3.1 English Varieties in the UK外国文学名著导读.pdf

Chapter Three 3.1 English Varieties in the UK Learning Outcomes By the end of this lecture, students should be able to : 1. Identify some well-known varieties of English spoken in Britain, particularly RP and Cockney English. 2. Discuss some major differences between northern and southern English. Warm-up Question: How many people in Britain speak RP? Answer: Around 3% to 5% of the British population; Variation within British English Kirkpatrick, A. (2007). World Englishes. Cambridge University Press. Introduction English is the primary language of both Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales) and Ireland (the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland). British English comprises numerous, often greatly differing variants. Social variations: RP, Cockney Regional variations: Scottish, Welsh, Irish English In England The major division within England is one between the north and the Midlands, on the one hand, and the south, on the other. The chief differences are several features of pronunciation. North vs. South South England: distinction between /ʌ/and /ʊ/sounds. /ʌ/: luck, love, butter, cousin, etc. /ʊ/: pull, push, could, look, etc. North England: the /ʊ/ sound is used for both groups of words. /lʊk/: luck and look North vs. South South England: distinction between /æ/ and /ɑ:/ sounds. /æ/: man, cat, pat, tap, etc. /ɑ:/: after, bath, pass, dance, etc. North England: the /a/ sound is used for both groups. All the above words are pronounced with the same vowel /a/ . E.g., p-a-t is pronounced /pat/, and p-a-s-s is /pas/ . North vs. South South England: in words like what, watch, quarry, the vowel after /w/ is /ɔ/. North England: the vowel