Bermudian English | |
---|---|
Native to | Bermuda |
Native speakers | 63,917 (2016)[1] |
Latin (English alphabet) | |
Official status | |
Regulated by | not regulated |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | – |
IETF | en-KY |
Part of a series on the |
English language |
---|
Topics |
Advanced topics |
Phonology |
Dialects |
|
Teaching |
Bermudian English is a regional dialect of English found in Bermuda, a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic. Standard English is used in professional settings and in writing, while vernacular Bermudian English is spoken on more casual occasions.[2] The Bermudian dialect began to develop following settlement in the early 17th century and retains traits of Elizabethan English.[3][4][5] Bermudian Creole is also spoken in Bermuda, especially among younger Bermudians.[6][7]
Casual observers tend to have difficulty in placing the Bermudian dialect, as it differs from those that are clearly British, American, or Caribbean; they also note that the accent tends to vary between individuals.[8] It is often said to sound American or West Indian to a British ear, and quaintly British to American listeners.[9]