Dialects of English
We all know that Spanish has many different dialects and accents depending on where you are. Similarly English has many dialects too, each with their own accents and fun quirks.
So, to help some of the English-learners on this site, what are some differences you've noticed between English accents or dialects?
Sabemos que el español tiene muchísimos dialectos y acentos (basados en dónde estás). El inglés también tiene muchísimos dialectos, cada uno con su propio acento y expresiones diferentes.
Entonces, para ayadar a los que aprenden inglés, cuáles son algunas diferencias que has encontrado entre acentos/dialectos diferentes de inglés?
(Feel free to correct my Spanish)
10 Answers
I have noticed that the American press continually invents terminologies that sound really obnoxious, ie: ramp up, rachet up (increase) / double down (I´m not sure of the meaning).
I am afraid that soon I won´t be able to read the news anymore in English due to this "dialect".
Out here in California you ought to hear the English spoken by us Latinos.Whew! You could call it Spanglish, but it's cool.
"Double down" means to put forth even more effort in doing something you were doing, because you know it's going to work.
Rac1 down in N'waleans can give us a lot of her expertise on Louisiana English.
Please jump in on this, amiga.
Here in South Georgia, US, our rural folk have some funny ways of saying things.
You don't belong to be doing that! (You shouldn't be doing that)
I'm fittna bop you! (I'm fixing to hit you) from (I'm about to box your ears)
You want tea? or drink? The tea is assumed to be sweet, and I do mean sweet. 'Drink' is some form of soda. We usually say "You want a Coke?" Yeah! Orange? or Grape? or regular Coke?
Alaska has some jargon of its own. I'm sure some of these are used elsewhere as well.
skookum: topnotch, high quality, excellent, strong
cheechako: a newcomer to Alaska
sourdough: a longtime Alaskan
snow machine: snowmobile
breakup: when the ice and snow melt in the spring
Outside: anywhere that isn't Alaska
termination dust: the first, light dusting of snow on the tops of the mountains; a warning that winter is imminent
ditch divers: people who mistakenly think that 4-wheel drive means they can drive fast on ice and snow
PFD: Permanent Fund Dividend; an annual payment from the State of Alaska of the interest earned on the State's dedicated fund established in 1976 from oil earnings to each Alaska resident; free money!
I collected some videos, all from different channels, which deal with different types of differences:
Qué suerte que no vi esto porque aquí abajo en la tierra de OZ
Hablamos un perfecto Inglés sin acento.
¿Puedo despertar ahora?
How fortunate that I did not see this because down here in the land of OZ
We speak a perfect English without an accent.
Can I wake up now?
***Oh well, since no one played, I'll give the answers. 
***
OK. I have some New Orleans words and phrases for you. I'll make it a little quiz. RAC1, you can't play!
What is a banquette? Sidewalk
What is a stoop? The 2 or 3 steps in front of a slightly raised house
What is a Yat? (Hint: It comes from a common greeting around here.) A lot of people around here, as a greeting, say "Where y'at?" (Where are you at) It means "How are you? So the people who say that are called "Yats"."
What is a neutral ground? The median between two lanes of the street
What does "making groceries" mean? ***From the French roots. It means buying groceries. ***
Daniela, the Cajun French is French, only older. Several hundred years ago, some French people moved to (and some were exiled to) Acadia, what is now Nova Scotia. Later, the Acadiennes were kicked out of there, and many of them came to Louisiana where some other French people had settled earlier. After that point, the continental French language changed over the years quite significantly, but the people in Louisiana "didn't get the memo." So the Cajun French is an older form of French.
Another question - Where did the term "Cajun" come from? Nova Scotia was called Acadia when the French were there. When they came to Louisiana, they called their area "Acadiana," and the people were called "Acadiennes." When the Americans came through and anglicized the name, it became "Cajuns." Try saying Acadiennes fast (with a long A in the second spot) and you'll hear how it came about.
Click here for Cockney Rhyming Slang new link
Here are a few to get you started.
1.Adam and Eve – believe "Would you adam it?"
2.Alan Whickers – knickers "Don't get ya Alan's in a twist"
3.apples and pears – stairs "I'm off up the apples to bed"
4.Artful Dodger – lodger "He doesn't own this place, he's just an Artful Dodger"
In New England we have our own accent known as the Boston accent and although I was not born and raised here, I am told I have one by my west coast relatives.
It consists of not saying your r's like, for instance, car would be kah.
It probably developed from the English settlers.
Many things are called differently here such as a water fountain is a bubbla and a milkshake is a cabinet. We put our blinkers (directional signals) on when we change lanes (although this seems optional in Boston). My girlfriend says she is cutting her hairs for getting a haircut.
Here is a great list of some words and their Boston accent equivalents.
Dialects in English obviously vary by region of the Estados Unidos. In the U.S. we usually identify dialects as accents. But keep in mind that usage and meaning change as well, regardless of a noticeable or unnoticeable change in accent. The U.S. being the melting pot it is, heritage and culture play a big part in usage and meaning of a long list of words not normally found in a English dictionary. And in a lot of places in the U.S. there is the practice of combining two languages. i.e. Spanglish. Also, keep in mind that there is a big difference between U.S. English and U.K. English. So I imagine it can get quiet confusing sometimes.
