Bridging the Gap: Studying Dialectal Differences in Interactions
Open Access
Author:
Long, Shannon
Area of Honors:
Communication Sciences and Disorders
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Navin Viswanathan, Thesis Supervisor Carol Anne Miller, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
language dialect bilingual
Abstract:
In order to effectively communicate with others, it is crucial to comprehend the intended message being conveyed. However, communication barriers can arise when individuals speak the same language but different dialects. This can lead to confusion as similar-sounding words may be misinterpreted, resulting in a misunderstanding of the overall message. When this happens, do individuals adjust their dialect to bridge this communication gap? Specifically, we will focus on individuals with a Pennsylvania dialect and those with an Indian English dialect. By conducting matching examinations via Zoom, we will aim to analyze how participants’ dialects evolve throughout the conversation. Through our proposed study, we aim to gain insights that will inform us on the potential adaptability of dialects in cross-dialect communication scenarios.