Real English: The Grammar of English Dialects in the British Isles

This is a series about language in the real world, and about the relationships between language, society and social change. Books in the series will draw on natural language data from a wide range of social contexts and will take a critical approach to each subject, challenging current orthodoxies and dealing with familiar topics in new ways. The pronunciation of English shows wide regional differences, although the extent of variation in spoken English grammar is less widely appreciated. This book provides accurate and up-to-date information on regional variation in the use of grammatical constructions of English and directs readers to resources where further information on the subject is available. A pioneer effort in the field of spoken English grammar, containing contributions from many experts in the field. Uses case studies to illustrate the differences in grammar between Scottish, Irish, Northumbrian and South-Eastern spoken English. Drawing on current research, it discusses in detail the extent of variation in grammar and the implications of this in the educational process.