comm studies notes

7/31/2019 Comm Studies Notes

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Language (Dialectal) Variation

Language Variation or Dialectal Variation, refers to changes in language due to various influences. These

include, social, geographic, individual and group factors.

Dialect

This refers to the variety of language characteristic of a particualar group of people in a given speech

community (country) or region. For example one may refer to a Caribbean dialect as there are certain

vocabulary items and sentence structures that Caribbean countries have in common.

Creole

There is no definition of creole that is accepted by all. The meaning of the word 'creole' has changed

considerably over the years. However, it is normally used to refer to a dialect or language which results

from contact between the language of a colonizing people and the language of a colonized people. In

the Caribbean, Creole languages are as a result of contact between English, French, Spanish, Portuguese,

Dutch (languages of the colonizers) and West African languages (languages of the colonized).

Patois

Patois is a word of French origin which translates most closely, in French, to mean 'gibbrish'. It was a

word used to describe how foreign and strange Creole languages sounded to the speakers of European

languages. Patois is used to refer to a geographical dialect which differs from the standard language

spoken in a given country. In Jamaica, for example, the word patois is used to refer to the English based

creole spoken. Patois carries the usual negative associations and lack of prestige which characterize non-

standard, rural or regional dialects.

Standard Variety (Eg, English, French)

This is the variety of language or dialect that is used for formal, official and education purposes. It is also

used as an instrument for mass education and communication causing it to acquire greater prestige and

uniformity. (Creoles have been observed to lack uniformity as a result of not being standardized.) Most

Caribbean countries have a Eurpoean language as its standard variety for formal, official purposes and a

Creole language for informal communication amongst native, family and friends. The notable exception

is Haiti where the French Creole was made an official language alongside French.

Slang

This is a popular, fashionable use of words and phrases which may be either old words given new

meaning or completely new words. In the same way that fashion changes, so do slang expressions. Slang

is a normal part of everyday speech but may not be acceptable in certain formal settings. When used in

formal writing, in particular, these expressions should be put in inverted commas (For e.g, 'wicked'-

Jamaican slang for good/amazing, 'off the chain'-American slang for exciting/good)

Foreign English



This refers to varieties of the English language spoken by persons not from ones country.

Rasta English

This refers to a special variety of English indegenous to Jamaica, spoken by a religious group of persons

called Rastafarians. This variety diffrentiates itself from standard and non-standard English by use of

different, specialized vocabulary items. The psychology of 'no contradiction' extends to all aspects of a

Rastafarian's life, including language. Hence because it sounds contradictory for oppress -/up-res/ to

mean held down in liFe, Rastafarians refer to this verb as downpress. Likewise instead of participation -

/part-icipation/ to mean being fully involved they refer to this noun as fullticipation. The language is also

characterized by use of 'I' to signify positivity and the importance of the individual in relation to another,

so instead of 'You and I', Rasta would refer to us as 'I and I' to signify that we are both equal in

importance. Irie, refers to a good vibe and Ital food refers to food considered good for the body (i.e,

Vegetarian based food).

Language Registers

Register refers to the percieved attitude and level of formality associated with a variety of language. The

relationship between the writer's attitude and the variety chosen is very important in the study of

written language. In face to face speech, the listener can easily interpret the attitude of the speaker by

examining the speaker's tone of voice, facial expressions and overall body language. This is not possible

in writing. The writer has to use speacialized features of discourse to convey or mask attitudes. It is then

the reader's reponsibility to correctly interpret the writer's attitude, tone and level of formality.

Language Registers range on a scale from most formal to most informal. The five levels identified have

been given specialized names by Linguists; frozen, formal, consultative, casual and intimate.

1. Frozen: This is where the use of language is fixed and relatively static. The national pledge, anthem,

school creeds and The Lord's Prayer are examples of a frozen register. In essence it is language that does

not require any feedback.

Example: "All visitors are invited to proceed upstairs immediately."

2. Formal: This describes language used in official and ceremonial settings. For example in court, in a

business meeting, at a swearing in ceremony, in an interview or in a classroom etc. The language used in

these settings is comparatively rigid and has a set, agreed upon vocabulary that is well documented. In

other words, the language used is often of a standard variety.

Example: "Would everyone please proceed upstairs at once?"

3. Consultative: This describes language used for the purpose of seeking assistance as is suggested by

the word 'consult'. It also describes the language used between a superior and subordinate. In both

cases one person is deemed as more knowledgeable and having greater expertise and the other person



is the beneficiary of such knowledge and expertise. The language dynamism between lawyer/client,

doctor/patient, employer/employee and teacher/student are examples of this type of register.

Example: "Would you all please go upstairs right away?"

4. Casual/Informal: This describes language used between friends. It is often very relaxed and focused

on just getting the information out. Slangs are quite often used in these instances.

Example: "Come on upstairs now."

5. Intimate: This is used to describe language used between persons who share a close relationship or

bond. This register would take into account certain terms of endearment, slangs or expressions whose

meaning is shared with a small subset of persons. For example lovers having special terms of

endearment, mothers giving pet names to their children based on some character trait and best friends

formulating slangs based on some shared past experience.

Example: "Come up nuh/ Unu naa go up?/ Unu naa forward?"

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