U.K. Dialects
One of the hardest parts of understanding native English speakers is the variety of accents that you will hear, depending on the country and area that you visit. Pronunciation can vary greatly and some areas even have their own vocabulary for certain words. Here are a few of our favourite examples.
The Scottish accent differs across Scotland, but all the variations are influenced by the Gaelic language, which used to be the native tongue. Common differences in language include using 'aye' instead of yes, 'lass' instead of girl, and 'dinnae' instead of didn't or don't, for example, I dinnae do my homework.
The Geordie accent hails from the city of Newcastle. It is one of the harder U.K. dialects to understand, especially as it is often spoken quickly. Sayings include 'whey aye man' instead of yes, and 'cheers pet' instead of thankyou.
The scouse accent comes from Liverpool and is very unique. Some common differences include the word 'scran' instead of food, calling people 'our kid' if they are a close friend or relative as a term of endearment, and 'boss' to mean good or the best...Liverpool F.C. are boss!
Bristolian and those accents originating from the Southwest of England are quite different to those from the North, which we have already mentioned. Common sayings include 'gert lush' or 'proper' meaning very good, 'innit?' when you want a statement of agreement, for example, 'Bristol is amazing, innit?'. There are also some grammatical changes, with one example being 'where's it to?' instead of 'where is it?'.
The Welsh accent is a pretty accent and its melodic tones are thought to be why the welsh people are such good singers. Aspects of the Welsh language are used, even when Welsh people use English, and common words like 'cwtch' (pronounced cutch), meaning cuddle, or 'what's occurin'?' meaning 'what is going on?', can be heard frequently. Their are also some sayings which seem grammatically inaccurate as an oxymoron is formed, such as 'I'll do it now in a minute' meaning 'I will do it soon'.
There are many other accents and variations in the English language, but these are just a few to get you started. It is great to listen to some examples of diffent accents and dialects if you plan to travel the U.K. so that you can understand the differences when you arrive.
We hope you have enjoyed this blog. As always, you will progress more by reading, listening and practising your English so make sure you check out IQ Global for free resources and our YouTube channel. See you next time!