History of American English

Periods of American English Colonial ( ) National ( ) International (1898-present)

Colonial 17 th century English settlements along Atlantic Coast provided foundation for English as permanent language in the New World English of colonies became distinct from England Atlantic Ocean served as barrier to oral communication between colonists and England

Colonial Colonists came into contact with Native Americans, French and Dutch speakers settlers came from various districts and social groups in England, creating homogenizing effect; in other words those in a given colony came to talk more like one another

National After Revolution American English was no longer a colonial variety of the English of London but had entered its national period Cultural independence soon followed political independence Noah Webster was a notable figure with his dictionary, reader, grammar, and blue-backed speller, institutionalizing what he called Federal English

National Webster helped Americans realize two things: they should no longer look to England for standard of usage they should foster reasonable degree of uniformity in American English

Changes in American English small ways in pronunciation and grammar extensively in vocabulary and in attitude of speakers