There were once many different dialects of modern English in England-which were recorded in projects such as the " English Dialect Dictionary " ( late 19th century ) and the Survey of English Dialects ( mid 20th century ), but many of these have passed out of common usage as Standard English has become more widespread through education, the media and socio-economic pressures.
22.
He repeated this lively rural phrase in Fond du Lac, Wis ., and it was broadcast far and wide in coverage of the Democratic campaign . ( Perhaps it subliminally evoked the split-second use of the word " rats " in a GOP television spot . ) It has the sound of an old Americanism, but is nowhere to be found in the dialect dictionaries.
