Yorkshire dialect

Yorkshire dialect
Native toEngland
RegionYorkshire
EthnicityYorkshire British; various
Early forms
Old English
  • Middle English (Northern Middle English (North and East Riding), East Midlands Middle English (West Riding dialect))
DialectsTraditionally divided between the West Riding, the North Riding, and East Riding dialects. Different varieties exist within the various dialects of Yorkshire, shaped by geography & culture.
Language codes
ISO 639-3
Location of Yorkshire within England
Coordinates: 54°N 2°W / 54°N 2°W / 54; -2

Yorkshire dialect, also known as Yorkshire English, Broad Yorkshire, Tyke, or Yorkie, is a grouping of several regionally neighbouring dialects of English spoken in Yorkshire. Yorkshire experienced drastic dialect levelling in the 20th century, eroding many traditional features, though variation and even innovations persist, at both the regional and sub-regional levels. Organisations such as the Yorkshire Dialect Society and the East Riding Dialect Society exist to promote the survival of the more traditional features.

The dialects have been represented in classic works of literature such as Wuthering Heights, Nicholas Nickleby and The Secret Garden, and linguists have documented variations of the dialects since the 19th century. In the mid-20th century, the Survey of English Dialects collected dozens of recordings of authentic Yorkshire dialects.