Dialect Matters
Respecting Vernacular Language

Trudgill's lively book traces the histories of dialects and accents, and defends the legitimacy of the language of ordinary people.

Peter Trudgill (Author)

9781107571457, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 4 August 2016

246 pages, 8 b/w illus. 1 map
22.8 x 15.2 x 1.3 cm, 0.4 kg

'We have here a fine resource for students and for the interested general reader. Trudgill's explorations of vernacular language and his critique of 'linguicism' are erudite, socially relevant, and accessible.' Lesley Milroy, Professor Emeritus of Linguistics, University of Michigan

Based on Peter Trudgill's weekly column in the Eastern Daily Press newspaper, this book has two overall messages. The first is that language is a fascinating and enjoyable phenomenon which not enough people know enough about. The second is that we should not discriminate negatively against individuals and groups because of their accent, dialect or native language. Linguistic prejudice, known as 'linguicism', is more publicly and shamelessly demonstrated than racism and sexism, as is 'prescriptivism', the practice of elevating one language or language variety as 'better' than another. Written in an entertaining and accessible style, Trudgill's columns support the language of ordinary people and explore topics such as nonstandard versus standard dialects; vernacular (everyday) language as opposed to politically correct language; informal vocabulary as opposed to business-school jargon; and minority versus majority languages. Each article is also accompanied by notes designed for students and those unfamiliar with the East Anglian setting.

1. History: how things came to be this way
2. Prescriptivism and other useless pastimes
3. Language change: observing and accepting it
4. What is happening to words
5. Languages and dialects in contact and conflict
6. Respecting English grammar
7. Respecting ordinary language
8. Sounds and fury
9. Respecting local speech
10. Grammar: the wonder of it all
11. More about words
12. Origins
13. Accent rules
14. Respecting names.

Subject Areas: Sociolinguistics [CFB], Linguistics [CF], Language [C]