The English language and its varieties

Are you convinced that you possess English at a good level and that you understand it when they talk to you? Even if the answer is yes, think again, as you may be missing one small detail: dialects in different regions of the country. Yes, just as in different parts of Bulgaria it is spoken differently, so it is in the UK. In addition, we must not forget that the United Kingdom is gathering England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland under its wing.

STANDARD ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Usually Standard English is spoken everywhere in the country with changes in accent and pronunciation. Therefore, foreigners who speak English have no problem having a conversation, but there are places and dialects that can make it difficult for you. See for yourself by comparing characteristic phrases and their meaning in 7 of the UK regions.

London and the South East of England

• "Guv'nor" (or simply "Guv") [fungus] is often used by Londoners and is meaning "boss" or "friend" though more often used to name a superior person.
• "All right?" [oul right] enjoyed as a greeting between friends.
• "Cheers" - [cheers] - is sometimes used instead of "thank you" or "goodbye". You may meet him after making a toast like Cheers.
• "Ta" - [taa] - this is the short form of "Thank you", "Thank you".
• "Khazi"-[ kaazi] this is the colloquial form of toilet.

West Anglia (Devon n and Cornwall)

• "All right?" - [oul right] - is equivalent to the Bulgarian "What's going on?".
• "Where's it to?"- [auer ist tu] - means "Where is that?".
• "Cheers" - [cheers] - is sometimes used instead of "Thank you".
• "Cheers 'den" - [whores day]- is used for "Thank you and goodbye".

Northern England

• "Eh up?", "How do", or "Now Then" [Ay up, haw doo, nau day]- are used instead of "Hello".
• "brew" - [brew] - means a glass of water or used in the case when tea is made with the expression "to put a brew on".
• "Luv" or "Darling" - [hunting or darling] if you are a woman it is quite possible to meet him often as an address. In some areas it is considered old-fashioned.
• "Cheers"- [cheers] This is only used when toasting.

North East England (mostly Newcastle and Tyneside)

• "Gann'n doon toon" - [goon doon toon] - is equivalent to "Going into town" i.e. "We're going to town."
• "Aye" - [ai] - "Yes".
• "Canny" - [canni] - usually means "okay", "smart", although in the sentence "Gaa canny" they use it for "be careful".
• "Divvent"- [devnt] - "don't".
• "Give o'er" - [give o'er] - means "stop doing that"
• "Howay!" - [holway] - "Come on."
• "Gadgie" - [gaji] - "Old Man".
• "Chaw" - [chaul] - used for friend, but only between men.

West Midlands (mostly Birmingham)

• "Bab" - [babe]- a form for gently naming someone.
• "Baby" - [baby] - "baby".
• "Fower" - [faller] - "four".
• "Ow bin yer?" - [au yu bin air] - want to say "How've you been?" i.e. "How are you?"
• "Ah kid" - [ai kid] a form of ""our kid", used in the form of "our child" when someone is an expensive, usually smaller family member.
• "Owd up" - [ood up] a form of "Hold up" i.e. "Wait".
• "Tay" [they] "tea".
• "Om" - [om] abbreviated for "home" i.e. "Home".
• "Ta-ra" - [taara] - "goodbye".
• "Yow" - [wool] - "You".

 

WELSKI LANGUAGE

As bizarre as it may sound, Welsh language exists and is the native language in Wales. It is a subgroup of Celtic languages and is most likely to be heard in North East and South East Wales. But not only! Wales accounts for 50% of the total number of speakers of the language, while the remaining half are in the rest of the country, the United States, Canada and Australia. And how do you tell it apart? Look at the following examples:

Wales

• "Bore da" - [boreida] - "Good morning".
• "Nos Da" - [nose to] - "Good night".
• "Helo", "Siwmae" - [Helo, Shuumei] "Hello"
• "Diolch" - [dioulkh] "Thank you"
• "Cwrw" - [kuru] "Beer"
• "Croeso" - [croussoe] "You're welcome"
• ‘Wadusay ‘[waduyusey] ‘What did you say?'
• "Owwarruu" [oularu] - "How are you?"
• "Whereru fromthen" - [Warew Fromden] - "Where are you from?"
• "Oh, wos ocurring?" - [oh, wos ocuring] - "What's going on?"

 

SCOTLAND LANGUAGE

If you have not been impressed by the variety of dialects in the English language so far, we add that the Scottish language is divided into Scottish English and Scottish Gaelic. By the name you already guess that you will meet him in Scotland and in the northernmost parts of the British Isles. And without going into details about the language, it is enough to know the most common phrases to listen for:

Scotland

• "aye" - [ai] - "Yes".
• "naw" - [nau] - "No".
• "ay" - [ay] - "Always".
• "Ken" - [ken] - "I know", "I can".
• "burn" - [burn] - "Flow".
• "hauf" - [hauf] - a measure of whiskey.
• "Drookit" - [drookit] - "scattered".
• "droothie" - [drutti] - "thirst".
• "stane dyke" - [stein duque] - "stone wall".
• "bairns" - [bairns] - "children".
• "Kirk" - [kirk] - "church".

The pronunciation of this language is quite characteristic, although some of the words are almost identical to standard English.

 

Congrats! You are now loaded with a list of new phrases! You will see that it is pleasant when you begin to recognize them. And who knows? On your next visit to the island you can use them and impress someone!