Chapter 5: Language Key Issue 1

 Origins of English in England Around 450 A.D. Germanic Tribes invaded the British Isles  Angles, Saxons, & Jutes  All had similar language Norman Invasion around 1066  French official language for 300 years  Commoners still spoke Germanic Languages  Why? Mixture of Germanic and French when Norman rule ended

 Spread of English English colonization spread the English language  N.A., Africa, Asia, Australia, etc.  Spread throughout the 16 th, 17 th, 18 th, & 19 th centuries Today spreads through business

English speaking countries

 Dialect: regional form of a language different from others based on vocabulary, spelling, & pronunciation Isogloss: the regional boundaries of a dialect word  Ex. Bubbler, putt-putt, cash station, tyme machine  Standard language: one dialect understood to be “the” dialect within a language Used for government, education, etc. Ex. British Received Pronunciation

 Dialects in England 5 major dialects  Northern, East Midland, West Midland, Southwestern, and Southeastern  Differences in vowel sounds in some words  Dialects in the US Original colonies had the biggest influence  New England (Northern)  Middle Atlantic (Midlands)  Southeastern (Southern) Diffusion follows folk house diffusion  Midlands has the biggest influence in western expansion  21 English dialects 21 English dialects

 Differences between British & American English Vocabulary  Use different words  Ex. lift = elevator, torch = flashlight, bonnet = hood Spelling  Webster set out to create a new American language  Ex. Drop “u” in colour and honour to color and honor Pronunciation  “ah” vs. short “a”  Fahst vs. fast, pahth vs. path  Pronunciation Can Be Difficult Pronunciation Can Be Difficult