News & Media

U.S. English Audiocast - What Dialect of English is official English?

One frequent question we often receive about official English concerns the type, or dialect, of English that U.S. English is advocating.

As you know, there is no standard type of English. British English exists alongside Australian English. In our own country, the English spoken in New York differs from that spoken along the Gulf of Mexico, which in turn differs from that spoken in Boston, Chicago or Los Angeles.

In this audio clip, U.S. English Director of Government Relations Tim Schultz discusses why U.S. English joins with federal courts, legislatures and the military in not prescribing a specific type of English as “the” official dialect.

English remains an evolving language, and while it may take us a moment to understand sneakers vs. tennis shoes, or bubbler vs. water fountain, or trunk vs. boot, we believe that these national and regional variances do little to hinder communication, and are much preferred to a standardizing board or academy. Issues with such standardization can be found in this recent Wall Street Journal article.

Click on the link below to begin the audio clip. This clip lasts approximately 90 seconds.

Not one "standard" English