idiolect
a speech pattern unique to an individual, based on dialect and personal speaking habit
Standard American English (SAE)
a form of English that is relatively devoid of regional characteristics; the English used in textbooks and by national broadcasters
formal standard English
the English of dictionaries, grammar books, and most printed manner; the idealized form of English used in teaching English
informal standard English
based on listener judgements of patterns of spoken English deemed to be acceptable or not
vernacular dialect
the variety of language spoken by a non-standard speaker of a language
accent modification
therapy for a non-native speaker of English, designed to increase speech intelligibility, without jeopardizing the integrity of the individual's first dialect
Telsur Project
a telephone survey conducted by the University if Pennsylvania to study variation in vowel production across the United States
chain shift
a dialectal modification in the pronunciation of English vowels, reflecting an alteration in their place of production; the change in the articulatory target for one vowel has a relative effect on the targets for one
vowel merger
a dialectal modification in which vowels with separate articulations fuse into one similar place of articulation
Northern Cities Shift
an ongoing change in the production of vowels, causing a shift from their standard place of articulation in the vowel quadrilateral; seen in the northern tier of the United States in cities such as Cleveland, Detroit, and Buffalo
Southern Shift
an ongoing change in the production of vowels, causing a shift from their standard place of articulation in the vowel quadrilateral; this shift is seen in the southern, middle Atlantic, and southern mountain states
Back Upglide Shift
a chain shift associated with the South
Low Back Merger
a dialectal variation reflecting a change in the articulatory targets so that no differentiation occurs in their production; characteristic of certain Western, Midwestern, and New England speakers
General American English
sometimes used synonymously with Standard American English to denote a form of English devoid of any regional pronunciation; may be used when comparing regional or ethnic dialects to a national "standard
Southern American English
a regional dialect spoken in the Southern and South Midland states
diphthong simplification/monophthongization
the process of producing a diphthong as a monophthong
derhotacization
the loss of r-coloring of the central vowels and postvocalic /r/
Eastern American English
a regional dialect of English spoken in the New England states and in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania
sociolect
a dialect associated with a particular social class
ethnolect
a dialect associated with a particular ethnic group
African American English (AAE)
a dialect of English, spoken throughout the United States, traced back to the dialects of English spoken in Britain and brought to America by British settlers; also referred to as Black English, Black English Vernacular, African American Vernacular Englis
pidgin
a language that results when individuals speaking two different languages begin to communicate; typically characterized as having a reduced vocabulary and grammar
creole
a pidgin language that is passed on to a new generation of users
language transfer
the incorporation of native language features into the target language as the second language is being learned
English Language Learner (ELL)
an individual who is attempting to master English as a second language