Is the southern dialect closest to British English of American dialects?

It's not accurate to say that Southern American English is closest to British English among American dialects. While some Southern features are shared with British English, others are distinct.

Here's a breakdown:

Similarities:

* Pronunciation: Some Southern accents share certain vowel sounds with British English, such as the "a" in "bath" and the "o" in "cot" (pronounced like the "o" in "cot" in British English, not like the "o" in "caught" in most of the US).

* Vocabulary: Some Southern words are similar to British words, like "y'all" instead of "you all," "fixin' to" instead of "about to," or "reckon" instead of "think."

* Grammar: Southern English can sometimes use grammatical features that are more common in British English, like the use of "ain't" and the double negative.

Differences:

* Pronunciation: Southern English has its own distinctive vowel and consonant sounds, like the "r" dropping in words like "car" and the distinctive drawl. These are not found in British English.

* Vocabulary: While some Southern words are similar to British, there are also many unique Southern words and expressions that are not used in British English.

* Grammar: Southern English has its own unique grammatical features, such as the use of "y'all" and "we all" for "you" and "we," respectively, which are not found in British English.

Overall:

While some Southern features overlap with British English, there are also significant differences. It's more accurate to say that Southern English is a unique dialect of English with its own set of features.

It's important to remember that both Southern American English and British English are incredibly diverse, with numerous regional and social variations.