English Language Varieties

What is a Dialect?

A dialect is a variety of a language shared by a group of people. There can be many different dialects of a language that differ from the standardized version of the language. It’s important not to confuse a dialect with an accent. Everyone has an accent: it’s the way that sounds are pronounced. A dialect is different because it may include a change in word order or sentence structure. There can also be different meanings of words. Dialects are influenced by the people someone associates with and where they are from. Other factors include education, class, race, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality (CrashCourse, 2020).

Respecting Dialects

People’s attitudes towards dialects are often connected to the attitudes people have towards the groups of people that speak the dialect. These attitudes can be positive, but there are also negative attitudes. Dialects have rule patterns and structures the same way the general variation of a language does. Although these patterns are different from the standard of the language, dialects are not less superior to the standard language. They are just as complex and purposeful and should be treated with respect. Someone sounding different when using the same language does not make them less intelligent than someone else.

Code-Switching

When students or adults speak a different dialect at home than is used at school or work, they will often code-switch. This means they understand more than one dialect of a language, also known as bidialectal, and can switch between the two as necessary to match the dialect of the people around them. Although code-switching is common, it can increase the cognitive load required for communicating. It’s similar to translating one language to another but with more subtle differences, depending on the density of the dialect, or how much it differs from the general variety of the language.

Dialects in Canada

Canada is a very large country that touches three different oceans. We have less people in our whole country than the state of California. The colonization of Canada also occurred over a period of time with people from different places that moved into areas with different people speaking different First Nations languages. Historically, there’s also been less migration of people within Canada. As a result, there are many different dialects in Canada. They include Aboriginal Canadian English, Cape Breton English, Lunenburg English, Newfoundland English, Ottawa Valley English, Pacific West Coast English, Quebec English, and Inland Canadian English. Since this has been the case for generations, Canadians are typically very respectful of each other’s dialects.

Different Language Registers

In addition to different dialects, people also use different registers of language, often using more than one in given day. Registers are based on who someone is talking to and the situation they are in. There’s the frozen/static register, that is mainly used on official documents that don’t change. Depending on the person, this register may used less frequently. The formal/academic register is used in academic situations includes speeches and announcements. The consultative register is most often used between superiors and subordinates, such as teachers and students, judges and lawyers, and doctors and patients. The casual register is the way people talk to their friends and peers and may include slang. When people are speaking with those closest to them, the intimate register is likely to be used.

Although switching between registers is natural for adults, it’s important to explain the difference to students, especially for how it impacts their writing. Depending on the purpose of the communication, students need to understand that the way they speak or write may need to vary slightly based on the above registers. For example, if they’re working on a piece of writing about science, their language should be more academic or formal rather than casual.

For more on language registers, check out this article by Erick Herrmann:

Language Varities in the Classroom

As a teacher, it’s important to recognize when a student has a dialect that differs from the dialect used in school. The recognition has to come from a place of respect but also with the purpose of supporting the student while being culturally sensitive. Dialects are tied to culture and identity, the same way a first language is. Providing support to students of different dialects means noticing how their dialect differs and how it affects their learning. The goal is to help the student learn to read and write with the standardized spellings. This should be done by building off of what the student already knows, not by erasing their dialect and correcting it like it’s a problem. As long as a student is comprehending word and sentence meaning when reading, the way they pronounce words should not be addressed. Over correcting a student’s pronunciation when they are reading aloud can result in them shutting down and being embarrassed. Additionally, patience and time need to be practiced for written work because extra cognitive load is needed for connecting the words to the different pronunciations. Differences in sentence structure also require time to process. Strategies that can be used to support students with a high-density dialect are similar to those used for supporting ELL students. Figuring out how their dialect contrasts the general variety of the language can provide insight on what pattern or sound a student may be struggling with.

Northern BC

As a teacher in Northern British Columbia, it’s important to understand the differences of First Nations dialects. Pronunciations, content and sentence structure may differ, but body language can also play a role. The use of eye contact, silence, and how questions are treated should all be considered when working with a student that has a First Nations dialect. Additionally, cultural respect involves discussing support with the student’s family. Whether their family wants them to be corrected based on the language standard or their dialect be accepted in their learning as is, the decision needs to come from their family. As stated by Blundon, not consulting with the community means “perpetuating a colonial perspective, which presumes that ‘I know what is best’ for dialect-speaking communities.” With the history of residential schools and assimilation in our country, cultural sensitivity is incredible important.

If teachers are unaware that their students are speaking a nonstandard dialect and do not adopt appropriate pedagogical practices, then they may negatively affect the student’s learning.

Blundon, 2016, p. 225

Failing to realize that a student’s speaking and writing is based on their nonstandard dialect can lead to assumptions about their intellect and result in overcorrecting students verbal and written communication. This would leave the students feeling inadequate or lesser than their peers, resulting in negative effects for the student’s learning. Noticing the difference and communicating with the student that this difference is not a negative thing would have more positive results.

Ready to learn more?

Here are some resources about supporting students with dialects in the classroom:

---

References

CrashCourse. (2020, October 23). Sociolinguistics: Crash Course Linguistics #7. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=of4XzrbkknM

Blundon, Patricia Hart. (2016). “Nonstandard Dialect and Educational Achievement: Potential Implications for First Nations Students” from Canadian Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Volume 40, Number 3.

Herrmann, E. (2015, November 18). Language register: What is it and why does it matter in education?. MultiBriefs. https://exclusive.multibriefs.com/content/language-register-what-is-it-and-why-does-it-matter/education

Marsh, C. (2018, June 28). Why it’s no surprise that Canadians speak in a range of regional dialects as diverse as any in the world. National Post. https://nationalpost.com/entertainment/why-its-no-surprise-that-canadians-speak-in-a-range-of-regional-dialects-as-diverse-as-any-in-the-world