Language And Dialect: The Ambiguity Of Language

Introduction Haugen says “Language and dialect are ambiguous” because language from a synchronic perspective is seen as either a single linguistic norm or a group of related norms. While in its diachronic form it is defined as a common language amongst its users. According to (Wardhaugh, 2006) Dialect on the other hand is concluded to be the result of either the divergence or convergence of language in the sense that dialect is the outcome of a change in geographical area, social groups thus causing variation in language. A language becomes a language only amongst a group of members who are familiar or rather who speak the same language thus both language and society depend on one another for their existence. The aim of the this assignment

For example the German and Dutch are two different languages but Mandarin and Mexican Chinese are regarded as dialect (Wardhaugh, 2006). This variations lays within the accent lines, were individuals from different regional areas start pronouncing certain words differently which may result in different meaning depending on the context in which it was said. They may even seem to have a different vocabulary. Language generally is associated with writing and speech and lastly with sign, it is not necessarily concerned with the verbal part of it but rather both verbal and non-verbal. Thus one has to be having some kind of knowledge with regards to a particular language in order to be able to communicate, express oneself etc. The concept of language in most cases is very ambiguous in that when looking at language, particular linguistic aspects have to be taken in account together with some social aspects that have an impact on a language. Social aspects include geographical areas, changes in language, migration, rapid cultural changes while the linguistics aspects are; morphology, phonology, syntax

According to (Solano-Flores, 2006) “Dialect is a variety of a language that is distinguished from other varieties of the same language by its pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, discourse conventions and other linguistics features.” People from the same regional may be more familiar with a particular language which is regarded as the standard language, this may be through their contact with the same individuals and the evolution of language. Languages may be evolved from the root Haugen based on his conclusion of language and dialect being ambiguous defined language as “either a single linguistic norm or as a group of related norms, dialect referring to one of the norms” (Wardhaugh, 2006). He stated that “one man’s dialect is another man’s language” in the sense that what may seem as a dialect to one may be a common language to someone else because they have never known any other form of speaking, thus because they don’t understand it even though it is in the same language one