Plan: The characteristics of a dialect

The nature of a dialect in english
Plan:
1. The characteristics of a dialect
2.Purpose of a dialect
3. The Difference Between Language and Dialect
Translating Language Dialects
The word “dialect” typically refers to a variation of a language used by a select group of speakers. Here are some characteristics to help you identify it:
variations in grammar
variations in vocabulary
variations in prosody
variations in usage patterns
likely will not have its own written literature
likely will not be specific to a state or nation of its own
likely specific to a region
possibly specific to the social class of speakers
Before going into issues relevant to translating, be aware these are just some of the most common attributes related to what linguists refer to as dialects and not all of these criteria need to be met.
Usually, while translating something for a specific country, you would choose the official language of that particular State. In fact, each region may have various dialects of a given language, but the official variant would usually be a common denominator. This means even speakers of another dialect would usually be fluent in the official version of a language as well, while also accepting translations into the standard dialect.

However, there are some cases where the official language is a variation of an idiom with much broader coverage. Examples are British English vs. American English or Canadian French vs. Parisian French. German for Germany, Switzerland, or Austria. Or Spanish for any one of the many Spanish-speaking countries that each lay claim to specific variations of the language.

So, how do you behave in that case?
…on your budget: Translation can be a sizable portion of your marketing budget. It makes a difference whether you translate into one French or two, one Spanish or two, or four or ten.
…on the source text: Highly technical texts such as scientific papers, pharmaceutical product information, or patent specifications are unlikely to differ much from dialect to dialect. Nevertheless, texts that are written in a casual tone about everyday topics would probably use words, idioms, or styles that are specific to the region.
…on the target regions: The difference between written Spanish for Chile and Peru is likely negligible, but both may have usages that are different enough from e.g. Mexican Spanish or U.S. Spanish to warrant some adaptation (see B).
…on your goals: Are you just trying to get basic information across, or do you want to connect with local end consumers? In the first case, it may be perfectly acceptable to send High German texts to Switzerland. But if you want to appear Canadian, you would want to make sure to not use expressions that are obviously Parisian.
In many cases of dialect variations, it may be sufficient to edit a translation in order to adapt it for a different dialect region. Let’s say you have a 100-page Spanish document that you want to use in the U.S. and in Britain. It would be quite inefficient to go through the full translation process twice. In most cases, you’d probably translate into one of the dialects and then have another translator go through to make necessary adjustments to spelling or verbiage.
In the case your translators work with a translation memory tool (which they probably should), then the dialect adaptation should also be done in the tool.
You could ask someone to just mark up a PDF and change the output document, however, we recommend you not to. If your original source document changes, you would actually want to rely on the translation memory tool to repopulate all translations that are unaffected. And you would want to have this option for all target dialects at once. So, talk to us before you make costly mistakes by taking what seems to be a shortcut.
Before you adjust a text for a dialect, you should take a careful look. Doing so may be altogether unnecessary in some cases, while in others, it may not only be appropriate but even essential. If you know people on the ground, show them a translation sample and ask them whether it is acceptable for their region. Or come to us for linguistic analysis. Our in-country translators can not only perform the task of dialect adaptation, they can also provide you with a prior report on the utility and necessity of doing so.

Dialect can be a powerful tool to help writers bring the characters they have created to life. A writer might use dialect, along with accent, to distinguish a character's unique way of speaking—and in doing so, illustrate their place of origin, cultural background, or social class. It is critically important to use this device with sensitivity, as imprudent application can do more harm than good.

In the past, writers often used dialect in a way that devolved into stereotypes and other offensive characterizations—something that is unacceptable to today's readers—and also frequently impacted readability. While writers still use dialect today to create believable, authentic characters, the rules surrounding its use have changed and writers should be careful to avoid missteps.

Dialect vs. accent

Before we delve into the topic, it's important to understand what dialect is, and how it differs from accent. Dialect, according to Merriam-Webster, is "a regional variety of language distinguished by features of vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation from other regional varieties and constituting together with them a single language." Accent, on the other hand, refers to "an individual's distinctive or characteristic inflection, tone, or choice of words." Essentially, accent is the specific part of dialect that relates to how something is pronounced, so a character's accent is, therefore, part of his dialect.
As the use of dialect in your writing can be a double-edged sword, it's important to first ask yourself if it is absolutely necessary for your characterization process. This website suggests that an easy way to determine whether you really need to use dialect is to answer the following questions:
Is dialect integral to the story (for example, is it used to reinforce the main character's outsider status in a close-knit regional community)?
Are there stereotypical expressions associated with the accent or dialect you should take care to contextualize, use sparingly or avoid?
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How to Effectively Use Dialect in Fiction Writing
Tonya Thompson
Tonya Thompson
March 4, 2019 UZT
Dialect can be a powerful tool to help writers bring the characters they have created to life. A writer might use dialect, along with accent, to distinguish a character's unique way of speaking—and in doing so, illustrate their place of origin, cultural background, or social class. It is critically important to use this device with sensitivity, as imprudent application can do more harm than good.

In the past, writers often used dialect in a way that devolved into stereotypes and other offensive characterizations—something that is unacceptable to today's readers—and also frequently impacted readability. While writers still use dialect today to create believable, authentic characters, the rules surrounding its use have changed and writers should be careful to avoid missteps.

Dialect vs. accent
Before we delve into the topic, it's important to understand what dialect is, and how it differs from accent. Dialect, according to Merriam-Webster, is "a regional variety of language distinguished by features of vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation from other regional varieties and constituting together with them a single language." Accent, on the other hand, refers to "an individual's distinctive or characteristic inflection, tone, or choice of words." Essentially, accent is the specific part of dialect that relates to how something is pronounced, so a character's accent is, therefore, part of his dialect.
As the use of dialect in your writing can be a double-edged sword, it's important to first ask yourself if it is absolutely necessary for your characterization process. This website suggests that an easy way to determine whether you really need to use dialect is to answer the following questions:
Is dialect integral to the story (for example, is it used to reinforce the main character's outsider status in a close-knit regional community)?
Are there stereotypical expressions associated with the accent or dialect you should take care to contextualize, use sparingly or avoid?
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A more considered approach
Once you have determined that dialect is truly necessary for your writing, you need to find a way to maintain your character's authenticity without crossing the line into caricature. This is especially a concern if the character you are creating is part of a culture other than your own.
One way writers are circumventing this issue is the use of what is known as "eye-dialect," which are nonstandard spellings of words that represent standard pronunciations. These words are pronounced phonetically the exact same way as the original word. In a dialect of people living in the Southern United States, some examples of eye-dialect might be: fur (for), tu (to), frum (from), deth (death), wuz (was), uv (of), and sez (says).
When the reader sees the words, although they are slightly misspelled, they are easy to read because the misspellings are phonetically pronounced the same way the correct spelling is pronounced. Therefore, as the reader is reading the words aloud in his or her mind, there is a natural connection and understanding that takes place. This stylistic choice the author made serves three functions:
It makes it easier for the reader to read and understand.
There is still characterization happening.
As it is spoken and the misspelling is the author's choice (rather than the speaker's), there is no insinuation regarding the class or education status of the speaker.
In her thesis entitled "Writing in Dialect in Fiction: A History and Study," children's author Jennifer Sommer writes: The perpetual dilemma for the writer is to determine how far to go in accuracy in dialect without losing the reader.
Throughout her thesis, Sommer traces the progression of the use of dialect throughout American literary history to the present day, where she admits there is much conflict for writers who seek to create authentic characters without crossing the lines of caricature through dialect. As an example of modern literature that gets it right, she mentions the book Somewhere in the Darkness by Walter Dean Myers, a book set in the Bronx with African American characters. She notes that the change in dialogue to reflect characterization is minimal, yet effective. Specifically, she discusses how the use of language in dialogue immediately causes the reader to begin reading the dialogue with understanding of the accent, especially through dropping certain words, using "ain't," and incorporating short, choppy sentences, without turning the characters into provincial curiosities:
"Day before yesterday," Maurice said. "But check this out. Tony just nicked the dude and he was screaming and carrying on like he had stabbed him through the heart or something."
"No lie?"
"Yeah, hey, look, you want to play some ball tonight?"
"I don't know."
"You give up ball or something, man?" Maurice looked at him sideways. "We playing Richie and his crew."
"I'll see how I'm feeling," Jimmy said.
"You ain't going to play, "Maurice said. "You getting to be another jive dude, man.
Somewhere in the Darkness by Walter Dean Myers
This passage, in contrast to passages written in earlier, more controversial works like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, show how dialect can be successfully used in fiction without going overboard, and thus creating caricatures or racially-charged stereotypes. Particularly, it can be accomplished through slang, eye-dialect, and dialogue that focuses more on syntax (the arrangement of words) than phonetic reinventions of words.
When phonetic reinventions of words are used in the extreme, as exemplified in some early American literature, the result is a character that is portrayed as highly uneducated and of lower social status. This use of language can come across as offensive and stereotypical, thereby ruining an otherwise great story. In modern writing, the best way to avoid these problems is moderation and careful consideration of the connotations of a dialect's use.
A contemporary author who applies the new rules of dialogue well is J.K. Rowling. Take, for instance, the dialogue of Hagrid, one of the most beloved characters of her Harry Potter series:
"I am what I am, an' I'm not ashamed. 'Never be ashamed,' my ol' dad used ter say, 'there's some who'll hold it against you, but they're not worth botherin' with.' An' he was right."
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
Hagrid's dialect helps to build his character and distinguish him from other characters throughout the series. However, instead of being over-the-top and difficult to read, the dialogue that Rowling writes for Hagrid contains more eye-dialect and syntax variation than other characters. These small changes are enough to allow Hagrid's "voice" to take on an authentic West Country English accent, as discussed in this article. Author J.K. Rowling's use of dialect for the character of Hagrid helps distinguish him from other characters.
As a conclusion to Sommer's thesis on dialect, the author offers several suggestions for maintaining authenticity of character dialect without veering into the realm of caricature or overt racism. Included in those suggestions, she posits that authors should:
Avoid respellings that would mislead readers about the status of the speaker.
Pepper a narrative with occasional uses of the dialect. For example, to illuminate a Cajun character, you might reference items specific to that culture such as "jambalaya" (a traditional Cajun dish), employ greetings and kinship terms that use non-standard English, such as, "Hey Grand-pere" (how a Cajun grandson might greet his grandfather), or incorporate Cajun French phrases like "tu connais" (you know), "mais yeah" (but yes), and "cher/chere" (dear) throughout the text.
Let the reader know explicitly when the characters have changed language, such as "Here the speaker turned to Jean Thompson, and changed his speech to English" letting the reader know exactly how educated or literate the character is when speaking in Standard English.
Use well-known sentence structure (syntax) that exemplifies the dialect, such as in Cajun, "Why should I be ashame of that, me?"
Further, Sommer agrees that the best person to write dialect is someone who grew up or lives within the particular area or subculture that uses it. In such, a writer such as Paul Lawrence Dunbar was (in a sense) justified in using African American dialect in his writing, while Mark Twain was not. This could potentially explain why Twain's books have been banned in several places because the diction (word choice) and dialect used were considered offensive and unsuitable for a more informed, aware, modern audience.
Ultimately, dialect via uncommon syntax and alternate spelling of words can be a compelling way to differentiate characters and build characterization—as long as its use is limited, readability is maintained, and careful consideration is given to how it is applied.

The definition of a dialect is a form of any language spoken by a specific group of people. For example, all English speakers speak the English language, but there are several dialects among different regions and groups. Within English, there is standard English, Southern English, African American Vernacular English, Appalachian English, British English, and so on.

The definition of a dialect in literature is a form of a language in which an author writes their dialogue. Many times, authors will write characters' dialogue in a particular dialect in their literature to add authenticity and substance to the characters. Using dialects in literature can be extremely influential in building a character and can also reveal a great deal about a novel's setting. This is because dialects are often tied to specific locations; for example, many people who live in the Yorkshire region of Northern England speak the Yorkshire dialect of English. Dialects can also be distracting to readers; if the dialogue is written in dialect, it can be hard for readers to focus on what a character is actually saying. Therefore, it is best to use caution as an author writing in dialect.
Diction and dialect are both tools that writers can use to develop their characters; however, there are differences between the two.
Dialects:
A dialect is a form of a language spoken by a smaller group.
Someone's accent is a part of their dialect. In this way, sometimes someone's accent can show where they are from.
Some examples of dialects include Standard dialect, southern American dialect, African American Vernacular English, and Appalachian dialect.
Diction:
Diction involves word choice, or the specific words that someone chooses to use.
Someone's diction determines how effectively their chosen words communicate their ideas to their audience.
Someone can use different diction or choose their words differently than someone who speaks the same dialect as they do and make the same point.
For example, if someone says they are "a hop, skip, and a jump away," they mean, "I am not far away." These phrases convey the same meaning and are using the same dialect, but the diction or word choice used in the phrases is different.
When we talk about languages spoken around the world, people often use the words language and dialect interchangeably. There is a clear difference between the two terms, but you might be surprised to learn that the distinction isn’t always clear cut.
Most people share a general understanding of what we mean when we say ‘language’, but how do word professionals actually define the word? The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines it as “the words, their pronunciation, and the methods of combining them used and understood by a community.” That’s a good start, but linguists push for a deeper definition.
According to linguists, a language is an abstract system of symbols and meanings governed by grammatical rules. There are generally two main aspects of a language: spoken and written. This is not always the case, though, as many languages do not have a written form. Other ancient or ‘dead’ languages now only exist in text and have no living native speakers. Speaking is the primary aspect of most languages since the functions of writing and reading follow behind speaking and listening.
A dialect is sometimes viewed as a subset or ‘type’ of a particular language. It is broadly defined as “a version of a language spoken in a particular geographical area or by a particular group of people.” If the broader language is the parent, then the dialect is the child. Dialects are social or regional variations of a language that are distinguished by grammar, pronunciation, and/or vocabulary. Dialects often differ from the standardised version of the language. One example of this relationship are Cantonese and Mandarin, which are considered dialects of a broader language, Chinese.
Based on these definitions, the differences between the two terms seem simple. Languages are broader, and dialects are smaller and more specific, and often regional. Languages are thought of as more formal and clearly defined, whereas dialects can be looser and more fluid in use. Oftentimes, languages are adopted as “official” by countries and states, but dialects rarely are. As linguist Max Weinreich once wrote, “a language is a dialect with an army and a navy.” Once we start digging down, things become even more complicated.
People from different countries usually sound very different from one another. However, this is often the case for people from different regions within the same country, too. These differences can be so distinct that native speakers of a language can easily guess where someone is from based on their accent alone. Someone from London and someone from Liverpool can guess where the other is from, as can people from Texas and New York, or Spain and Mexico; are these considered different dialects?
While an accent is a distinctive part of what defines a dialect, it’s not the only factor. A dialect also has distinct vocabulary and may have its own grammatical forms or uses. Oftentimes, geographical areas with their own accent also come with their own slang, phrases, or vocabulary in common use. For example, a ‘bloke’ in London is a ‘guy’ in New York, a ‘lorry’ is a ‘truck’, and a ‘lift’ is an ‘elevator’. With both accent and vocabulary differences, is this enough? English clearly has dialects, and perhaps more than you think. There are literally hundreds of dialects, from the UK and US to Canada, Australia and the Caribbean, and even smaller delineations between Scots, Welsh, and “The Queen’s English.” Dialects are commonly found in other widely international languages such as Spanish and French.
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Beelinguapp Blog The Difference Between Language and Dialect: Who decides and why does it matter?
The Difference Between Language and Dialect: Who decides and why does it matter?
Blog
April 05, 2022
By Sophia Williams
Two friends laughing together
What Is the Difference Between Language and Dialect
When we talk about languages spoken around the world, people often use the words language and dialect interchangeably. There is a clear difference between the two terms, but you might be surprised to learn that the distinction isn’t always clear cut.

What Is A Language?

Most people share a general understanding of what we mean when we say ‘language’, but how do word professionals actually define the word? The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines it as “the words, their pronunciation, and the methods of combining them used and understood by a community.” That’s a good start, but linguists push for a deeper definition.

According to linguists, a language is an abstract system of symbols and meanings governed by grammatical rules. There are generally two main aspects of a language: spoken and written. This is not always the case, though, as many languages do not have a written form. Other ancient or ‘dead’ languages now only exist in text and have no living native speakers. Speaking is the primary aspect of most languages since the functions of writing and reading follow behind speaking and listening.

So Then What’s A Dialect?

Two women taking a cup of coffe

A dialect is sometimes viewed as a subset or ‘type’ of a particular language. It is broadly defined as “a version of a language spoken in a particular geographical area or by a particular group of people.” If the broader language is the parent, then the dialect is the child. Dialects are social or regional variations of a language that are distinguished by grammar, pronunciation, and/or vocabulary. Dialects often differ from the standardised version of the language. One example of this relationship are Cantonese and Mandarin, which are considered dialects of a broader language, Chinese.

Based on these definitions, the differences between the two terms seem simple. Languages are broader, and dialects are smaller and more specific, and often regional. Languages are thought of as more formal and clearly defined, whereas dialects can be looser and more fluid in use. Oftentimes, languages are adopted as “official” by countries and states, but dialects rarely are. As linguist Max Weinreich once wrote, “a language is a dialect with an army and a navy.” Once we start digging down, things become even more complicated.

Then Is An Accent A Dialect??

People from different countries usually sound very different from one another. However, this is often the case for people from different regions within the same country, too. These differences can be so distinct that native speakers of a language can easily guess where someone is from based on their accent alone. Someone from London and someone from Liverpool can guess where the other is from, as can people from Texas and New York, or Spain and Mexico; are these considered different dialects?

While an accent is a distinctive part of what defines a dialect, it’s not the only factor. A dialect also has distinct vocabulary and may have its own grammatical forms or uses. Oftentimes, geographical areas with their own accent also come with their own slang, phrases, or vocabulary in common use. For example, a ‘bloke’ in London is a ‘guy’ in New York, a ‘lorry’ is a ‘truck’, and a ‘lift’ is an ‘elevator’. With both accent and vocabulary differences, is this enough? English clearly has dialects, and perhaps more than you think. There are literally hundreds of dialects, from the UK and US to Canada, Australia and the Caribbean, and even smaller delineations between Scots, Welsh, and “The Queen’s English.” Dialects are commonly found in other widely international languages such as Spanish and French.

Are Similar Languages Just Dialects?

African American guy counting his fingers to another guy
A person from Madrid and a person from Peru speak different dialects of the same language, Spanish. They can understand each other because the types of language they speak come from a common root of Latin. But then, what about Portuguese? There are many similarities between Spanish and Portuguese, and both share a common root. Speakers of the two languages may, with difficulty, generally understand each other. So are Spanish and Portuguese just dialects of one another? What about the other Romance languages, such as French and Italian? Are they all just dialects of Latin?
The answer is a firm “no”, but linguists are unclear on exactly why. This is where even the professionals disagree, and the definitions of the terms start to break down. Where does that leave us with Mandarin and Cantonese? The two dialects are so different from one another that there is no understanding between the two, and yet they’re considered dialects rather than distinct languages. Some people say that the difference is cultural, that because Spain and Portugal, or Peru and Brazil, have distinct cultures, then they have different languages rather than dialects. On the other hand, Mandarin and Cantonese speakers both come from China and share a similar culture.
One of the biggest talking points in the linguist community is the idea of “mutual intelligibility.” This is the idea that in order to be considered a dialect, two ways of speaking must be understandable by listeners of both dialects. Therefore, all of the English dialects are considered to be part of the English language, but Mandarin and Cantonese are different languages because they lack shared intelligibility.
When even linguists don’t agree, we know we’re in a tricky area. Even professionals and academics take more of a “I know it when I see it” approach to the terms rather than settling on a distinct definition of dialects. The boundaries between the subjects are too blurred to differentiate, as some languages are defined as dialects while some dialects seem to have all the aspects to be considered a language. This is the beauty of human language, and the upside to this is that without clear definitions, no one can tell you that you’re wrong! Where you draw the line between the two is really up to you.