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Developments in literary dialect representation in British fiction 1800–1836

This study draws on findings from the ‘Dialect in British Fiction 1800–1836’ project to describe changes in literary dialect representation in novels published during the second half of the Romantic Period. We identify an overall increase in literary dialect representation, and trace the different trajectories of Scots, Irish English, Welsh English, London English and Regional English varieties. We consider why literary dialect representation increased in the novel during this period, and why some literary dialects proved more popular than others. In conclusion we argue that while the overall picture presented by this project is one of increased speech by characters from the lower classes, this increase should not be interpreted as de facto evidence of greater acceptance of dialect and dialect speakers.