Philadelphia English or Delaware Valley English is a variety or dialect of American English native to Philadelphia and extending into Philadelphia's metropolitan area throughout the Delaware Valley , including southeastern Pennsylvania, all of South Jersey , counties of northern Delaware especially New Castle and Kent , and the north Eastern Shore of Maryland.
Aside from Philadelphia and the surrounding counties and arguably Baltimore , the dialect is spoken in such cities as Camden , Wilmington , Reading , Vineland , Atlantic City , and Dover. Philadelphia English is one of the best-studied varieties of North American English , as Philadelphia's University of Pennsylvania was the home institution of pioneering sociolinguist William Labov.
Philadelphia English shares certain features with New York City English and Midland American English , although it remains a distinct dialect of its own. Philadelphia and Baltimore accents together fall under what Labov described as a single Mid-Atlantic dialect , referring to the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States.
According to linguist Barbara Johnstone , migration patterns and geography affected the dialect's development, which was especially influenced by immigrants from Northern England , Scotland , and Northern Ireland.
Philadelphia English has a complicated history, with speakers at times showing features shared with neighboring regions as well as uniquely local features. As of today, "the most strongly supported generalization is that Philadelphia has moved away from its Southern heritage in favor of a Northern system, avoiding those forms that are most saliently associated with local phonology.
