Comparing Dialects and Registers of English Worksheets

Related ELA Standard: L.5.3.B

Core Standard
Answer Keys Here

We often think of English as a set language based on where we are located, but English has many different forms. In fact, there are thought to be over one-hundred and fifty different dialects. A dialect is a social or geographically acceptable form of word pronunciation, grammar, and syntax. It can even go a bit further as to how a language speaker feels or internally predicts language that is appropriate to the region they are communicating with. This series of worksheets help learner realize the expected dialect or register that is expected of their speech patterns.

Dialects and Registers Worksheets To Print:

Who Are You Talking To? – Determine if each sentence is too polite, not polite enough, or just right.

Reading Dialect – We look at the work Ethan Frome.

Revealing Character Through Dialogue – See how the character comes to life through the use of vivid words.

Varieties of English – Spot the difference of word meaning between British and U.S. English.

Comparing and Contrasting Characters through Dialogue – Read carefully into the thoughts of Eliza and William.

Dialect and Voice – Read the passage. Then use the cluster diagram to identify the dialect and voice of each character.

Dialect with Standard English – Fill out the rest of the table for each word or phrase you enter. The first one has been done for you.

Identifying Registers – Read each line of dialogue below. Sort them according to the level of formality of the setting and the relationship of the characters.

Standard English | Dialect – Each sentence below draws a comparison between dialect and the standard English language.

Dialect | Accent – The sentences below are from Thomas Hardy's novel Tess of D'Urbervilles. Read each sentence. Does it convey accent, dialect, or both?

The Happy Chef – Read the paragraph and answer the questions.

Be the Editor – You are the editor of the school newspaper, and you gave three different reporters the same assignment: report the results of the school Spelling Bee.

Understanding Registers – For each scenario provided below, choose the register of speech that is the most appropriate.

The Pink Planet – The goal of the narrative voice in literature is to speak in a way that is consistent with the reality it illustrates.

Register – Read each snippet of dialogue below. Is the register of the response appropriate to the register of the question?

How to Compare Dialects and Registers of English?


English is one single language, but the number of its dialects is uncountable. Every other day, a new regional dialect or register of the English language is reported to be found and is considered an official variety of the English language. Due to its status as the official language for communication across the world and a large number of people speaking it for various purposes, the number of dialects of the English language is only increasing.


Comparing and contrasting various dialects and registers of the English language like American English, British English, Australian English, Canadian English, Irish English, and others is an art which many master perfectly. Here are some ways in which these different dialects and registers can be compared and contrasted:


Comparing Words and Meanings


The English words spoken in different parts of the world have different meanings and uses. Learning more and more about the vocabulary uses in different English registers and dialects can easily assist one in comparing one dialect with another and marking which one is which. For example, the front part of the car is known as hood, bonnet, chapeau, lid, and has many other names depending on the area where it being spoken. Moreover, one single word can have different meanings in different dialects and comparing those can give a good difference between the dialects and registers of different regions.


Comparing Pronunciation


Spoken accents are always a great way to compare, contrast, and mark different dialects and registers of the same language. The stress on some sounds while the omission of other, specific ways of producing one phoneme, and other such differences are easily evident in the speakers of two different dialects being compared.


Comparing Grammar and Written Forms


Different dialects and registers of the same language follow different grammatical patterns and have different spellings and other written elements which can be contrasted easily.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Tornado! Preview