This is an overview list of dialects of the English language. Dialects are linguis
This is an overview list of dialects of the English language. Dialects are linguis
Dialects can be defined as "sub-forms of languages which are, in general, mutually comprehensible".English speakers from different countries and regions use a variety of different accents (systems
of pronunciation), as well as various localized words and grammatical
constructions; many different dialects can be identified based on these
factors. Dialects can be classified at broader or narrower levels:
within a broad national or regional dialect, various more localized
sub-dialects can be identified, and so on. The combination of
differences in pronunciation and use of local words may make some
English dialects almost unintelligible to speakers from other regions.
The major native dialects of English are often divided by linguists into three general categories: the British Isles dialects, those of North America, and those of Australasia. Dialects
can be associated not only with place, but also with particular social
groups. Within a given English-speaking country, there will often be a
form of the language considered to be Standard English,
the Standard Englishes of different countries differ, and each can
itself be considered a dialect. Standard English is often associated
with the more educated layers of society.
