How Language Varies: Register, Dialect, and Sociolect · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Sorting speech by situation, region, and group

English · Vocabulary · ages 16-18
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. Which feature points to region rather than situation?

    • A vowel sound used across the town
    • A polite phrase used in interviews
    • A short answer used in a hurry

  2. A speaker uses formal English in an exam and slang with friends. What is this?

    • A change of region
    • A shift of register
    • A speech defect

  3. Every dialect follows its own consistent rules.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. Which response treats a dialect feature correctly?

    • Describe it in grammar terms
    • Mark it wrong at once
    • Ignore it as noise

  5. A speaker turns formal mid-chat when a teacher joins. What prompted the shift?

    • A new hometown
    • A new first language
    • A new listener

  6. A transcript mixes place sounds, group slang, and formal grammar. What does that show?

    • The speaker has no first language
    • Real speech mixes all three kinds of variation
    • Slang is always a mistake

  7. A learner finds one unusual verb ending and declares a new dialect. What is the flaw?

    • Verb endings never vary
    • One example may be a slip, not a system
    • Only sounds can vary

  8. Two learners debate one shifted sentence. How should they settle it?

    • Count the words in the sentence
    • Ask which variety sounds nicer
    • Point to the new listener, topic, or goal behind the shift
LightMySky · lightmysky.comW1-mt_SJ9T1azPop-s1

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Sorting speech by situation, region, and group W1-mt_SJ9T1azPop-s1

  1. A vowel sound used across the town · A sound shared across a place is carried by the regional dialect.
  2. A shift of register · Register is the variety fitted to the moment, so it shifts with the room.
  3. True · Each variety is rule governed, which is why grammar terms fit it.
  4. Describe it in grammar terms · A feature stated in grammar terms is described, not judged.
  5. A new listener · A new listener changes the moment, and register follows the moment.
  6. Real speech mixes all three kinds of variation · Situation, region, and group all speak at once in real talk.
  7. One example may be a slip, not a system · Three matching examples make a system; one odd word may be a slip.
  8. Point to the new listener, topic, or goal behind the shift · A shift is defended by naming the prompt that caused it.
Worksheet · LightMySky