Dialect, Sociolect, And Idiolect

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Dialect, Sociolect, and Idiolect A. Dialect 1. The definition of dialect The term dialect comes from greek language “diakletos” which is used in two different ways. One usage refers to a variety of a language that is characteristic of a particular group of the language speakers. The other usage refers to a language socially subordinate to a regional or national standard language. For example in our national standard language ( Bahasa Indonesia) there are several dialects minang dialect,Javanese dialect,and sundanese dialect for instances and in our regional standard language ( Bahasa Minangkabau) there are several dialects such as Payakumbuh dialect,Bukittingi dialect, and Pariaman dialect. A dialect is distinguished by its vocabulary for example the standard vocabulary “apo” (to say what) in Minang language can be “aya” in Malalak dialect and “a” in Bukittinggi dialect, grammar for example the standard Englisa grammar “ tell me what do you know” becomes “ tell me what thou knowest” in Yorkshire dialect, pronounciation or phonology for instances in American English a word “duty” is pronounced /d'i:ti/ but /dju:ti/ in British English, in Betawi dialect a word ending in “a” will be pronounced “e” kemana /kemane/ siapa /siape etc. Many people think that dialects are corrupted form of a language spoken by ignorant people who make mistakes grammatically This is not at all true. A standard language is not linguistically better than other dialects. It is simply the dialect that has been adopted for official purpose such as government nad education. Some examples of English dialect forms: “I ba’int ready” in standard English grammar “I’m not ready” “He don’t like it” in standard English grammar “he doesn’t like it” I wants a rest ( I want a rest) Can ye no help

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