5.3 and 5.4 Notes

Key Issue 3: Why Do Individual Languages Vary Among Places?

Dialects Dialect: A regional variation of a language distinguished by a distinctive vocabulary, spelling and punctuation. Subdialect: a subdivision of a dialect.

English has a large number of dialects and subdialects due to the large number of speakers and a widespread distribution. English was brought to North America by the colonists from England in the 1600’s. So, why is English in North America so different from English in England? Separated by the Atlantic Ocean Few residents from one country could visit the other No technology that could transmit the human voice until the 20th century

U.S English differs from the English in England in 3 significant ways Vocabulary Spelling Pronunciation

Vocabulary Vocabulary differs largely because the settlers of America encountered many new objects and experiences. They had to be given new names Indigenous Native Americans enriched American English with their names for objects

Spelling American spelling diverged from the British standard because of a strong national feeling in the United States for an independent identity. Noah Webster: created the first comprehensive dictionary and grammar books. He ignored, or was unaware, of grammar and spelling in England. Webster stated that the spelling and grammar reforms would help establish a national language, reduce cultural dependence on England, and inspire national pride.

Pronunciation Colonists began to pronounce things differently as soon as they arrive on the North American continent. The groups in North America and back in England could only communicate through letters so they never directly spoke to each other. Dialects in England have actually changed more than in the United States.

Dialects in the U.K English varies in individuals countries. In the U.S and England northerners sound different from southerners Review: English originated with 3 invading groups that settled Great Britain North: Angles Southeast: Jutes Southwest: Saxons

Received Pronunciation(RP): Standard language in England. Standard Language: a dialect that is well established and widely recognized as the most acceptable for government, business, education and mass communication. Received Pronunciation(RP): Standard language in England. Used by the “upper class” and education RP is dominant, there is a strong difference especially in rural areas. Northern, Midland, and Southern

U.S Dialects Isogloss: word-usage boundary. U.S has 4 major dialect regions: North, Midland, South and West Current U.S dialects can be traced back to 3 distinct regions developed in the early colonies North: 2/3 of population from southeastern England. South: ½ came from southeastern England, but had a more diverse social class. Deported prisoners, political and religious refugees and indentured servants. Midland: More diverse. From North England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden.

The diffusion of particular English dialects across the United States was due to westward migration.

African American English Speak a dialect of English heavily influenced by the group’s distinctive heritage of forced migration from Africa during the 18th century. Their distinct dialect was preserved due to segregation Ebonics: a combination of ebony and phonics. A dialect spoken by some African Americans.

Creole: a language that results form the mixing of a colonizer’s language with the indigenous language of the people being dominated. A group adopts a language but makes some changes like simplifying grammar and adding words from their former language. Ex: French Creole in Haiti

Dialects Becoming Languages Catalan-Valencian-Balear Galician Moldovan Italy’s Language Occitan

Standardizing Languages: Governments promote the designation of a single dialect as the official or standard language in order to promote cultural unity.

Multilingual Places Switzerland: 4 official languages. German, French, Italian and Romansh. The key is a decentralized government Canada: 2 official languages. French and English. Belgium: language boundary divides the Walloons from the Flemings’. They barely speak. Nigeria: 529 distinct languages can cause problems Government moved capital to Lagos where none of the 3 major languages or 2 major religions predominate.

Key Issue 4: Why Do Local Languages Survive? 2,447 languages are considered endangered 916 of those languages are dying because the childbearing generation is not capable of teaching the language to their children 1,531 are endangered because fluent parents are no longer teaching to to their children These languages will only survive through concentrated community efforts

Regions with the most dying languages: South Pacific, Latin America and North America English was introduced due to British colonization Australia: many elements of aboriginal culture are being preserved but education is oriented towards teaching English. A way Britain got power was by restricting immigration to Australia in the 19th and 20th century. English speakers only. New Zealand: Adopted policies to preserve the Maori language. 1 of 3 official languages.

North America: The endangered languages of the United States were once used by the Native Americans 5 languages are reawakening Mayaamia: Miami Native American tribe

Preserving Languages Efforts are being made to preserve the Celtic language because it provides insights into the cultural heritage of the places that now speak English. Brythonic Celtic: Welsh Cornish Breton Goidelic Celtic: Irish Scottish Gaelic

Unchanging language: Icelandic Isolated Language: a language unrelated to any other, not attached to any language family. Has limited interaction with speakers of other languages Considered vigorous if it is used in the community and is learned as children’s 1st language. More likely to survive Basque Unchanging language: Icelandic

Extinct Language: a language that was once used by people in daily activities but is no longer in use 6 languages go extinct every year A reflection of Globalization. To be part of a global economy, people choose to use a widely used language.

New and Growing Languages While languages are being extinct, new languages are being created. Hebrew is an example of a growing language. It is language that was once rarely used and almost diminished completely but is now commonly used.