American English 2 11 September 2014 Pétur Knútsson

Baugh § 243 p.360 Archaisms The language of the first British settlers in America was Early Modern English Since them, both British and American English have developed and diverged. A and B diverge. A recognises some of the differences as archaic forms of his own variety. Assumes that others are (in fact they are innovations) B does the same.

Baugh § 243 p.360 Archaisms Most of Baugh’s examples are thoroughly suspect: rhoticism “flat a” - also in Britain  But o-unrounding is an American innovation! Vocabulary: – mad, sick, rare (meat), platter, gotten – fortnight?  fall/autumn? (ME: “hervest”. Thus “autumn” is earlier!)

p.360-1

Languages as tress ? (shades of Deleuze and Guattari) Other reasons for the preservation of Icelandi inflections

Baugh § 242 p.356 Uniformity The language of the first British settlers in America was Early Modern English Complete lack of mutual intelligibility “Better English”

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