Branches of linguistics. Synchronic vs diachronic approaches to the language study. Lexicology – ‘the science of the word’ Lexicon

The recorded data are presented in the form of linguistic maps which facilitate the interpretation of the specific geographic distribution and the structure of individual features from a historical, cultural, social (extralinguistic), and language-internal (intralinguistic) point of view.

A linguistic atlas is a comprehensive representation of dialectal features for a whole region or a whole linguistic area.

40. Standard English: characteristic features and the problem of definition.

-a variety of English with standardised pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary and spelling that have no local base;

-used as the norm of communication by the government, law courts, and media;

-taught to native speakers in school and to learners of English as a foreign language;

-a canon of literature and translations;

-prestigious within a country;

-only a minority of people within a country (e.g. radio newscasters, translators) use it. Most people speak a variety of regional English, or a mixture of standard and regional English.

41. Local dialects in the British Isles. Scottish English. Irish English.

Dialects

Northern

Midland

Eastern

Western

Southern

Variants

Scottish English

Irish English