Key Issue 2 – Why is English Related to Other Languages? The Indo-European Language Family

The Germanic Branch

Origin of English in England A.D. 450 Germanic tribes invaded England (Angles, Saxons, Jutes from Denmark and Germany)Germanic tribes invaded England Angles, Saxons, Jutes – Forced Celtic tribes into remote fringes (Wales, Scotland, and Cornwall) – England comes from Angles’ land – Angles spoke language called englisc – “Old English” – Old English Reading “Old English”Old English Reading A.D – Norman Conquest (French)Norman Conquest – French and English mingled for 300 years – Syncretism - formed new language; Middle Englishformed new languageMiddle English Canterbury Tales (14 th Century) – Middle English (teacher rap) Canterbury Talesteacher rap) Shakespeare (16 th Century) – Early Modern English “Original Pronunciation” Shakespeare“Original Pronunciation” Modern “Proper” English (British Received Pronunciation – BRP)– derived from Southern English dialect in late 18 th century – AFTER colonization of America – Americans don’t speak “proper” English “The History of English” - combinedcombined

back Pre-Germanic Celts (500 B.C.E.)

My Fair Lady / Pygmalion “If you use proper English you’re regarded as a freak; why can’t the English learn to speak?” “If you use proper English you’re regarded as a freak; why can’t the English learn to speak?” Learning to speak “English” The Embassy Ball

Dialects of English Dialect – regional variation in vocabulary, spelling, and pronunciation caused by geographic isolation Standard Language – widely recognized as most acceptable of multiple dialects – British Received Pronunciation (BRP) – upper-class London Britons – Noah Webster’s American Speller (1806) – American Heritage Dictionary (1980s) – “21 Accents” “21 Accents” – Vampire Weekend – “Oxford Comma”

Differences Between British and American English Geographic Isolation – Vocabulary –new objects and experiences Physical features – mountains, forests, rivers New animals – moose, chipmunk, racoon American Indian words – canoe, moccasin New inventions / technology – Elevator / lift, umbrella / bumbershoot, flashlight / torch, toilet / loo, trunk / boot, line / cue – Spelling – nationalism and desire to create national identity Noah Webster’s American Dictionary – Pronunciation – geographic isolation w/ little spoken interaction A and R Accented syllables Changed more in England than in US Hugh Laurie; Ben Affleck; Robin Williams Hugh LaurieBen AffleckRobin Williams

Dialects in the United States Evolved from different dialects of original settlersoriginal settlers – New England – English Puritans from SE England – well-educated families – Southeastern – SE England also, but lower social class – indentured servants, prisoners, commoners – Mid-Atlantic – most diverse Quakers from North England Scots and Irish German, Dutch, and Swedish – review/dialect-quiz-map.html review/dialect-quiz-map.html – Isogloss list - Isogloss list

“Code-Switching” – NPR Race, Ethnicity, and Culture “Code-Switching” – Six Moments of Code-Switching in Popular Culture Six Moments of Code-Switching in Popular Culture – Five Reasons Why People Code-Switch Five Reasons Why People Code-Switch

Diffusion of folk housing styles

North Carolina Dialects Eastern NC – settled by uneducated, working class English and Irish men; indentured servants – Southern dialect – Manteo – 50 yr. old female - video Manteo – 50 yr. old femalevideo – Oak City – 74 yr. old male Oak City – 74 yr. old male Piedmont and Western NC – settled by lower and middle class Scots-Irish families; came South from NJ and PA along – Shelby – 70 yr. old female Shelby – 70 yr. old female – Boone – 42 yr. old female Boone – 42 yr. old female

Gullah Bin-Yah Charleston – Gullah Origins of African American English - Gullah