ShmoopTube

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[Dino and Coop singing]

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If you've ever traveled around, you've probably noticed that people in different places don't [People walking around an airport]

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always speak in exactly the same ways.

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For instance, there's no way you're going to confuse a Texan drawl with an Irish brogue.

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Seriously.

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If this kinda talk sounds… [Guy with a ten gallon hat]

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like this kind of talk… [Irish guy]

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Then you might need to get your ears checked.

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So why do different people sound different?

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Easy!

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They just have different dialects.

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A dialect is a way of speaking which differs from the standard form of the language. [Coop pointing at a blackboard]

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They're usually characterized by a particular accent, and different words and phrases. [Dino pointing at a blackboard]

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So when we think of the British dialect, that not only covers their oh-so-pleasant [Queens guard soldier]

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sounding accents…

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…but also their use of words like "tube" for "subway," and "lorry" for "truck."

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Dialects are also specific to a particular area, region, time, or social class. [Coop pointing at a blackboard]

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So when we hear that British person talking…

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…we can not only tell that they're from England…

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…but we can also tell that they're from present day Liverpool!

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If we have a good enough ear, we might even be able to figure out their postal code.

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So what does all this have to do with poetry? [Guy looking confused]

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Well, you might have noticed that when it comes to poetry, a lot of poets like to be

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very choosey with their words, using as few as possible. [Selective crossed out and replaced with choosy]

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It's not like words are crazy expensive these days, but hey, that's their choice. [Spinning wheel of prices]

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However, since different dialects give the reader lots of information about a character's [People on a game show]

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background…

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…a poet can write from a character's perspective, and use their dialect to communicate all that [Guy thinking of the girl from Liverpool]

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information to the reader, free of charge. [Guy has dollar signs in his eyes]

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So if the poet wants to write a poem set in, say, Ireland…

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…they can write the poem from the perspective of an Irish character, in an Irish dialect…

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…the reader will understand, "Hey! [Boy reading]

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This poem's about an Irish person, and it's set in Ireland!"

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And all without giving the poem a clunky title like: "The Poem About an Irish Person that [Boy looking happy]

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Takes Place in Ireland."

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