THE MODERN DIALECTS It has been shown that, in the earliest period, we can distinguish three well-marked dialects besides the Kentish, viz.

Northumbrian, Mercian, and Anglo-Saxon; and these, in the Middle English period, are known as Northern, Midland, and Southern.

The modern dialects are very numerous, but can be arranged under five divisions, two of which may be called Northern and Southern, as before; whilst the other three arise from a division of the widely spread Midland into subdivisions.
These may be called, respectively, West Midland, Mid Midland (or simply Midland), and East Midland; and it has been shown that similar subdivisions appear even in the Middle English period.
This arrangement of the modern dialects under five divisions is that adopted by Prof.Wright, who further simplifies the names by using Western in place of West Midland, and Eastern in place of East Midland.

This gives us, as a final result, five divisions of English dialects, viz.

Northern, Western, Midland, Eastern, and Southern; to which we must add the dialects of modern Scotland (originally Northern), and the dialects of Ireland, viz.