Zealand concluded there is a three-stage process to dialect levelling:
The 1st generation of immigrants maintains its dialect.
The 2nd generation picks language from the linguistic options available where they live.
The 3rd generation levels out any difference, opting for the most popular variant of language.
How does Social Interaction lead to dialect levelling?
Increasing geographical mobility makes increasing interaction between speakers of different dialects possible as migrants settle in different communities.
Social mobility also means interaction between members of different social classes with different dialects. Oftentimes, lower classes attempting to assimilate with higher classes feel pressure to minimise any differences between their own dialect and the dialect of those from the higher class.
Adolescents often adopt language affectations from their peer group in shared spaces such as school or extracurricular clubs, rather than from their parents.
Dialect levelling happens in different ways and for different reasons depending on location. In this section, we'll focus on regional dialect levelling in Britain.
Dialects in Britain reflect social class and geographical location, among other things. There are many examples of dialects and dialect levelling in Britain. Consider how someone in the North might pronounce the word 'gutter' as 'gooh-tah' versus how a London youth might pronounce it as 'gu-ah', replacing the 't' with a glottal stop. Or consider how some Britons would say 'isn't', some would say 'ain't' and some would say 'in't'.
To give a past example of dialect levelling, take the evolution of the London dialect that occurred following the arrival of immigrants from the north of England in the fifteenth century. Their dialect evolved into more southern speech varieties.
Accent and dialect are sometimes taken to mean similar things and indeed, they are closely related. However, they are not the same thing and it's important to know the distinction between them.
An Accent is:
A dialect is:
As you can see from these descriptions, an accent is a part of what makes up a dialect. Different accents and dialects within a country enable people to connect with one another, differentiate themselves from others when desired, and help to preserve the cultural history and heritage of a certain place. Accent and dialect are two factors which will also contribute significantly to an individual's sense of identity.
Research points to a number of reasons for dialect levelling in Britain. Here are some possible reasons for it:
Economic change led to industrialisation and modernisation. Britons were no longer working in rural employment, and so they moved to other parts of the country.
World Wars meant soldiers, all with different British dialects, were forced into close proximity with each other. This obviously led to the merging and intermingling of individual dialects.
The popularity of media, TV and radio to be specific, may have contributed to the prevalence of southern accents in the North. This is because popular media typically broadcast from the south, London in particular.
Fig. 3 - Technology and industry are significant factors that influence dialect levelling,
The English language is a rich and ever-evolving phenomenon that can be used in many diverse and interesting ways. Does dialect levelling threaten the future of dialects?
There are some negatives to dialect levelling. Primarily, the erasure of the uniqueness of individuality of dialects. It means certain cultural quirks are now lost forever.
However, dialect levelling is a result of increased human interaction between speakers of different classes/ locations. This is surely a good thing, as it must mean society is becoming more integrated, sharing an increasingly uniform dialect.
Furthermore, it is unclear whether dialect levelling will eventually cause the erasure of dialects altogether. There is such a wide variety of dialects that it seems impossible. As immigration continues, it seems likely that groups will strive to maintain the unique qualities of their individual dialects. For this reason, dialect levelling can never truly erase different dialects. There will always be individual communities that will preserve their linguistic culture.
Dialect levelling seems to occur most frequently in languages following the industrialisation and modernisation of the areas where they are spoken.
The three-step process of dialect levelling:
The main reasons for dialect levelling are: increased social and geographical mobility, youth culture, popularity of media like TV/ radio, industrialisation/ modernisation.
Dialect levelling is the process by which the differences and variations between certain dialects are reduced or eliminated over time.
The main argument against dialect leveling is the diminution of diversity. If dialects are losing their uniqueness, that is to some degree a loss of cultural identity to the speakers of that dialect.
Dialect levelling can signal power as people can alter their ways of speaking and using language in order to appear a certain way to others and gain a more favourable position. For example, if a person changes their language use to a more formal or standard variety of English, they might be viewed as more intellectual or important by others.
People can use dialect levelling to fit in more easily with different social groups, or to fit in more with people who have similar backgrounds to their own. This can help to strengthen community ties as well as help people to build new relationships.
Dialect levelling is caused by contact between different dialects, most commonly through migration and other extended interactions. Dialect levelling can also happen over generations as dialects and language use evolve over time.
Flashcards in Dialect Levelling25
Start learningWhat is a dialect?
A dialect is a form of language that is spoken amongst a specific group or in a particular region.
Fill in the blanks: Dialect levelling is the process by which the differences and variations between certain dialects are ________ or ________ over time.
A: reduced; eliminated
reduced; eliminated
In the context of dialect levelling, what does it mean to ‘level’ something?
To drop it
TRUE or FALSE: Dialect levelling occurs over the space of 15 years
TRUE: It has been proven that dialect levelling typically occurs over the space of 15 years
What is step 1 in the process of dialect levelling?
The original generation to immigrate to this location kept and continued their home dialect
Fill in the blanks: As it unfolds over time, dialect levelling results in the dialects and speech varieties of various parts of a country becoming increasingly _______
similar
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