English is the official language of nearly 70 countries. It’s the most widely spoken language in the world and the most studied second language.
But there is no single form of English. In fact, there are hundreds of dialects and several major variations, and it’s those we’ll be looking at here.
What Are The Four Varieties Of English?
The idea of “four varieties” of English comes from the four main variations of this language. There are actually more than 4, and we’ll get to those shortly, but let’s look at the main ones first:
British English
British English is the oldest surviving form of the English language. It’s used throughout the British Isles, including England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and numerous territories.
For a large part of its history, Britain was occupied by warring tribes. The Roman invasion in the first century AD marked a major change in British history and introduced many outside influences.
The native language shifted from Celtic (similar to the languages still spoken in parts of Wales, Scotland, and Ireland) to Latin, Old English, Middle English, and Modern English.
The “English” spoken during these transformative times was a type of Germanic language that grew under influence from French (courtesy of the Norman conquest) and Norse (from Viking raiders and Danish settlers).
American English
Although British English is the “original” form of this widely spoken language, many foreign learners study American English. Not only is it widespread, but it’s used in countless learning resources and has also heavily influenced film and literature.
There are many differences between American English and British English when it comes to slang and cultural references, but the main differences relate to spelling and pronunciation.
American English often removes “u” and swaps “s” for “z” in the middle of words.
“Colour”, “honour”, “specialise”, and “organise” in British English become “color”, “honor”, “specialize”, and “organize” in American English.
Brits also say “cheque” while Americans say “check” when referencing a paper check.
These differences are largely down to Noah Webster, a lexicographer who compiled the dictionary that standardized the American English language.
Webster wanted American English to be different from British English. He also wanted it to be simpler, so he dropped the “u” when it didn’t need to be there and swapped those “s’s” for “z’s”.
The reason British English has so many unpronounced letters is that many words were borrowed from French. In fact, this continues to be a bone of contention among Brits and Americans.
What Brits call “aubergine”, Americans know as “eggplant”. What’s referred to as “coriander” in the UK is “cilantro” in the US. And there are many other examples.
Oftentimes, it’s because Brits use the French word (or the Arabic word, as is the case with aubergine), while Americans use their own word or borrow one from the Spanish. Britain has had very little Spanish influence over the centuries but the United States’ proximity to Spanish speakers in Central and South America, as well as Spanish settlers in the US itself, has greatly influenced its language.
Canadian English
You could be forgiven for thinking that Canadian English was the same as American English, but it actually has more in common with British English.
Canadians often used British spellings, such as “colour”, as the language was introduced by British settlers and then heavily influenced by British communities in northern parts of the US.
Of course, the Canadian accent is nothing like the British accent and as far as pronunciation is concerned, it’s closer to American English.
It’s rare for Canadians to confuse Americans with their own compatriots, but if you’re a Canadian in Great Britain, Australia, or New Zealand, there’s a good chance most people will assume you’re American.
Australian English
British settlers arrived in Australia several hundred years ago and began forming colonies along the nation’s coast. Over the years, these colonies grew, the settlers assimilated with the natives, and unique regional accents were formed.
As with Canadians and Americans, Australian and British accents are often confused, especially in North America, but you’ll never see an Aussie/Brit make the same mistake.
What Are The Other Types Of English Language?
British, American, Canadian, and Australian aren’t the only variations of the English language.
Cultural differences and European/American influences have led to many variations of English. These aren’t as diverse as American English vs British English, but there are still some notable differences to be aware of:
Indian English
For a long time, Indians associated English with colonialism, a reminder of the oppression they faced under British rule. But for the last few decades, it has become the language of business and commerce.
There are an estimated 125 million English speakers in India, equating to around 10% of the population and making India the second-largest English speaking country in the world.
Many Indians learn the language so they can work for English-facing tech and telecommunications companies.
South African English
The English spoken in South Africa has more in common with British English than American English. However, US films, TV shows, and influencers are having a strong impact on young South Africans and they are steadily being Americanized as a result.
New Zealand English
There are nearly 5 million native speakers of English in New Zealand. They have their own slang and distinctive accent, but as far as spellings and phrases go, New Zealand English is very similar to Australian English.
Scots Language
Some have argued that Scots is a unique language, others classify it as a variation of English.
You have to make up your own mind, but it’s a fascinating language and so it deserves to be included on this list.
If you reside in the UK and have some exposure to strong Scottish accents, there’s a good chance you’ll recognize Scots words. If your only reference is Groundskeeper Willie, you might struggle.
Take the following as an example. It’s a verse from Auld Lang Syne, a Robert Burns classic that’s often sung during New Year in its anglicized form:
We twa hae run about the braes,
and pou’d the gowans fine;
But we’ve wander’d mony a weary fit,
sin’ auld lang syne.
For the non-Scots speakers among you, here is the translation:
We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.
What are the Biggest English Speaking Countries in the World?
As noted above, India is one of the countries with the most English speakers, but it’s not a native language in the Indian subcontinent.
If we focus purely on countries that use English as a first language, the United States is the biggest, followed by the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.
It might surprise you to learn that Liberia is next on the list, with over 5 million native speakers (English is the official language in Liberia, though there are over 2 dozen others).
After this, we have Ireland, New Zealand, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana, the latter of which has fewer than 800,000 speakers.