Varieties of English

Varieties of English

• English is used in different ways globally, resulting in numerous varieties
• Varieties are categorized based on geographic regions, social contexts, or specific domains

Definition of a Variety of English

• A language variety is a form that differs systematically and coherently from other forms
• Variety is a broader concept than a style of prose or language

What Varieties Relate To

• Language variety relates to the language user through
• Regional variety employed by people living or having lived in a region
• Social variety is driven by affiliation with a social group
• Language variety also relates to language use, including
• Field of discourse i.e. the activity people are engaged in
• The medium refers to spoken or written communication, depending on participant proximity
• Attitude that is conditioned by the relationship between participants in a specific situation

Regional/Geographical Varieties

• Regional variations refer to English spoken in different parts of the world or within a country
• Includes the following
• British English (BrE, BE, or Brit)
• American English (AmE, AE, or US)
• Australian English (AusE)
• New Zealand English (NZ (E))
• Canadian English (CanE)
• South African English (SA (E))
• Caribbean English (CarE, or CE)
• Indian English (IndE)

Social Varieties

• Influenced by education, socioeconomic group, age, gender, and ethnic group
• Education plays an essential role in social recognition

Social Varieties Examples

• Cockney: dialect of East London (think=fink)
• Upper class (Sorry?) vs. lower class (pardon?)
• Children English: chap (boy), fellow (young man), upsa (daisy), dicky (bird)

Standardized English Language

• Standardization is for official use
• The forms of standardized English include:
• Nonstandard: Usage deviates from established rules
• Standard: Uniformity in grammar and vocabulary, used by non-native English speakers
• American: National standard accepted in the American community or country
• British: National standard accepted in the British community or country
• Other National Standards: Independent countries using English with their own characteristics

Functional Varieties

• Functional varieties are determined by the context and purpose of communication:
• Written English
• Spoken English
• Technical English
• Literary English

Field of Discourse

• Speakers switch to appropriate expressions based on the occasion
• Examples include:
• Academic English (linguistics, literature, etc)
• Business English
• Legal English
• Medical English

English as a Second Language (ESL) Varieties

• A learner's first language may influence their English
• Evident in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) and World Englishes

National Standards of English

• These are widely accepted norms for using the English language within testing systems
• British English (BrE) is assessed by IELTS/Cambridge Adv.E Test
• American English (AmE, AE) is assessed by TOEFL
• Canadian English (CanE) is assessed by CAEL/CELPIP
• New Zealand English (NZ E) is assessed by IELTS/ OET (Occupational E.T.)
• Australia is assessed by IELTS/OSR(One Skill Retake)/PTE (Pearson)

Registers (Attitudes) and Styles of English

• Registers include formality, tone, and language usage, which depend on the situation
• Formal English
• Informal English
• Slang
• Jargon

English Register Levels

• There are five language registers that depend on the audience, topic, purpose, and location
• High formal: Used to address figures like the Queen or a president
• Formal: Used in sermons, speeches, announcements, etc
• Neutral: Used in report writing and business plans
• Informal: Casual register, used among peers
• Colloquial: Used with family members and close friends

Pidgin and Creole Varieties

• Pidgin English, Creole English, and New Englishes are examples
• English evolves where it is used as a second language
• Singlish (Singapore/Sri Lanka)
• Hinglish (India)

Development of English

• Varieties differ in accent, vocabulary, grammar, discourse, sociolinguistics, pronunciation, tone, intonation, and spelling
• English learners must observe these differences
• British English and American English are the two most commonly used varieties

What are British English and American English?

• Most educated people in South and Southeast England, especially London speak British English.
• General American English is spoken by the majority of people in America.
• British English and American English serve as native, second, or foreign languages in many countries.

Characteristics of British English and American English

• British and American English have separate development paths based on historical, political, and social changes
• There is no superior form of English

Difference in Vocabulary: Spelling

• Words ending with –er in American English have the ending as -re in British English
• British English examples: theatre, centre, metre, fibre, litre, calibre
• In American English: theater, center, meter, fiber, liter, caliber
• Words ending with –or in American English as –our in British English.
• British English: colour, labour, honour, humour, favour, endeavour, valour, behaviour
• American English: color, labor, honor, humor, favor, endeavor, valor, behavior
• Some words have one consonant in American English, whereas they have two in British English
• British English: traveller, waggon, counsellor jeweller, dialling tone, cancelled
• American English: traveler, wagon, counselor, jeweler, dialing tone, canceled
• Words ending with –se in American English end as –ce in British English
• British English: defence, offence, licence, pretence
• American English: defense, offense, license, pretense
• Words ending with –ize or –yze in American English usually are spelt as –ise or –yse in British English
• British English: analyse, memorise, organise, recognise
• American English: analyze, memorize, organize, recognize
• British English: axe, cheque, draught, grey, plough, tyre
• American English: ax, check, draft, gray, plow, tire

Differences in Grammar: Verb Usage

• Do you have a dictionary? (AmE) vs. Have you a Dictionary? (BrE)
• I don't have any money. (AmE) vs. I haven't any money. (BrE)
• I wish I could have gotten here sooner. (AmE) vs. I wish I could have got here sooner. (BrE)
• Verbs in the past participle of both AmE and BrE
• to burn → burnt/burned
• to learn → learnt/learned
• to smell → smelt/smelled
• to spoil → spoilt/spoiled
• American English speakers generally do not use the preposition 'on' before a day of the week or a specific date, while British English speakers do.
• She started her vocation Monday. (AmE)
• She started her vacation on Monday. (BrE)
• American English omits some prepositions in phrases, while British English does not.
• Is he home? (AmE)
• Is he at home? (BrE)
• Americans use the definite article 'the’ more often than in British English
• The patient was in the hospital. (AmE)
• The patient was in hospital. (BrE)

Differences in the Use of Prepositions and Article

• Americans use 'the’ more often
• The patient was in the hospital. (AmE)
• The patient was in hospital. (BrE)
• Other Different Usage
• One should do his best for his motherland. (AmE)
• One should do one’s best for one’s motherland. (BrE)
• I will plant more trees tomorrow. (AmE)
• I shall plant more trees tomorrow. (BrE)

Caution

• Avoid mixing American and British English varieties
• Remember that defaults to American standards