Variety: Regional and Social Dialects Pertemuan 6 Matakuliah: G0362/Sociolingustics Tahun: 2007

Bina Nusantara Learning Outcomes Pada akhir pertemuan ini, diharapkan mahasiswa akan mampu : Mengenal berbagai varietas bahasa Inggris Membedakan antara aksen, dialek dan bahasa

Bina Nusantara Outline Materi Regional variations: International and Intra-national variations Dialects: Regional and Social Accents Standard English

Bina Nusantara When someone speaks, in general, reveals : –Gender –Where he/she comes from –Social status (e.g. education, rank) –Age

Bina Nusantara Regional Variation In different regions of a country, there can be some variations in the language used. These variations can be in the pronunciation, the vocabulary, or even grammar. But, it is very apparent that the language is the same language. e.g. the Scotts speak English distinctively different from speakers in England.

Bina Nusantara International Varieties Some well-known varieties: –American English –British English –Singapore English –New Zealand English –Australian English –South African –Indian English

Bina Nusantara American vs. British English Difference in Pronunciation –E.g. [gra:s] vs. [gr æ s] Difference in vocabulary –E.g. boot vs. trunk Difference in grammar –Have you got …? vs. Do you have ? Can you find more?

Bina Nusantara Australian English Australian English is unique in both pronunciation and vocabulary. The following is some examples in its vocabulary –A bloke = a guy –Sheila(s)= girl(s) –Deli = delicatessen (a corner shop selling daily needs like milk, bread, newspaper, etc.)

Bina Nusantara Other Features of AuE High rising terminal (although this is not uniquely Australian, but it is very apparent in Australian and NZ speakers) Long vowels : Sydney  ‘Seedneey’ Aboriginal English (see

Bina Nusantara New Zealand English Beside its vocabulary which is largely derived from Maori language for place names, animal names, Maori ritual terms, etc., NZE is different from other varieties. Their front vowels (/e/, /i:/, / I /, /u/,/ae/) are very short and fronted. That is why “check in” sounds like ”chicken” and ‘pen’ and ‘pin’ sound the same.

Bina Nusantara Intra-national and Intra-continental Intra-national  within the same country –Example: Yorkshire, Lancashire, in England. Intra continental  within the same continent –E.g. in the United States of America, the Southerners are easily identified from the Northeners.

Bina Nusantara Dialects There are two kinds of dialects: o Regional o Social Regional Dialects are distinguishable from their pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar Accents are differed by pronunciation alone (Can you notice some differences in the Javanese used by people from different areas of Java?)

Bina Nusantara Social Accents In England, many centuries ago, royalties can be recognised by their regional dialects. However in the early 20 th century, regional accents were spoken by the upper class (educated people, mostly in private schools where they learned to speak RP) RP = Received Pronunciation, is the variety used by the Queen, and popularized by the BBC.

Bina Nusantara Social and Regional accent variation (from Trudgill 1983) RP Many regional varieties at the bottom of the class People in the highest social class speak the same variety: RP Social variation Regional variation

Bina Nusantara Social Dialects However the picture has slightly changed In this diagram, the peak is truncated, that means the variation is used by more people—the educated upper class. This variation is called Standard English Social variation Regional variation

Bina Nusantara Standard English Do you have a match? Have you a match? The above sentences would be accepted by the English native speakers of the upper class as standard English (RP). In this case, the highest social class allow a variation within the member of their class. (hence, the truncated triangle)

Bina Nusantara Conclusion There are different varieties of English: –By regions: International and Intra-national –Dialects: regional and social