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Accents & Dialects
Key Terms
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Overt Prestige | The standard accent. it is generally acknowledged as ‘correct’ and therefore valued highly among all speakers of the language. |
Covert Prestige | The speech isn't valued within the community, is hidden and isn't as widely recognised. |
Status | The position of an individual in relation to another or others, especially in regard to social or professional positions. |
Accent | A distinctive way of pronouncing a language, especially one associated with a particular country, area, or social class. |
Dialect | A regional variety of language distinguished by features of vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation from geographical regions. |
Estuary English | An accent which is associated with counties around the River Thames and with the counties surrounding it. |
Code-switching | Alternating between two or more languages or varieties of language in conversation. |
Non-standard English | Refers to use of English, especially regarding grammar, that is considered to be sub-standard or not "proper". |
Prescriptivist Attitude | The attitude or belief that one variety of a language is superior to others and should be promoted as such. |
Descriptivist Attitude | The belief that anybody can express themselves how they want to and everybody is different. |
Received Pronounciation (RP) | The standard form of British English pronunciation, based on educated speech in southern England, widely accepted as a standard elsewhere. |