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African American English
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Dialect Collection

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CAL Collection of American English Dialect Recordings
As part of the Library of Congress American Memory series, this digitized collection of archived recordings documents North American English dialects and is now accessible to the public online. Browse the collection.

Resource Corner

Do You Speak American?
CAL staff wrote the viewers' guide for Do You Speak American? (DYSA) , a PBS program that explores how the language we use can define us, unite us, or separate us. CAL also developed a series of curriculum units with background information and activities for using the program in high school and college classes and in teacher professional development. Learn more about DYSA.

  

Dialects

Virtually every language in the world has dialects—varieties of the language that are particular to a group of speakers. Dialects vary by region and by social group. Dialect diversity, or language variation, reflects the fact that languages change over time and that people who live in the same area or maintain the same social identity share language norms; in other words, they speak the same dialect.

Although many people believe that the variety of language they and the people around them speak is not a dialect, in reality, everyone speaks a dialect, since dialects are simply varieties of the same language. Many people also believe that there is only one correct form of a language, but in truth, no dialect is superior to another on linguistic grounds. All dialects are systematic language varieties that follow regular patterns of vocabulary choice, grammar, and pronunciation.

However, misconceptions persist regarding the use of different language varieties in the United States, especially in schools. While these issues have been recognized for years, and linguists have been conducting research to develop a better understanding of dialect patterns and attitudes toward U.S. dialects, much work remains to be done to develop dialect awareness and acceptance. To help inform the discussion, the Center for Applied Linguistics has created and collected a variety of resources related to dialects and language diversity.

African American English
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Projects

Do You Speak American?
Learn more about this project.

Publications

Dialects in Schools and Communities
This book describes dialect differences in American English and their impact on education and everyday life. Learn more.

Sociolinguistic Variation: Theories, Methods, and Applications
Learn more.

Literacy and Language Diversity in the United States
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Download our related digests

Teaching About Dialects

Vernacular Dialects in U.S. Schools

Browse our complete collection of digests.

For more information, contact Carolyn Adger.