History of English - Ex. 1 Flashcards
The book emphasizes the truth that
- language is in flux
- form and expression are beyond the control of schoolteachers or governments.
Book focus Spoken or Written
Spoken
What makes a language? Written Literature?
language is also gesture, tone, and context.
(Author Opinion)
Purity in the use of language advocated by prescriptivists
Language develops according to its own Genius and Power.
(Author) English Language
mixture of
- social history
- literature
- linguistics.
(Author) Variety
- All different dialects of English
- Avoid pejorative ‘dialect’
- Standard English = Prestigious Variety
(Author) Accent
Set of sounds peculiar to Region
(Author) Dialect
- Peculiar Sound, Grammar, Vocabulary
- For
- Peculiar Group (Social, Regional, Ethnic, Socio-Eco, Gender)
(Author) Language
Includes varieties or dialects of a specific language.
Problem of Author Definition
Accent Vs. Dialect
Hard to distinguish
English is a second official language in the following countries
a. India
b. Nigeria
c. Singapore
d. Ghana
e. Sierra Leone
f. Tanzania
g. Uganda
h. The Philippines
First English Dictionary (+ Impact)
- Dr. Samuel Johnson
- 1755
- Standardization of Written English (Important)
English Public School
= American Private School
Education Act (1870)
Upper and Middle Class Melting-Pot
Public School English - English speech Standard
Radio heyday
- End of WWI (1918) -to-
- End of WWII (1945).
BBC (birthyear)
1922
ACSE + Date
Advisory Committee on Spoken English
- Radio Control
- 1926
The public-school accent (Synonyms)
- Queen’s English
- Received Pronunciation
English Spoken by the Queen
- posh English -or-
- marked RP
Social Hierarchy of English accents in Britain
– 1. Received Pronunciation.
– 2. Dublin Irish and Edinburgh Scottish.
– 3. Geordie (the accent of Newcsatle and the North-East).
– 4. Yorkshire and West Country.
– 5. The least valued accents in Britain: Cockney, Liverpool Scouse, Birmingham and Glaswegian accents.
Influence of American Eng. on British Eng.
(after WWII)
- English World became American - -
- Interest (social spheres)
- Americanisms (Black Market)
- War Vocabulary (e.g. Cold War)
- Korean War (Brainwash)
- American Products (Kleenex)
American vs. British English
- Vocabulary (Fall - Autumn)
- Pronunciation (ae - a)
- Syntax (do you have children - any children)
- Spelling (Honor - Honour)
President vs. Queen English
UK: Accent = Social Elite (imitated)
US: Accent = Geographical (do not conform - aristocracy)
3 Basic Assets for ESL Learners
- No Grammatical Gender System
- Grammar Simple + Flexible
- Vocabulary 80% foreing
