regional dialect of a language usually considered sub-standard?

Answer 1

This statement can't be generalized:
The regional dialect of Florence became Standard Italian; the regional dialect of the Ile de France (around Paris) became Standard French , the regional dialect of north west Java became standard Indonesian.

Answer 2

[albany4me, your crossword clue is "patois" - I suddenly realized what you were after...]

A written language normally conforms to rules of its own, so when rules from a regional dialect that conflict with those rules are used in writing (in a formal context), it often sounds sub-standard (i.e. doesn't conform to the 'standard', the rules of the written language). Most of us also use slang and informal forms that are sub-standard in formal contexts, even if they're non-regional: "we'd" is perfectly good English but we'd all write "we would" in a formal context (a report, an official letter, and probably in a speech).

If I speak Arabic, for example, and write 'raaH' for 'he is going', it is sub-standard - the written word is 'dhahaba'. If I write 'raaH', if I'm not careful readers will infer that I don't know the written language very well. If I say 'dhahaba' to a friend, the friend will know that I don't speak colloquial Arabic very well, because the spoken word is normally 'raaH'. If I'm on television, I'd probably say 'dhahaba' because I'm in a formal situation.

It's the same in English. If I write 'lad' for 'boy' in a formal context, I'm either showing my ignorance of the rules and vocabulary of written English or making a strong statement that may distract the reader from the message I'm trying to convey. If I write 'emmet' for 'ant', I won't even be understood by most readers. On the other hand, in spoken English I'd do best to use the language that comes most naturally to me. Even if I'm speaking formally, if I'm not confident in a language closer to Written English, I'd do better to use my own dialect as a base, but adapted so the regional words people from outside the region might not know are reduced or eased out - I want my listeners to understand my message without language getting in the way. This is in fact what everybody does without even noticing (we all have a dialect: even the Queen's spoken English will vary from her written English unless she's actually making a speech).

So to sum up - spoken languages and written languages are normally subtly different and have slightly different rules. Regional dialects are often quite some way from the written language. If bits of a regional dialect find their way into this formal language accidentally, the resultant mix will seem 'sub-standard'. (And the opposite is true too - to talk about 'the valley' or even more strongly 'the vale' in a Scottish dialect where 'the glen' is normally used is sub-standard, or at least shows you're speaking to an outsider.)

Answer 3

Black country which is near to Birmingham but not a brummy accent, people ridicule the black country accent because it is so strong and uses many slang words and phrases that others don't understand.
Eg) Tay on way means it isn't on us (not our problem)
wow urt means it won't hurt (doesn't matter)
gi it eya means give it here (pass it to me)
so on and so forth, visit the Black Country Musuem in dudley to get the full experience of what I'm talking about.

Answer 4

Yes on the whole but then there is Inverness in Scotland where apparantly the best spoken English is to be found.

Answer 5

I have a lot to say on this topic but I'm not sure what your question is. Feel free to e-mail me.

Answer 6

I think some people think that, but you know, everyone has an accent. Therefore, I think that we must respect how everyone speaks :D