Some language differences represent

Some language differences represent diverse dialects, or specialized variation of a language. Cultural and social differences and geographic locality influence the development of a dialect. Dialects develop in settings where a group of people communicate within their group more frequently and for a longer period of time than they do with outside groups. As a result of this geographic or social isolation, a specialized form of language develops that is unique to that context or cultural setting. For example, adolescent peer groups often develop their own dialects.
Characteristics of dialects. All dialects and languages are characterized by distinct systematic features with respect to the five aspects of language knowledge: phonetic, semantic, syntactic, morphemic, and pragmatic (Crystal, 1987; Freeman & Freeman, 2004; O’Grady, Archibald, Aronoff, & Rees-Miller, 2005). According to Labov (1995), nonstandard English dialects “show slightly different versions of the same rules [as standard English], extending and modifying the grammatical processes which are common to all dialects of English” (p.54).
In the United States, regional dialects and social dialects are present. People speaking a southern dialect are distinguishable from people speaking a Bostonian or New York dialect; however, people speaking different dialects of the same language generally can comprehend each other’s speech. There are considerable variations among geographic regions and cultural groups with respect to dialect use. Even though a region or a cultural group may be characterized by a commonly used dialect, it is inappropriate to automatically assume that any speaker of that region or that cultural group will use that dialect.
When dialect of the same language are represented in writing, there may be differences in spelling, grammatical structures, and punctuation which will signal the use of the dialect. Sometimes a dialect is used in literature to represent the speech of a particular regional or social-cultural group. Dialect of the same language base are generally understandable by all speakers of the base language; however, communication between speakers of different dialects may be more effortful since the dialects may differ in one or more of the aspects of language, including semantics (vocabulary), syntax (grammar), morphemes (word structure), pragmatics (intent/context of language), or phonetics (sound-symbol relations).
For example, phonetic differences are heard in the way words are articulated. For example, the word creek may be pronounced with an extended e sound (“creek,” as in beet) or with the short i sound (as in pick), as “crick.” Semantic differences occur when different labels are used to refer to the same object or action. In some locales, a drinking fountain is referred to as a bubbler. Syntactic differences involve differences are found in the way sentences are structured. For example, “I don’t got no time to help” and “I have no time to help” reflect syntactic differences. Morphemic differences are found in the way verb endings or other inflectional endings are used, such as gonna or goin’ compared with going to and going. When people are communicating in different dialects, these differences may result in communication that requires more negotiation or clarification.
Pidgin languages. In some areas of the United States, regional dialects have linguistic aspects that came from pidgin languages. A pidgin is a language that developed in response to the interaction of two groups of people who did not initially share a language (Crystal, 1987). During the time of exploration, colonialization, and settlement of North America, pidgin languages developed between the natives and the explorers, traders, or settlers. For example, in the 1800s a pidgin language developed in Hawaii between the English-speaking explorers, settlers, and missionaries and native Hawaiians (Ogata, Sheehey, &Noonan, 2006).