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Language Dialectal Variations

This document discusses different types of language variation including dialects, creoles, patois, standard varieties, slang, foreign English, and Rasta English. It defines each type of language variation and provides examples. Dialects refer to variations characteristic of a particular group or region. Creoles result from contact between colonizers' and colonized peoples' languages. Patois refers negatively to non-standard regional dialects. Standard varieties are used formally and educate the masses. Slang is informal language that changes over time. Foreign English describes variations outside one's country. Rasta English is spoken by Rastafarians and differentiates itself through specialized vocabulary.

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Shannya Mathurin
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294 views

Language Dialectal Variations

This document discusses different types of language variation including dialects, creoles, patois, standard varieties, slang, foreign English, and Rasta English. It defines each type of language variation and provides examples. Dialects refer to variations characteristic of a particular group or region. Creoles result from contact between colonizers' and colonized peoples' languages. Patois refers negatively to non-standard regional dialects. Standard varieties are used formally and educate the masses. Slang is informal language that changes over time. Foreign English describes variations outside one's country. Rasta English is spoken by Rastafarians and differentiates itself through specialized vocabulary.

Uploaded by

Shannya Mathurin
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CAPE Communication Studies

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 particular 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 (E.g., 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 European 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 indigenous to Jamaica, spoken by a religious group of
persons called Rastafarians. This variety differentiates 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).

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