Pronunciation:
* Received Pronunciation (RP), the standard accent associated with upper-class and educated speakers, was already established. This included features like the "r" sound being pronounced only before vowels (e.g., "car" but not "car park").
* Regional accents were still very strong, with distinctive features in areas like London, the North, and Scotland.
* Some words were pronounced differently than they are today, such as "herb" with an "h" sound and "often" with an "o" sound.
Vocabulary:
* The Victorian era saw a rapid expansion of vocabulary, with new words being coined for new technologies, social movements, and scientific discoveries.
* Slang and colloquialisms were widespread, particularly in the lower classes.
* Formal language was more prevalent in written communication and among the upper classes.
Grammar:
* Grammar was generally more formal and strict, with rules like using "whom" instead of "who" in certain cases.
* The use of double negatives was considered incorrect, unlike in some modern dialects.
* The subjunctive mood was more widely used in formal writing.
Style:
* Victorian speech often included complex sentence structures and ornate language.
* Eloquence was highly valued, and public speaking was an important skill.
* Women were expected to speak more softly and politely than men.
Examples:
* "Good morning, sir. How do you do?" (Formal greeting)
* "I say, old bean, fancy meeting you here!" (Informal greeting)
* "A most dreadful affair, indeed!" (Exclamation)
* "The Queen's English" (Term for a formal and prestigious way of speaking)
It's important to remember that Victorian speech was diverse, varying greatly depending on social class, region, and individual. While we can identify general trends, the experience of language in Victorian Britain was much richer and more nuanced than any single description can capture.