Useful Definitions

What is dialect?

Dialect is a variety of a language that is distinguished from other varieties of the same language by features of pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar and word order, and by its use by a group of speakers who are set off from others geographically and/or socially.
http://dictionary.reference.com

What is Yorkshire dialect?

The historic county of Yorkshire actually is home to more than one variety of English, traditionally both Midland and Northern English, but they have so much in common that it is reasonable to think in terms of a Yorkshire dialect.

Hear some Yorkshire dialect spoken

See some Yorkshire dialect writing

What do most British people speak?

If people don’t speak in dialect, what are they speaking? The majority of English speakers now speak what is known as Standard English. Although it might seem ‘normal’ to most and many might think it is a superior type of English, it is just another dialect (the prestige variety) and grew out of the South East Midlands dialect area that happened to include London, even then the major city in England, and the universities of Oxford and Cambridge.

Why do we mostly speak English in Britain and why has it developed the way it has?

See Education which gives the fascinating answers.

What is the difference between accent and dialect?

Accent is just they way people pronounce words (see the dialect definition above). Actors in ‘Coronation Street’, ‘Emmerdale’ and ‘Eastenders’ usually talk in Standard English but with local accents.

If someone is seen as having a 'posh' accent what is that?

Received Pronunciation (R.P.) is the accent of nowhere. It developed mainly through the public schools and is usually the accent with which you hear newsreaders speaking on national radio and television.

Is one dialect or variety better than another?

In terms of personal preference, it might be a matter of opinion but, linguistically, the answer is 'No'.

Is dialect dying out?

No but it is changing. As older ways of living and working give way to modern developments, many of the words originally used are being lost and new ones are being introduced. For example, terms used in agriculture and the handcrafted trades are in decline, but the vocabulary associated with science, technology, and many other aspects of modern life and work is expanding rapidly. Such changes are inevitable, yet many old words and grammatical usages are remarkably resilient and continue in regular use. What is more, different regional accents often still indicate where the individual speakers come from, even though they may now live a long way from their birthplace.