While there exist many languages in the world, most, if not all, languages have variations that are determined by a number of factors. They can range from location to social determinants such as: age, gender, economic status, or even ethnicity. This brings us to the study of dialect in linguistics.
What is Dialect?
Dialect refers to the variety of a language that is used by a group of people. Languages have variants including the standard variety, and they are all known as dialects. Different groups use language differently. Even though they speak the same language, there are some differences that can be detected from their variety of language, which is seen in the slight variation in their lexicon—the words they use, their pronunciation—their accents, and their grammars—the rules that guide their language use.
Take for instance: British English, which is the standard variety of English, has the words: Apartment, and Candy, while American English, which is a dialect of English has: Flat, and Sweets also referring to the same objects. In British English, the "t's", are usually omitted in pronunciation when they appear in word medial position, while in American English, they are pronounced. Furthermore, in British English you say: "I'll be back, shortly", when you have to leave for a while, but in Nigerian English you say: "I'm coming", which shows the differences in grammar.
Dialect is also popularly defined to accommodate two concepts as the variation of a language used by people in a particular geographical area, and the variation of language used by people belonging to the same social group. This definition breaks dialect into two concepts known as regional dialect, and social dialect.
Regional Dialect
Also known as regiolect, refers to the variety of language used by people in a particular area or region. The variety of the English language used in the south eastern region of Nigeria, is different from that used in the south western region of Nigeria, and those varieties are heavily influenced by the cultural heritage of those regions. When people located in different parts of the world speak the same language, but with slight variations in lexicon, pronunciation, and grammar, we refer to such varieties as regional dialects.
Social Dialect
Also known as sociolect, refers to the variation of language based on social factors. This approach to understanding dialect is based on the notion that different social groups tend to use language differently, even as they use the same language. Social dialect is influenced by social factors such as: age, gender, socio-economic status, profession, religion, education, etc.,.
Age: A person's age determines the variety of language they use. Children tend to use simpler words than teenagers and adults. Also, they do not typically use swear words, or vulgar language or even slangs like teenagers and adults.
Gender: Men and women use language differently. While men have been known to use language in a report style, usually bent on stating facts, women tend to use language in the rapport style usually for the sake of building relationships.
Socio-Economic Status: A person's socio-economic status can influence their use of language. People belonging to the upper class in society will typically use a more elevated variation of language, due to their education and experience, than those in the middle or lower class.
Profession: A person's profession goes a long way in determining the variety of language they use in communication. For instance; the variety of language used by lawyers is different from that used by doctors, and this is determined by the differences in their jargon.
Religion: A person's religion also determines the variety of language they use. A christians choice of words can vary from that of a Muslim, a Buddhist, a hinduist, etc., even when they speak the same language.
Education: A person's level of education determines the variety of language they use. The variety of language used by students at university level will differ from that used by students at junior or middle school. Also, the educational institution a person attends has a way of influencing their use of language. For instance, a person that schooled in Harvard will speak differently from someone that schooled in a local educational institution.
Ethnic Dialect
While many tend to leave it out, ethnic dialect is as important to the understanding of dialect as regional and social dialect. Ethnic dialect is the variety of a language used by people that belong to the same ethnic group. It is different from regional dialect in that, while people in a particular region may speak the same variety of a language, they may not belong to the same speech community or ethnic group, whereas ethnic dialect is the variety of a language used by people that belong to the same ethnic group. For instance, the variety of English spoken in England is slightly different from that spoken in Scotland.
So dialect is primarily concerned with the many variations of a language that exist. It has to do with the regional variety of language known as regional dialect, and the social variety of language known as social dialect, not excluding the ethnic variety known as ethnic dialect. Understanding dialect will better inform you on the various factors that can lead to differences in the use of language by different groups of people.
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