# Why do people talk in dialect but post on the Web in pure English? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 1, 2015, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-talk-in-dialect-but-post-on-the-web-in-pure-english/733100 "2015-10-01T01:24:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-talk-in-dialect-but-post-on-the-web-in-pure-english/733100/41 "2015-10-01T17:22:32Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > We are used to their written responses and have no idea what their real voices are like. I sound like Mutley imitating Burl Ives. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-talk-in-dialect-but-post-on-the-web-in-pure-english/733100/42 "2015-10-01T17:23:25Z")
> [@GrumpyBunny](#): > > 01000010011000010110100000101110001000000110110001100101011001010111010000100000011100110111000001100101011000010110101100100000011000010110111001100100001000000111010001100101011110000111010000100000011100110111000001100101011000010110101100100000011000010111001001100101001000000110000101101100011011000010000001101010011011110110100001101110011011100110100101100101001011010110001101101111011011010110010100101101011011000110000101110100011001010110110001101001011001010111001100101110 By posting in ASCII, you’ve identified yourself as a newb yourself. e399a493a84096938440a292f0f09340959695609796a28599a240a4a28540c5c2c3c4c9c3 ETA: I probably should have done that in binary Baudot instead, but whatevs. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-talk-in-dialect-but-post-on-the-web-in-pure-english/733100/43 "2015-10-01T17:44:10Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Must be quite a shock meeting somebody you’ve know online. We are used to their written responses and have no idea what their real voices are like. I sound like a demon-possessed Swedish chef. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-talk-in-dialect-but-post-on-the-web-in-pure-english/733100/44 "2015-10-01T17:53:46Z")
I get teased for using words like “y’all” and “reckon” in some of my groups. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-talk-in-dialect-but-post-on-the-web-in-pure-english/733100/45 "2015-10-01T17:55:58Z")
I’m the love child of Lovey Howell and Harvey Fierstein. ---
**Author:** ![BeeGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@BeeGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeeGee)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-talk-in-dialect-but-post-on-the-web-in-pure-english/733100/46 "2015-10-01T17:59:55Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > . Somebody has to pay me, to write college level English. What does it take to get you to write with fourth grade comma placement? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-talk-in-dialect-but-post-on-the-web-in-pure-english/733100/47 "2015-10-01T18:00:50Z")
> [@GrumpyBunny](#): > > Same here. > > Also, I don’t think I’ve ever asked anyone “how’s it hangin’?” That was a common greeting during my high school days. Especially with my teammates. Its just an informal and shorter way of asking a guy how they are doing. I still use the expression talking with my old friends from high school. Never with anyone else. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-talk-in-dialect-but-post-on-the-web-in-pure-english/733100/48 "2015-10-01T18:30:19Z")
> [@Rushgeekgirl](#): > > I get teased for using words like “y’all” and “reckon” in some of my groups. Yes, we do see some regionalisms here, like “soda” “pop” “a coke”, “Soft drink”, etc. I started a cool thread about what one calls a sub-sandwich. > **[Hoagie, grinder, Sub, Hero, Po'boy...](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=727969)** > > Are these all basically the same sandwich with different regional names, or are there differences that are mostly agreed upon? To me, a Submarine or Sub sandwich was always Italian Cold cuts, but others make them with everything. The condiment was... [http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2013/09/american-regionalisms/](http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2013/09/american-regionalisms/) I use a few spellings which are #2, such as “Thru” and “Nite”. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-talk-in-dialect-but-post-on-the-web-in-pure-english/733100/49 "2015-10-01T20:18:38Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > What does “non-prestige” dialect mean? And whatever it means, did you also learn to read and write in it? Meaning a dialect that is considered prestigious by the community of speakers. I learned to read and write in Standard American English and it’s not a big departure from my native dialect but that’s irrelevant other than I write the way I feel most comfortable which just happens to be the socially approved way to write. I was born on third base; I didn’t hit a triple. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-talk-in-dialect-but-post-on-the-web-in-pure-english/733100/50 "2015-10-01T20:22:53Z")
Actually, my posts here are filled with vulgarities and colorful turns of phrases compared to how I speak in real life. IRL, I speak only using prepositions. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-talk-in-dialect-but-post-on-the-web-in-pure-english/733100/51 "2015-10-01T20:41:31Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > What does “non-prestige” dialect mean? Brooklynese, “hillbilly,” and African American Vermacular English are non-prestige dialects of American English. If you speak in these dialects, people will think you’re stupid no matter how smart you actually are. Learning to speak standard English if you grew up using one of these dialects will be an advantage. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-talk-in-dialect-but-post-on-the-web-in-pure-english/733100/52 "2015-10-01T21:09:23Z")
I wasn’t thinking about kids and their text speak in the OP. I don’t think they actually talk that way. Isn’t that a written dialect? What I really was thinking of was the dialogue great writers use to define their characters. Tennessee Williams was masterful in writing Southern characters. Some of that was brilliant acting and some his dialogue. Writing at that level, on message boards and emails is beyond must people. It’s definitely beyond me. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-talk-in-dialect-but-post-on-the-web-in-pure-english/733100/53 "2015-10-01T21:15:18Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > … Vermacular … Great typo! That word really struck me funny. It means … No wait, it means …, No that isn’t right, it means … I can’t settle on what it does mean, but each of the several possibilities is an awesome mix of erudite and silly. Bravo. ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-talk-in-dialect-but-post-on-the-web-in-pure-english/733100/54 "2015-10-01T21:23:37Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#): > > d00d! u |` || 31337 h4x0r!!!111 15 7h47 3v3n r34l l337 5p34k? ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2015, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-talk-in-dialect-but-post-on-the-web-in-pure-english/733100/55 "2015-10-02T12:08:35Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Brooklynese, “hillbilly,” and African American Vermacular English are non-prestige dialects of American English. If you speak in these dialects, people will think you’re stupid no matter how smart you actually are. Learning to speak standard English if you grew up using one of these dialects will be an advantage. Oh, ok. I am aware of that but I guess I never thought of , just, ya know, like talking regular and stuff as prestigious 😃 But, aren’t people who grow up using those dialects still taught to read and write in standard English (aside from those that don’t / can’t attend school)? ---
**Author:** ![Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47c2d/32.png) [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hershele_Ostropoler)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2015, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-talk-in-dialect-but-post-on-the-web-in-pure-english/733100/56 "2015-10-02T19:36:50Z")
Most of my deviations from General American are in pronunciation, and that doesn’t come through in a text-based medium. I try to avoid regionalisms that may be ambiguous, or that I think will be so unclear or obscure even in context that a significant portion of the audience will be brought up short, but other than that I don’t avoid posting “in dialect.” ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2015, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-talk-in-dialect-but-post-on-the-web-in-pure-english/733100/57 "2015-10-02T19:44:51Z")
When you speak to someone face to face you have context. You have your facial expressions, your hand gestures, your emphasis and intonation. Plus, you probably know the person you are speaking to and you have some history or familiarity. You can also backtrack and instantly correct yourself if you misspeak. Typing anonymously on the internet you have none of that. All you have is grammar, punctuation and (properly spelled) words to convey your meaning. You have a need to be precise in order to get your point across correctly the first time. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2015, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-talk-in-dialect-but-post-on-the-web-in-pure-english/733100/58 "2015-10-02T19:44:52Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > I don’t speak in a dialect at all. I speak the way I write, in standard American English. Ha ha ha… oh wait, you’re serious? ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2015, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-talk-in-dialect-but-post-on-the-web-in-pure-english/733100/59 "2015-10-02T19:47:35Z")
Everyone should embrace “y’all”. The loss of a distinction between singular and plural second-person pronouns is a bug in standard English. “Y’all” is the fix. I employ it without shame. As for txtspk: Of course, I would \*never \*write like that. It mostly makes me go “WTF”. That’s just IMO, though, YMMV. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2015, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-talk-in-dialect-but-post-on-the-web-in-pure-english/733100/60 "2015-10-02T19:48:12Z")
I don’t understand why that’s funny, **RickJay**. There is a standard American English (both spelling and pronunciation) and there is standard British English. A standard “American English” accent is similar to the one used by anchors on the national news, and has no overt locale or class-based accent. ETA: **Martin Bigfoot** – I still use y’all, and because of that one of my Indian pals now does as well. You ever heard “y’all” said in an educated, Indian-English accent? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-talk-in-dialect-but-post-on-the-web-in-pure-english/733100.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-talk-in-dialect-but-post-on-the-web-in-pure-english/733100.md?page=4)