Language learning tips: regional differences

Over time languages change and vary according to social setting and geographical location. The way we talk is influenced by several factors - our educational and social background, the roots of our ancestors, our work environment, our family and friends, as well as our sense of identity. One doesn't only experience a changed landscape and architecture when one moves around the UK. One notices a gradual change in the sounds, dialects and accents heard - these help make the place to which they belong distinct and unique. The terms dialect and accent are frequently used interchangeably, despite actually referring to different aspects of a language.

What is a dialect?

A dialect of English is a variety of English that is different to other varieties in three ways: grammar (structure), lexis (vocabulary) and phonology (accent or pronunciation). Although English dialects are different to each other, all speakers within the same country and English-speaking world can generally understand them. A person from Newcastle, for example, may spice up their speech with local slang terms such as clarts for "mud" or gan for "to go". The same speaker may also use local grammatical constructions, such as "I've drank" and "I've went" or the reflexive pronouns yoursel, mysel, hissel, and so on. Their pronunciation is also likely to be different to that of someone from another region of the UK. For all these reasons, this person could be said to speak the Geordie dialect.

What is an accent?

Accents, on the other hand, refer specifically to sound pattern differences in a dialect. In other words, a dialect covers an array of linguistic features, including accent. Genuine dialect speakers are rare, but despite common belief we all speak with a particular accent.

Attitude to regional voices

Historically, certain dialects of English have been considered "better" than others. It's human to make assumptions about the way people speak - we judge certain accents or dialects as being too harsh, unfriendly, aggressive, posh, common or unintelligent. As a result, many people have suffered from this irrational prejudice. For this reason, and to this day, taking an English course London schools offer may be considered preferable to a similar one taught in, say, Leeds.

Of course, no one dialect is better at imparting meaning than another. That some accents and dialects should be considered more prestigious than others is more directly linked to social judgements and criteria rather than linguistic ones. Living in an increasingly homogeneous society, where most television shows, for example, are in one or few dialects and accents, makes the structure, vocabulary and sounds that define the dialect of a certain region a source of genuine pride for the people of that region. This is the proper attitude to take.

Whatever language you study, there are regional differences that you would do well to take into account. Nowadays, with the prevalence of online language courses, it is all the more important to appreciate that the dialect you learn may not be the same dialect spoken in the place you end up visiting. In the UK when you learn Spanish London schools invariably teach you Castilian Spanish. Arriving in a country in Central or South America, however, you will quickly realise that the dialect spoken outside of Spain is quite different. Appreciating different dialects, accents or regionalisms can take you far and make you a truly open-minded, multi-faceted linguist.