What are the types of English? | Variety of English
Forms of English
There are three major forms of English, namely, British English, American English, and Australian English. Each of these varieties have their own distinct characteristics, vocabulary, pronunciation,spelling, etc. Let’s take a look at each type individually.
British EnglishThe language spoken in Britain is called British. In terms of grammar, British follows the same rules as American English. However, British words have different meanings than their counterparts in America. There are many differences between American and British English.
This variety of English is spoken in England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Northern Ireland, and the Isle of Man. British English is the official language of Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, India, Malaysia, Singapore, and Zimbabwe.
The British English dialect is known as standard American English (SAE) and was created in London in 1604 by King James I. It is the official language of Britain and Australia, along with Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. It is the most widely spoken second-language in the world, being the dominant variety of English outside North America. In addition to the United States, where SAE predominates, British English is also the most commonly heard variant of English throughout the Commonwealth. Though it is not a native British dialect, it is now considered the official Standard Written Form (SWF), although some people refer to it simply as 'Standard' or just 'English'.
Received PronunciationThis is a well-known accent found mainly in the UK, though it is often confused with Scottish English. Its name comes from its use of Received Pronunciation, a set of rules that helped govern pronunciation in the early-to-mid 20th century. The accent contains many nonstandard features, including the omission of unstressed vowels and the presence of nasal consonants. These can make it seem very similar to other accents, leading to much confusion between RP and those accents.
General AmericanGeneral American is the main standard dialect of English in the United States. It originated in the colonial port towns of Boston, Massachusetts and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the late 17th and 18th centuries. The main feature of the dialect is the distinction between fronted and unfronted vowels, as well as the loss of certain phonemic qualities of European languages.
This version of English is prevalent in the United States, where it serves as the de facto standard. Americans tend to use the King's English (or Queen's English), which was standardized around 1485 under the reign of Henry VII. Though many of its features were changed over time, the core of it remains intact.
Southern AmericanSouthern American English is primarily based in the American states of the south, specifically Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Kansas. This dialect is noted for using fewer words than other dialects and a unique rhythm due to its history of borrowing heavily from African-American Vernacular English. Another feature of this dialect is the lack of the schwa sound.
Canadian FrenchCanuck speaks a bit differently from its southern counterpart. Canadians use many slang expressions, including "ain't" instead of “isn’t," "you betcha" instead of “of course," and "I couldn't care less" instead of ‘couldn't give a shit.'"
Canadian French is the standard variety of French used in Quebec. Because of its long, strong ties to France, it has influenced the standard varieties of English in both the US and the UK. Its influence can especially be seen in the way Canadians pronounce their R's.
Australian EnglishAussie is similar to American slang; however, they use different words for some familiar things. Australians don't say "like" but "such as." Americans say "don't" but Australians say "cannot."
Australian English is the primary dialect of English spoken in Australia. It differs greatly from the standard varieties of English as spoken in Britain and the United States, and is thus considered a separate language. As the primary language of the country, it is also the de facto national language.
The dialect of English spoken in Australia is known as the General Australian Pidgin English. Its unique features make it different from any English-speaking country else. Australians have been able to acquire the distinctive accent, grammar, and word usage from being surrounded by people from other countries, especially those from England, America, and New Zealand.
JamaicanJamaicans speak a unique patois (dialect) that sounds somewhat like Spanish and Creole. Jargon is a popular expression among them. Examples include “bless his heart,” “dreadfully sorry,” and “shanty town.”
IrishIrish people tend to swear quite frequently, especially if they drink alcohol. When speaking to a cop, an Irish person would likely ask “what’s going down?” rather than “What’s up?” And “Where were you last night?” is more likely asked as “Where yer been?”
New ZealandNew zealanders often mix up their ‘r's and 'l's; therefore, “farther” becomes “furrrther.” Kiwi's make jokes about everything and anything, even national politics. An example is, “This government should be ashamed of themselves!”
South AfricanSouth Africans are known for being extremely friendly and happy-go-lucky. When they meet someone new, strangers will often greet each other with "Howzit!"
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