Chapter 5: Language Section 5-1

Language Quiz 1) How many distinct languages are in the world today? A) about 100 B) between 500 – 1000 C) between 2000 – 4000 D) over 10,000

 2) How many languages are spoken by at least 100 million people? A) 5 B) 10 C) 25 D) about 100

 3) All of the following are spoken by more than 100 million people EXCEPT: –A) Arabic –B) Hindi –C) Dutch –D) Portuguese

 4) About how many languages are spoken by at least 2 million people?  A) 170  B) 200  C) 220  D) 250

 5) How many distinct languages have been documented in Africa? –A) 18 –B) 50 –C) 100 –D) 1000

 6) Which language is the most used in the world?  A) Cantonese  B) Hindi  C) English  D) Mandarin

 7) How many “official” languages are recognized in India’s constitution? A) 1 B) 3 C) 10 D) 18

 8) In which of the following countries do students typically learn the LEAST number of languages? –A) Japan –B) The Netherlands –C) United States –D) Germany

 9) How many official languages are listed in the U.S. constitution? –A) 0 –B) 1 –C) 2 –D) 18

 10) How many countries have English as the predominant language or at least one of their official languages? A) 7 B) 15 C) 42 D) 108

Starting Points:  1 – Language is a system of communication through a collection of sounds.  2 – Not all languages have a literary tradition (written)  3 – Countries usually have at least 1 “official” language, usually understood by most of its citizens.

 4 – Language is part of a culture’s VALUE system.  5 – Language moves by migration - can help trace migration patterns of the distant past.

Key Issue 1: Where are English- Language Speakers Distributed?  I. Origin of English  A) Germanic (Angles & Saxons) (Angles & Saxons)  B) Norman Invasion  C) Over Time Match the following terms to your notes above: Hierarchical Diffusion Isolation Relocation Diffusion

II. Diffusion of English  A) English Colonies

Former English Colonies

B) United States  1) Military  2) Economics

III. Dialects of English  A) Dialect – Definition: regional variation of a language –Vocabulary –Pronunciation –Easily Understood  B) Migration  C) Variation of Dialects –1) British Received Pronunciation –2) UK today (north, south, midland)

IV. Differences Between British and American English  A) Early Migrants  B) Other Immigrants  C) Isolation

D) US English differs from England in 3 main ways:  1 – Vocabulary  2 – Spelling (Noah Webster)  3) Pronunciation Which are “chips”? Depends on which Side of the Atlantic you’re on!

V. Dialects in the United States A) Settlement in the East 1) Southeastern colonies (Virginia) 1) Southeastern colonies (Virginia) 2) Middle Atlantic colonies (Pennsylvania) 2) Middle Atlantic colonies (Pennsylvania) 3) New England (Massachusetts) 3) New England (Massachusetts) B) Current Dialect Differences 1) isogloss (vocabulary) 2) isogloss (pronunciation) 3) Mid-Atlantic 4) Americans are “mobile”

The End! !