5 Questions
What influences the pronunciation of English language?
Social factors such as education and upbringing
What distinguishes the pronunciation of localities in the British Isles?
Peculiar features
What is causing the dialectal differences to become less marked?
Communication media such as radio, TV, cinema
What are the varieties of one and the same language known as?
Dialects
What is the general trend in the differences between dialect speakers?
Becoming less marked
Study Notes
Factors Influencing English Pronunciation
- Geographical location and social class influence the pronunciation of the English language.
- History of language contact and language change also play a role in shaping pronunciation.
Dialectal Variations in the British Isles
- Regional accents and dialects in the British Isles are distinguished by distinct pronunciation features.
- Examples include the "short a" in Northeast England, "long a" in the Southwest, and "flat a" in the Midlands.
Dialectal Convergence
- Dialectal differences are becoming less marked due to increased mobility, urbanization, and mass media.
- This has led to a decline in regional peculiarities and a more homogeneous pronunciation across the British Isles.
Language Varieties
- Varieties of the same language that are distinct from standard language are known as dialects.
- Dialects can be regional, social, or ethnic in nature.
Dialect Speaker Trends
- There is a general trend towards dialect levelling, where dialect speakers shift towards more standardized pronunciation.
- This shift is often driven by social and economic factors, such as education and social mobility.
Test your knowledge of English pronunciation with this quiz that explores the unique features of various regional accents in the British Isles. Learn about the social influences on pronunciation and discover the commonalities shared across different varieties of English pronunciation.
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