The dialects of England are separated into thirteen Traditional Dialects (TD) regions. These groups are made depending on the similarities, as well as differences in speech. A major division between the dialects is found on either sides of the North and South divide. This division runs from the coast of Lancashire and somewhat follows the Anglo-Saxon border between Mercia and Northumbria. Yorkshire English can be divided into two distinct dialects. North and East Yorkshire both are part of the Northern dialect group and South Yorkshire is part of the Southern dialect group. (Yorkshire Dialect)
The following eight words display the differences and similarities in speech between North and East Yorkshire (North and East Ridings or NER) and West Riding (WR).
A double consonant following a vowel indicates that that vowel is shortened.
Standard English
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| WR
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Quick Facts
- Words such as wrong, long, strong are pronounced with a short <a> rather than an <o> that is found in Standard English.
- Words such as find, blind, kind use a short <i>
- A modified version of the long <a> is found in words such as home and stone changing their pronunciation to hee-am and stee-an.
- -ing is shortened to -in' (walkin', talkin')
- The short <a> is used in words such as bath and dance.
- Words that began with a <h> may have the <h> dropped. ('appy instead of happy).
Vowels
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Diphthongs
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Glottal Stop
/t/ is often replaced with a glottal stop in the Yorkshire dialect causing sentences such as "get it eaten" to become "ge' i' e'en"
/t/ is often replaced with a glottal stop in the Yorkshire dialect causing sentences such as "get it eaten" to become "ge' i' e'en"
Most sounds in Yorkshire are common to all three Ridings. However there are major differences for specific vowels and diphthongs. (Kellet)
Standard English About Down House Boot Fool Door Floor Speak Coal Home Father | West Riding abaht dahn 'ahse booit fooil dooar flooar speyk coil 'ooam fatther | East Riding aboot doon 'oose beeat feeal deear fleear speeak cooal 'eeam, 'ooam or yam feyther or faather | North Riding aboot doon 'oose beeat feeal dooar flooar speeak cooal 'eeam, 'ooam or yam feyther or faather |