Chapter 5 Language

1. Chapter 5 Language

2. Chapter 5: Language • Language: A system of communication through speech • Literary Tradition: a system of written communication • Common in many languages • Hundreds lack literary traditions • Official Language: used by government ( laws, road signs, money, etc) • Each countries designates at least one • Some have multiple • Not all citizens speak official language • Common in colonized countries

3. Origin and Diffusion of English • Spoken by one-half billion people (2nd most spoken in world) • Speakers distributed around the world • Official language in 50 countries, more than any other language • 2 billion people live in a country where English is official language

4. English Speaking Countries Fig. 5-1: English is the official language in 42 countries, including some in which it is not the most widely spoken language. It is also used and understood in many others.

5. ThE History of the English Language in 10 minutes • The History of the English Language

6. English Colonies • England migrated with their language during colonization • English is official language in most former British colonies • 17th Century: English diffused to North America • Principal language of North America by 18th century • British Colonization • 17th Century: Ireland • 18th Century: South Asia, South Pacific • 19th Century: southern Africa • United States • 20th Century: Philippines

7. Origins of English in England • Celts, 2000 BC: spoke Celtic • German Invasion, 450 AD • Angles: southern Denmark • Jutes: northern Denmark • Saxons: northwestern Germany • “Anglo Saxons”

8. Invasions of England5th–11th centuries Fig. 5-2: The groups that brought what became English to England included Jutes, Angles, Saxons, and Vikings. The Normans later brought French vocabulary to English.

9. Origins of English in EnglandGerman Invasion • England: “Angle’s Land” corner (angle) of Germany • Modern English evolved from language spoken by Angles, Saxons, and Jutes • Isolation from other Germanic groups allowed languages to evolve independently • Other groups later invaded England, adding to the evolution of the English language, ex: Vikings

10. Norman Invasion • 1066 Normans from Normandy, France invaded • French became official language for 300 years • Royal family, nobles, judges, clergy spoke French • Majority of people did NOT speak French • Parliament changed official language back to English in 1362 • French and English languages merged to create a new language

11. Dialects of English • Dialect: regional variation of a language • Vocab, spelling, pronunciation • Speakers of one dialect can understand another • When speakers migrate, dialects may develop • English migration to North America and through colonization • Dialects of English: U.S., India, Pakistan, Australia, etc • Dialects can also be found within individual countries • US & England: southern & northern dialects

12. Dialects of English • One dialect is usually recognized as the “standard language” • Most acceptable for gov’t, business, education and mass communication • British Received Pronunciation (BRP) • Recognized as standard for English-speaking world • Upper-class Britons living in London area • Used by politicians, broadcasters, and actors

13. Dialects in England • Wide variety of dialects • Three invading groups, distinct regional dialects • Later invasion by the French • 5 distinct regional dialects • London’s emerged as the standard language for writing & speech • Used by upper-class residents • Home to Cambridge & Oxford • Diffusion encouraged by printing press, 1476 • Grammar books & dictionaries in 18th century • Rules for “English” language based off London’s dialect • Dialects today: Northern, Midland and Southern

14. Old and Middle English Dialects Fig. 5-3: The main dialect regions of Old English before the Norman invasion persisted to some extent in the Middle English dialects through the 1400s.

15. Differences between British and American English • English language brought to America by British colonists, 17th Century • “17th Century English” became the norm in colonial America • Later immigrants from other countries adopted English to be the language of Colonial America

16. Differences in Vocabulary And Spelling • Isolation: Atlantic Ocean • 18th and 19th Centuries: English in the US & English in England evolved independently • Few residents travelled between the countries • Vocabulary • American settlers discovered new objects: needed new names • Landscape, animals (chipmunk), Native American names (canoe) • New inventions: elevator vs lift, flashlight vs torch

17. Differences in Vocabulary and Spelling • Spelling • Noah Webster • creator of 1st American dictionary/grammar books • Determined to develop a unique American dialect of English • “Spelling & grammar reforms would help establish a national language, reduce cultural dependence on England and inspire national pride” • Honor vshonour, color vscolour, defense vsdefence

18. Differences in Pronunciation • Geographic Concepts: Isolation • Pronunciation has changed more in England than in the US • “A” and “R” pronounced in US the same way they used to be pronounced in Britain during 17th Century • Standard dialect in Britain emerged AFTER colonization of America, 18th Century • Colonists left England before “London English” became the standard or “proper” English

19. Dialects in the United States • Major differences in US dialects is from differences in dialects of original settlers • American Colonies • New England: settlers from England: Puritans from East Anglia in SE England • SouthEastern: ½ of settlers from SE England, diverse group of social backgrounds: prisoners, religious & political refugees • Amy Walker’s Dialects • Dialects Video Clip