This document summarizes a presentation titled "English Varieties – a World Tour" given by Prof. Silvia A. Schnitzler. The presentation discusses different dialects and accents of the English language from around the world. It defines the concepts of dialect and accent, and highlights some basic characteristics that distinguish varieties like rhotic vs. non-rhotic pronunciations. The presentation also provides examples of English dialects like British English, American English, and assignments for participants to analyze accents in films and videos.

1. English Varieties –
a World Tour
by Prof. Silvia A. Schnitzler
“Third Conference on English Phonetics”

2. Abstract
Everyone has an accent – no-one can be accent-
less. The fact is that the way you speak says a lot
about who you are: your place of
birth/residence, your education, your social
background, your gender, it may even reveal
the colour of your skin!
In this workshop we will tackle the controversial
notion of ‘the standard variety’.
variety
The presenter will highlight some basic
characteristics of different English dialects as well
as accents. Mainstream films and video clips will
be analyzed. The participants will be asked to
put theory into practice 
“English Varieties – a World Tour” Prof. Silvia A. Schnitzler www.silvias.com.ar

3. Definition: dialect
It’s a variety of language differing
in vocabulary and syntax as well
as pronunciation.
pronunciation
Dialects are usually spoken by a
group united by geography or
class.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-uER0RhJVE
“English Varieties – a World Tour” Prof. Silvia A. Schnitzler www.silvias.com.ar

4. Definition: accent
It’s a pronunciation
characteristic of a
particular group of people
relative to another group.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FFRoYhTJQQ
“English Varieties – a World Tour” Prof. Silvia A. Schnitzler www.silvias.com.ar

5. International English: Globish
It’s the concept of the English language as a global means
of communication in numerous dialects, and also the
dialects
movement towards an international standard for the
language. It is also referred to as Global English or
Globish, World English, Common English, General
English or Standard English. Sometimes these terms
refer simply to the array of varieties of English spoken
throughout the world.
Sometimes I E and the related terms above refer to a
desired standardisation; however, there is no
consensus on the path to this goal.
The modern concept of I E does not exist in isolation, but
is the product of centuries of development of the
English language.
Global English with David Crystal http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZI1EjxxXKw
Which English with David Crystal http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XT04EO5RSU

6. Some English Varieties
 English (RP/BBC)  G American
 Estuary E  Canadian
 Cockney  Australian
 Northern E S  NE Indian
 Scottish  South African
 Welsh  Caribbean E
 Irish  ‘Black’ E
AfricanAmerican
“English Varieties – a World Tour” Prof. Silvia A. Schnitzler www.silvias.com.ar

7. Main differences
 Rhotic vs non rhotic
Pronouncing the letter r wherever it appears, as
in bar (/bɑːr/) and bard or barred (/bɑːrd/)
Non-rhotic accents are said to exclude the
sound [r] from the syllable coda before a
consonant or prosodic break
common trait in  much of the United States,
Canada, many parts of the N and W of
England, Ireland, and Scotland.
“English Varieties – a World Tour” Prof. Silvia A. Schnitzler www.silvias.com.ar

8. Main differences
 Distinction between
e t e t w t  bath, dance, fast, after, grass,
calm
caccal m d putt ≠ put
,
put t ≠ put  wine/whine; were/where; witch/
which
 Merger of certain diphthongs  homophones
 Substitution of a diphthong for a long vowel
“English Varieties – a World Tour” Prof. Silvia A. Schnitzler www.silvias.com.ar

9. Assignment
Watch extracts from the following films/clips.
Take notes on the accent features you notice.
Can you add some other titles in which different
accents are used to the list?
Break a leg!
“English Varieties – a World Tour” Prof. Silvia A. Schnitzler www.silvias.com.ar

10. Film list:
 Goldmember  English English; Dutch
 In Bruges  British / Irish?
 Australia; Muriel’s Wedding  Australian
 Madagascar; George of the Jungle  General American
 Who wants to be a Millionaire  Indian
 In the name of the Father; Veronica Guerin  Irish
 Braveheart; Trainspotting  Scottish
 The Englishman who went up a Hill and came down a mountain 
Welsh
 Invictus  South African
 Full Monty; Billy Eliot  Northern English
 Adoration; Dudley Do-Right; Barbarian Invasions (French)  Canadian
 Cool Runnings  Caribbean
 The Purple Color; Madea’s Family Reunion  Black English
 Alfie; About a boy; Hot Fuzz;  British… RP
 Snatch  several; "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" &
"Rocknrolla"  British - Guy Ritchie.
“English Varieties – a World Tour” Prof. Silvia A. Schnitzler www.silvias.com.ar

11. Foreign Accent
 The Pink Panther  French & Russian
 The Band’s Visit  Arabic, Israeli, Egyptian
 Everything is illuminated  Ucranian
Video clips:
 21 accents
 Little Britain: fat fighters; the Welsh gay guy;
Vicky Pollard
 Two & a Half Men: Enrique Iglesias
 Funny translation to seven languages
“English Varieties – a World Tour” Prof. Silvia A. Schnitzler www.silvias.com.ar

12. Let’s call the Whole Thing Off!!!
You say either and I say
either,
You say neither and I say
neither
Either, either Neither,
neither,
Let's call the whole thing off !
You like potato and I like
potahto,
You like tomato and I like
tomahto

13. Contact @:
silviasteach@yahoo.com
www.silvias.com.ar
Facebook: Silvia Schnitzler
Mondino
Twitter: @silstorm
Thank
you !!!

14. Reference:
 Celce-Murcia, Marianne et al.
(1996)Teaching Pronunciation, CUP
 Cruttenden, Alan (2008) Gimson’s
Pronunciation of English – 7th edition,
Arnold Publishing
 Crystal, David (2002) The English
Language – 2nd edition, Penguin