Folk Dialect

Homefun on Folkspeech:

According to Brunvand, "The simplest level of verbal folklore is the traditional word, expression, usage, or name that is current in a folk group or in a particular region....Folklorists are interested in the use of dialect within groups, the retention of outmoded dialect forms in folk texts, and in the linguistic changes that take place as texts are transmitted orally." In America we have regional, occupational, social, and ethnic variation in dialect. No doubt that dialect can be a means of communicating one's culture, and this can create a positive sense of group solidarity and/or produce discrimination between other groups. There is also a relative prestige attached to each dialect. According to Paul Fussell, author of A Guide Through the American Status System, "A very little attention to the different idioms of the classes should persuade the most sentimental not only that there is a tight system of social class in this country but that linguistic class lines are crossed only rarely and with great difficulty." While it is possible to move between economic classes, George Orwell notes that "the manners and traditions learned by each class in childhood are not only very different but--this is the essential point--generally persist from birth to death." Whether or not you agree with Fussell or Orwell, it would certainly seem that the social and economic consequences of dialect is an area of folklore worthy of more study. Also, it is true that a number of people certainly have the ability to switch from one dialect to another--I have a friend from North Carolina that can, depending on his audience, sound like Jesse Helms or a New-age Californian.

Although not mandatory, completing the following homefun sheet should help you better understand some of the terminology and concepts presented in our reading.
Image of free bar appetizer AKA "bowl bait."

(1) Every job has its own jargon, and folklorists are interested in both its collection and analysis. It's not unusual to hear a high school teacher refer to a prom as a "dope and grope." I have even heard a health club staff member refer to the tightly stretched fabric on an overweight client as "spamdex." Most recently, I have come across such terms as "Alpha Geek": the most techno savvy person in a group; "Assmosis": the process describing how some people become successful, i.e. , kissing up to the boss rather than hard work; "404" refers to someone who is clueless (comes from the error message you get on the Internet if the page you are looking for is not found). Try to think of a couple examples you have come across. Also try to offer a brief reason why the term might be used (its function). If you can't think of any terms right away, ask a friend or two to help. As a last resort, write down examples from our Brunvand text.

(2) Some mnemonic devices, such as Roy G. Biv (way to remember the order of colors in the spectrum) are quite popular. Others, such as "can dead men vote twice?" are only known to a limited group (navel cadets learning compass corrections: Compass, deviation, magnetic, variation, and true). Do you know any other mnemonic devices?

(3) There are many initialisms that are widespread and known to most Americans. The "popularity" of some of these acronyms and abbreviations has led to the creation of mocking derivations. For example, BUD, often seen as simply short for Budweiser, is also know to represent "Best Until Drunk." DELTA: Doesn't Even Leave The Airport." AT&T as "Allied thieves and Thugs." These derivations are often offered as riddles, as in "Do you know what PTL stands for? Pass the Loot." Can you think of anymore of these mocking derivations?

(4) Some Acronyms or in-group folk expressions are only known to certain occupational or other limited member groups. For example, some postal workers refer to zip code as IQ. I have also been told that some firefighters use the acronym "UFO" to represent both "undetermined fire origin" or "unidentified fried object." Do you know any acronyms that are not widespread?

(5) Some groups truly have a secret language; in fact, a few people of Boonville, California can still speak Boontling--a language created by children and incorporated and expanded by the adults. Children especially seem to create secrete languages, such as Pig Latin, and enjoy using it around adults. Do you know any secret languages? Can you provide a short example and translation?

(6) It is not unusual to name certain possessions. In fact, cars, guns and pets seem to be most often named. Write down any names you have used:

(7) Can you briefly define the following terms or concepts: Dialect, vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, regional variation in dialect, what is meant by "folk group," and occupational vocabulary.