Everyone has a unique way of talking, speaking, and conversing. The way someone talks can say a lot about who they are, where they come from, and how they like to communicate. So throughout history and the world, you will no doubt have noticed people speaking in different dialects. But what is a dialect? How can you identify a dialect? And what are some best practices for applying it to your work?
Dialect Meaning
Defining ‘what is a dialect’
It’s important to understand that dialect and accent are not exactly the same, as the two are often used interchangeably. A subset of the greater dialect umbrella, an accent has more to do with the way words are pronounced. Diction is also different from dialect, as it refers to word choice, but that does play a part in dialects and the different ones that exist.
DIALECT DEFINITION
What is a dialect?
A dialect is the speech, grammar, diction, and pronunciation of a select group of people. Dialects are often regional, being specific to certain places and specific communities. As language evolves over time, so do dialects, and the way certain groups talk will change over time. Dialects can sometimes clue us into the background of a character; it can also give the character a strong sense of individuality. Dialects can thus function as a strong way to give a character personality. At the same time, dialects have sometimes been used stereotypically, so its use can be tricky if care is not taken.
Dialect characteristics include:
- Specific word choice and pronunciation when talking.
- Cluing us into the character’s background, upbringing, education, etc.
- Giving a character a strong personality or easy way to differentiate them from the rest of the cast.
English Dialects Examples
Dialect in Literature
Distinctions in dialect and the way characters talk has been expressed in literature for centuries. Since literature is written to be read, the way characters in which characters communicate becomes a major source of both personality and memorability. Early popular examples of dialect in literature can be seen in the works of William Shakespeare, though that also doubles as theater, since those words are meant to be performed and spoken aloud.
A more recent but still at least over a century old example would be the works of Mark Twain. Characters like Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn are distinct due to their Southern dialects. What’s more, they can be easily understood by those not familiar with the dialect, something that can be tricky to pull off. In some ways, while Twain was reflecting on the times of the setting and the people of the region, it also grounds the characters and stories as people who very well could have–and in some way did–exist.
What is a dialect • dialect vs accent
An even more recent example would be Hagrid of the Harry Potter franchise (both books and movies). He speaks in a very distinct dialect that is expressed easily and understandably in the books, as well as in the movies. The books specifically point out how he pronounces words like “your/you’re” and “yer.” This can also be caught in the movies if you pay close attention; otherwise you can just tell Hagrid speaks differently, even if you can’t pinpoint why.
Dialect examples • dialect vs language
You may have noticed some of the examples here come from film adaptations of literature. We’ll dig into that a bit further in the next section.
Related Posts
Types of Dialect
Dialect in Film
When it comes to movies, there are plenty of dialect examples. One could argue there are too many examples, especially when there are at least two videos from WIRED featuring a dialect coach breaking down accents used by actors in movies. The existence of dialect coaches is also important to note, since plenty of actors everywhere have them to make sure their voices are as accurate as can be, whether the dialect is minor or extreme.
What is a dialect • dialect vs accent
When talking about this topic at length, one ends up mentioning specific examples of dialects in film. One that comes to mind is that of a British actor (Tom Hiddleston) playing a Midwestern American and a Canadian (Alison Pill) playing an American Southerner in Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris (2011).
Dialect examples • types of dialect
A famous example would also be Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump, playing the titular role of a Southern man from Alabama whose life is one big adventure. Due to the setting, Hanks is not the only actor in the movie with a Deep South dialect, as Sally Field and Robin Wright also sport it.
What is a dialect • Forrest Gump Dialect
A pretty popular example comes from The Departed, which showcases the use of Boston dialects. Most of the main cast sports them, and then there’s also Boston’s own Mark Wahlberg, who doesn’t need to fake it.
Dialect examples • english dialects examples
There are also actors who have a distinct way of talking that they rarely, if ever, change for a movie, meaning you’ll hear that way of talking every single time. Matthew McConaughey is a good example, pretty much always letting everyone remember his Texas roots.
What is a dialect • dialect vs language
There are no shortages of dialect examples, and there is no doubt you will encounter them all over. So if you decide to put dialects into your next project, keep in mind some of the greats and how best to execute them in your script and finished product.
Up Next
What are the types of characters in a story?
After learning more about dialects, you can look over our article covering the different types of characters in a story. This article serves as a great base for looking into all types of character types, including protagonist, antagonists, and many others, with plenty of examples.
