Crossword puzzle : Regional variations in English

ByVocaVerb
Regional variations in English [C2] — VocaVerb

From the rolling vowels of a Yorkshire dialect to the lilting cadences of Appalachian English, regional varieties reveal how geography, history, and culture shape language. This crossword challenges your knowledge of dialectal features, accent-specific terminology, and sociolinguistic concepts. Can you navigate the rich patchwork of Englishes spoken across the globe?

Grid

Fill in the grid: pick a square, read the clue and type your answer.

Clues

Across

  1. 0. Used sarcastically to disagree
  2. 1. A gliding vowel sound in speech
  3. 3. Full of light, opposite of dark
  4. 4. Used to add surprise emphasis
  5. 7. Place adverb replacing here
  6. 11. Prepared for an activity
  7. 14. Past form of will used in reporting
  8. 15. Sound produced at the back of the throat
  9. 16. Dialects becoming more similar over time

Down

  1. 1. Regional variety of a spoken language
  2. 2. Having little length or duration
  3. 5. Emphasis patterns in regional speech
  4. 6. Study of regional language varieties
  5. 8. Overcorrecting speech to sound formal
  6. 9. To eliminate a phonetic distinction
  7. 10. Language variety of a social group
  8. 12. Past form of may in reporting
  9. 13. Regional expression with figurative meaning

Answers

Show the answers

Across

  • 0. Used sarcastically to disagree → right
  • 1. A gliding vowel sound in speech → diphthong
  • 3. Full of light, opposite of dark → bright
  • 4. Used to add surprise emphasis → already
  • 7. Place adverb replacing here → there
  • 11. Prepared for an activity → ready
  • 14. Past form of will used in reporting → would
  • 15. Sound produced at the back of the throat → glottal
  • 16. Dialects becoming more similar over time → convergence

Down

  • 1. Regional variety of a spoken language → dialect
  • 2. Having little length or duration → short
  • 5. Emphasis patterns in regional speech → accentuation
  • 6. Study of regional language varieties → dialectology
  • 8. Overcorrecting speech to sound formal → hypercorrect
  • 9. To eliminate a phonetic distinction → neutralize
  • 10. Language variety of a social group → sociolect
  • 12. Past form of may in reporting → might
  • 13. Regional expression with figurative meaning → idiom

To go further on this topic:

Review the lesson · Practice exercises

Previous lesson: Abstract vocabulary in English : complete course

Other lessons at this level:

Literary vocabulary in English : complete course