The English language is still traveling across the globe, varying away from its ancestors since it has homes across every continent.
Then we’ll go on a global trip of English all over the world and discover the ways in which English differs from one place to another location. The focus will be on the impact of native languages on local English use and borrowing words that have contributed to the English vocabulary. Also, we’ll look at the integration of some of the most commonly used standards, British and American English as well as different varieties of English like regional dialects, pidgins and creoles.
Worldwide English commonalities
At present, English is spoken as the major native language in more than 19 nations. There are many countries in which English does not exist as not the primary language spoken that it is, often, a way to facilitate the communication of government officials and businesses among various categories. Standard English can also be an educational language and employment in a lot of these nations.
In the process of mixing with native languages, English becomes the basis for creoles, pidgins and various forms of patois to be used in daily day life.
English as a globe-trotter
Phrases and loanwords borrowed from native languages from all over the world provide flavor and variety to English. In the same way the newest English versions reflect certain words and phrases that have become obsolete in the standard English.
Global English accents
Akin to a time capsule remains of English accents that were spoken centuries ago are still present in a variety of global forms of English. The older English vowel sounds could provide clues to the time when English began to be a part of the linguistic environment of a particular locale. The way that the letters “R” is said will often tell you if you are using British as well as American English.
A variety of large audio libraries of English expressions, words and texts show the different accents across the world of English:
- Forvo
- The British Library’s Accents and Languages Archive
- International Dialects of English Archive (IDEA)
- The Speech Accent Archive at George Mason University
Dialects of British and Irish English
The islands in Great Britain and Ireland are full of a variety of English dialects, accents and the usage.
Starting from the Liverpudlian lilt that was popularized by the Beatles and The the Queen’s English, England itself is home to a myriad of distinct regional accents. Cornwall, Wales, Scotland and The Isle of Man, and Ireland were all home to other languages prior to when English became a reality. Except for Lowland Scots, a language that is closely related to English These indigenous languages mostly belong to the Celtic family.
British English and Irish English Literature, accents and media
| Country or Region | Major Indigenous language(s) | Accent sample | Language and literary dialects |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | English | English dialect samples of speech, according to area | Literature from the United Kingdom (general and regional) |
| England | English | A variety of English accents, and the Received Pronunciation | |
| Cornwall | Kernewek | Cornish English speech samples | Books that are set in Cornwal |
| Cornwall | Kernewek | Cornish English speech samples | Doc Martin (TV show) |
| Wales | Cymraeg | Welsh English speech samples | A list of Welsh books |
| Scotland | Scots Gaelic / Lowland Scots | Scottish English speech samples | A list of Scottish writers |
| Isle of Man | Manx Gailck (or Gaelg) | Poetry excerpts from the collection Ronague native to the area / Andreas native | Compendium of Manx-related Literature |
| Ireland | Irish Gaelic | Irish English Speech examples | A list of Irish books |
| Ulster / Northern Ireland | Ulster dialect is a variation of Irish Gaelic | Ulster English speech samples | Liste of Northern Irish writers / Derry Girls (TV show) |
English expressions that are regional or British English regional, British Irish English expressions
| Expressions or words | Meaning in standard English | Origin (with connections to various definitions) |
|---|---|---|
| Groove | tourist; out-of-towner | County Somerset |
| dutty | Scummy, gross or filthy | Essex |
| Keks / Kegs | pants | Yorkshire |
| Tot | A booze drink | Brummie (Birmingham) |
| Drecky | taking place within an unknown period of time | Cornwall |
| poppy to ping | Microwave oven | Wales |
| sitooterie | A private alcove to sit in (within a structure) | Scotland |
| Skeet | gossip, news; a quick look | Isle of Man |
| Shift | Kiss | Ireland |
| pokie / poke | ice cream cone | Ulster / Northern Ireland |
Other glossaries
- The following list contains Scottish English words
- Anglo-Manx Dialect
- The following list contains Irish English words
Dialects of Caribbean English
Originating from the seventeenth century Many of the Caribbean English dialects originate from British English, with some influence coming from French, Portuguese, Spanish as well as West African languages.
Caribbean English that comes from Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands (namely St. Croix, St. Thomas St. Thomas, as well as St. John) is more American flavorful.
Examples of Caribbean English
| Samples of Accent | Media | Languages, expressions and slang |
|---|---|---|
| Trinidad and Tobago | Caribbean Literature | the pompasetting, exaggerating Barbados |
| Puerto Rico | Caribbean news media | Flassing and extravagant spending in Jamaicaflassing] |
| Barbados | switcha – lemonade [Bahamas] | |
| St. Lucia | jam-cram is a term used to describe a crowd that’s overcrowded. and Tobago• | |
| Jamaica | English words that originated in the Caribbean | |
| St. Thomas | ||
| The Bahamas | ||
| Virgin Islands |
Dialects of American English – US & Canada
Because of both their history and the geographical proximity of both countries, some native English native English speakers in Canada and northwestern United States have a somewhat like accent. But, there are certain pronunciation and vocabulary variations among English used in Canada and in the United States.
United States
There are nearly twenty dialects spoken in the United States; some that are most popular comprise:
| Accent Samples |
|---|
| American English speech samples |
| North American English speech samples |
| Wired’s video series about North American English accents: |
| Part One Part One East Coast and African-American English accents |
| Part Two Part Two American Southern and Northern states and diverse Spanish accents throughout the US |
| Part Three Third Part West Coast of the US The border between the United States and Canada. |
| American Dialects in Literature |
|---|
| Larry McMurtry [Texas] |
| Tony Hillerman [New Mexico/Southwest] |
| Langston Hughes [Harlem, New York; Chicago; African-American] |
| Stephen King [Maine] |
| Gwendolyn Brooks [Chicago; African-American] |
| Harper Lee [Alabama] |
Regional American English Expressions
| South | Midwest | Mid-Atlantic / Northeast | West |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixin’ on… making plans to (do some thing) | Bubbler fountain – also located in New England] | Downee Ocean, Maryland / along the shores [Philadelphia as well as New Jersey] – down to the beach | the breakup of springtime’s the thaw in Alaska |
| Cattywampus, askew in the diagonal | hotdish – casserole | long sweetening – maple syrup [Appalachian Mountains] | Lanai is a type of patio that has the roof of Hawaii |
| Lagniappe is a frequently unanticipated bonus or additional quantities of something delicious [Louisiana CajunLouisiana Cajun | tough tomatoes and hard luck | insanely wicked (New England) | costly – high cost [Pacific Northwest, sometimes Midwestexpensive – often Midwest |
| puppy chow is a sweet and delicious snack mix made of the crunch of cereal | hella – extremely [Northern California] |
Canada
The dialects of Canada can be categorised into Atlantic (including Newfoundland), Central and Western (including the Pacific Northwest and Ottawa), Quebec, and First Nations English.
Canadian English phrases
- bunny-hug Hooded sweatshirt with hood [Saskatchewan bunny-hug hooded sweatshirt [Sas
- blonde – girlfriend [Quebec]
- 2-four A case of beers that are two dozen (totaling 24″2-4″ or “2-4”).
- Vancouver Special is A house that does not have a basement. The first floor is usually let out to tenants
- Chesterfield couch, sofa (from older British English)
- bathroom is a public restroom facility (from the old American English term)
Examples of Canadian English Accents
Though Canadian accents spoken in English may be akin to accents in those of the United States, there are specific characteristics thought to be typical of Canadian.
In particular, Canadian “about” can sound a bit similar to “aboot” to American ears. If you hear a Canadian English speaking person apologizes for something for something, the word “sorry” can sound somewhat similar to “sore-y.” Canadians also are more inclined to more typical British pronunciations of terms such as “civilization.”
Hearing Canadian English accents by province will provide a greater understanding of the similarities and differences among the provinces. It is also a great way to read Canadian English texts across diverse provinces can be a fantastic method to get a taste of the variety of Canadian expressions.
Dialects of Fiji, New Zealand, and Australian English
English is a widely used language in all of the South Pacific, serving as the main language for both Australia as well as New Zealand.
Australia
Australian English dialects are classified into Cultivated Broad General. General Australian is the language used in television films and shows, and which is spoken by actors like Eric Bana and Hugh Jackman.
Sometimes referred to as “Strine,” Broad Australian is the stereotyped Australian accent. It became well-known through Crocodile Dundee star Paul Hogan, as well as “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin. Stars Geoffrey Rush and Cate Blanchett use Cultivated Australian that could be considered to have a more neutral sounding.
Indigenous peoples from Australia are more likely to speak Australian Aboriginal English. It is different with Standard Australian and includes numerous terms that are derived from their indigenous languages, for example, the word yakka (work) as well as the word yabber (incessant speaking). Australian Aboriginal English tends to utilize a more standard American sounding “R” in terms such as “farmer.” The auxiliary verbs are often dropped which can result in phrases such as “He sleeping” or “they walking.”
Australian colloquialisms are coldie (beer) as well as oldies (parents) as well as Technicolor”yawn” (vomit) as well as, there’s even some rhyme slang. For example, toad and hit the frog meaning “hit the road.”
New Zealand
The country of New Zealand – also called Aotearoa Aotearoa in New Zealand – English is one of the two official languages spoken, alongalongside the native Maori language. Nearly 95percent of people in New Zealand use English. The accent of New Zealanders is distinct and distinct, especially when when compared with their neighbours who live in Australia.
New Zealanders are known to make use of “uptalk,” or a rise in the final phrase of a sentence that sound like an inquiry is being made. Except for an accent that is akin to the Southland accent, New Zealand accents are pretty homogeneous.
According to New Zealand slang the indigenous people are known as kiwis and wear Jandals (flip-flops) at the beach, and are angry when carrying an empty. New Zealand writers typically incorporate Kiwi dialects in their writing.
Fiji
Standard English, along with Fiji Hindi as well as the indigenous languages Fijian It is one of the official languages of The Fiji islands. English is spoken throughout the tourist destinations and the more populous regions in Fiji in which the indigenous peoples frequently utilize the language as an additional spoken language. Tourists visiting Fiji may be welcomed by the word “bula!” and feel the timeless nature that is Fiji the time.
Dialects of West African English
The majority of official West African English dialects, like those found in Gambia, Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Cameroon which are based on British English. A notable exception to this would be Liberian English, with American origins.
| Samples of Accent | Major Indigenous Languages | Literature | Slang and expressions (mostly Nigerian) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ghana | Hausa | Ishmael Beah [Sierra Leone] | sending-forth, a celebration to say goodbye |
| Cameroon | Igbo | Chinua Achebe [Nigeria] | barbing salon – barber shop |
| Liberia | Yoruba | West African English books | mama put – a street food vendor |
| Nigeria | Mandinka | the ember months of the months of September, October and November and the month of December | |
| Sierra Leone | Asante Twi | ||
| Mende | |||
| Temne |
Dialects of East African English
Primarily, British-style English is widely used throughout Egypt, Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Malawi.
| Samples of Accent | Major Indigenous Languages | Literature | Slang and expressions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tanzania | Arabic [Sudan & Egypt] | Grace Ogot; Meja Mwangi [Kenya] | A student’s deskmate shares a desk with another student at the school |
| Sudan | Chewa [Malawi] | John Ruganda [Uganda] | biting – a snack [Kenyan English] |
| Kenya | Swahili [Tanzania, Uganda & Kenya] | Nuruddin Farah [Somalia] | Hakuna Matata: no worries No problem, [Swahili”hakuna matata” |
| Somalia | Jamal Mahjoub [Sudan] | Jiko, a wood-burning stove [SwahiliJiko] | |
| The following list contains East African expressions in the Oxford English Dictionary |
Dialects of Southern African English
The English dialects spoken in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Sierra Leone, and South Africa developed from British English. According to population count, the greatest percentage of English natives within the region is South Africa, Zimbabwe, as well as Sierra Leone.
| Samples of Accent | Major Indigenous Languages | Literature | Slang and expressions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eswatini | Bemba | Bessie Head [South Africa; Botswana] | chommie – friend, chum [South Africa] |
| Malawi | Chewa | Books written by South African authors | Slap chips, greasy, limp French fries (South Africa) |
| Namibia | Herero | NoViolet Bulawayo [Zimbabwe]; A list of novels that are set in Zimbabwe | Den – Home [ZimbabweDen – Home [Zimbabwe] |
| South Africa | Setswana | — | barley – revered father or elder man Zimbabwe |
| Zambia | Sesotho | — | Traffic lights – robot [Namibiatraffic lights – robot [Namibia |
| Zimbabwe | Tumbuka | — | — |
| — | Xitsonga | — | — |
| — | Zulu | — | — |
Dialects of Southeast Asian and Indian English
English is spoken across both East as well as South Asia, producing several distinctive varieties for people who speak it.
South Asian English
Outside of the Indian subcontinent Singapore as well as the Philippines are home to one of the biggest populations of English natives within South Asia.
| Samples of Accent | Other Major Languages | Literature and Press | Languages, expressions and slang |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore | Chinese, Malay; Tamil [Singapore] | Books written by Singaporean writers; The Straits Times; Today (Singapore) | Auntie/Uncle an address of respect for anyone person who is older (including siblings of parents) |
| Malaysia | Tagalog; Cebuano; Ilocano; Hiligaynon [Philippines] | Brunei Times and Borneo Bulletin [Brunei] | Chicken feed – a straightforward task in Singapore |
| Myanmar | Malay; Chinese; Arabic [Brunei] | The list below includes Myanmar newspaper titles (some have a bilingual Burmese and English version) | spare piece – auxiliary girl [BruneiParts spare – auxiliary girlfriend [Brunei |
| Brunei | — | The Kathmandu Post [Nepal] | platform – sidewalk / pavement [Myanmar] |
| The Philippines | — | Book by Filipino writers written in English and a list of Philippine publications | High blood pressure – angry or upset (Philippines) |
Indian English
The Indian subcontinent houses many different people with 450 or more indigenous languages.
India is a country that uses British-influenced Indian English as a common method of communicating. India is among the most nations that speak English due to the sheer amount of English-speaking people however, less than 10 percent of Indians are proficient in English.
Pakistan as well as Bangladesh are both English variations which are based upon Indian English. Around half of the Pakistani population is fluent in English however English proficiency in Pakistan isn’t rated as highly. English is often thought of as a foreign language in Bangladesh as opposed to an additional or a third.
| Samples of Accent | Major Indigenous Languages | Literature & Press | Languages, expressions and slang |
|---|---|---|---|
| India; Mumbai | Hindi, Tamil, Marathi, Telegu [India] | India: R. K. Narayan; Salman Rushdie; Arundhati Roy | timepass – something done to kill time [[India]]9https://public.oed.com/world-englishes/indian-english/) |
| Pakistan | Punjabi, Pashto, Sindhi, Saraiki [Pakistan] | Pakistan: Kamila Shamsie; Mohsin Hamid Musharraf Ali Farooqi. of English publications in Pakistan | mugger – hard-core study; learning [Indianin India] |
| Bangladesh | Bengali [Bangladesh] | Bangladesh: Bangladeshi English books and a study of Bangaldeshi English literature Newspapers in English language Bangladesh | burger bacha – an out-of-touch, nerdy person; a dweeb; a poseur [Pakistan] |
| chill maro, calm down and chill out in Pakistan |
East Asia
The language of Hong Kong, English is used as a second language for around 3.5 million people. That’s about more than half the total inhabitants. But, the language and grammar that are spoken in Hong Kong English are highly influenced by the city’s indigenous Cantonese dialect, and also some Portuguese.
Even though English can be used at South Korean schools, it hasn’t been widespread in South Korea.
| Samples of Accent | Press | Slang and expressions [Hong KongExpressions and slang [Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong | South China Morning Post | Make sure to add oil. Keep the pressure up. Good luck |
| — | The Standard | you’re among the best – and you’re the top |
| — | — | chop – – seal or stamp of a firm |
| — | — | godown – Warehouse |
English as a global urban the language of the world
The majority of people who speak English as an language of the world (ELF) won’t be native English users. ELF is commonly spoken as a community language by groups of individuals with the same language.
To make communication more simple, idiomatic and colloquial words are kept to a minimum ELF. As with those who speak in dialects of Englishes, ELF speakers tend to make grammar simpler, without focusing on demanding rules of properness. Their aim is to transmit details clearly.
ELF differs from traditional English and generally adheres to a standard of native British or American standard. ELF reduces English into its principal function, which is communication.
In contrast to the Englishes of the world we’ve studied and that have been interpreted to refer to particular locations and populations, ELF does not refer only to one specific type of English. However, English standard in specific regions around the globe could determine the way ELF is applied.
European kinds
British participation involvement in Malta, Cyprus, Gibraltar and various other locations throughout the Mediterranean brought the English language into across the European continent. The role played by English as a language in The European Union government, as and its importance in serving British, Irish, American and Australian travelers, further affirmed the role of English within the continent of continental Europe.
Euro-English is becoming more useful as a language of communication in Europe but it is separating itself of its British roots as well as American influence.
Singapore & Hong Kong varieties
The high prevalence of English throughout both Singapore as well as Hong Kong means that ELF in Asia is heavily based on the various types of English that incorporate Cantonese as well as Malasian language and grammar.
Other languages that are hybrid, such as creoles, and pidgins that are based on English
Naturally, a lot of English varieties of hybrids, pidgins and creoles have emerged in the past few years, as English first began to become a global traveler. Below are a handful examples:
- Africa: Uglish; Sheng; Ghanian Pidgin English; Kamtok; Pichi; Krio; Nigerian Pidgin; Camfranglais
- East Asia: Chinese Pidgin English (historical); Konglish
- South Asia: Singlish;Taglish; Hinglish
- South and Central Pacific: Kriol;Bislama;Tok Pisin; Torres Strait Creole; Norf’k; Nauruan Pidgin English (based on Chinese Pidgin English)
- Europe: Llanito
- North America: Gullah/Geechee; Spanglish; Hawai’i Creole; Cajun English;Chiac
- Central America: Nicaraguan Creole English; Belizean Creole
- South America: Guyanese Creolese; Saramaccan; Sranan
- Caribbean:Jamaican Patwah; Bahamian Creole; Bajan; San Andres Creole English
English The language’s diversity is huge
Different variations on British as well as American English standards are found throughout Europe, Africa, and Asia and far-off places such as Pitcairn Island as well as in the Federated States of Micronesia.
In addition, it is enriched by an incredible diversity of words and evolving to the language’s requirements, English is a global poetic language that is practical in its outreach and potential.
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