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During the colonial era, there were also a few speakers in North America of [[Dutch]], [[French]], [[German]], [[Spanish]], [[Swedish]], [[Welsh]], [[Irish]], [[Scottish Gaelic]], [[Finnish]], as well as numerous [[Native American]] languages. To a very small extent, he American dialect spoken commonly throughout the USA comes from the intertwining of many of these languages and dialects.

During the colonial era, there were also a few speakers in North America of [[Dutch]], [[French]], [[German]], [[Spanish]], [[Swedish]], [[Welsh]], [[Irish]], [[Scottish Gaelic]], [[Finnish]], as well as numerous [[Native American]] languages. To a very small extent, he American dialect spoken commonly throughout the USA comes from the intertwining of many of these languages and dialects.

By 1800 there were three main dialect areas, with slightly different pronunciations and much the same vocabulary: Northern (New  England, New York and due west), Southern (Virginia to Georgia, and due west), and Midland (Pennsylvania and the lower Midwest).  As the map shows, the same basic geographical pattern continues into the 21st century.

By 1800 there were three main dialect areas, with slightly different pronunciations and much the same vocabulary: Northern (New  England, New York and due west), Southern (Virginia to Georgia, and due west), and Midland (Pennsylvania and the lower Midwest).  As the map shows, the same basic geographical pattern continues into the 21st century.<ref> See [http://www.ling.upenn.edu/phono_atlas/NationalMap/NationalMap.html#Heading2 "A National Map of the Regional Dialects of American English'' (1997)]</ref>

[[File:Dialect1.jpg|thumb|340px|Current regional patterns]]

 

[[File:Dialect1.jpg|thumb|550px|1997 regional patterns]]

With the arrival of radio in the 1920s, the Midland version became standard American pronunciation.

With the arrival of radio in the 1920s, the Midland version became standard American pronunciation.