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Unit 4American Literature

Resource Manager

Final PDFs

THE NOTORIOUS JUMPING FROG OF CALAVERAS COUNTY COPY MASTER

Reading Skill

UNDERSTAND DIALECT

Dialect is the distinct form of a language as it is spoken in a geographic area by particular social or ethnic groups. In a dialect, certain words are spelled and pronounced differently. Twain uses unconventional spelling and pronunciation to reproduce the sound of the words in the dialect. To understand Twain’s dialect, read slowly and use context clues.

Directions: In the first column of the chart, record unfamiliar words or examples of dialect. In the right column, record what you think they mean. One has been done for you.

Dialect Meaning

“Well, thish-yer Smiley had rat terriers . . .” thish-yer = this here

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