Changing English in a Changing World Performance Objectives: Performance Objectives: explain why languages change as people change explain why languages change as people change recognize and describe examples of change recognize and describe examples of change understand some of the special English vocabulary used in talking about language understand some of the special English vocabulary used in talking about language explain what is meant by varieties of English explain what is meant by varieties of English

Activity One Language Change and Language Use All All languages, as we know, have been changing with the time. And every language has its own history. It is the case of English too. In the process of using languages, people keep adding to them and forgetting some parts of them. The rate of adding and forgetting is sometimes slow and sometimes fast.

Activity One The The number of languages spoken in the world is ; no one can give a more exact number because the number depends on what counts as a dialect and what counts as a language; besides some languages have disappeared, and we know nothing about them. When we speak of languages as living or dead, we use a metaphor.

Activity One Biology----Bilge(the nasty wet mess at the bottom of a leaky boat) Biology----Bilge(the nasty wet mess at the bottom of a leaky boat) Chemistry---- Stinks(unpleasant smell) Chemistry---- Stinks(unpleasant smell) I don’t know ---I dunno laboratory---lab

How older and younger people describe each other’s English? Younger people’s English Younger people’s English careless,slangy careless,slangy slipshod slipshod inaccurate inaccurate disrespectful disrespectful foolish foolish Older people’s English formal, precise careful, prim old-fashioned traditional quaint, foolish

Activity Two Variation in English Different Places Language has regional variations. Take English for example, there are variations of American English, British English, Australian English, African English and Singaporean English, etc. It is true that even a native speaker of English from one place may not be able to understand the language spoken in another English speaking area or country. Language has regional variations. Take English for example, there are variations of American English, British English, Australian English, African English and Singaporean English, etc. It is true that even a native speaker of English from one place may not be able to understand the language spoken in another English speaking area or country.

“Standard English” We have Written English, or Standard English and Spoken English. There are far fewer differences in Written English than in Spoken English. People do speak English with regional varieties but if we speak to well-educated people, we will find that they use either Received Pronunciation (RP) or Educated American (Network English), two major varieties, which are learned by learners of English and widely accepted and understand.

Group Work 1. Is good English the English of educated native speaker? 1. Is good English the English of educated native speaker? 2. Is good English written English? 2. Is good English written English? 3. Should only some books be treated as authorities? If not, who should decide? 3. Should only some books be treated as authorities? If not, who should decide?

Activity 3 Observing Vocabulary Change in English 1.authentic 1.authentic 2.infomania 2.infomania 3.buzzwords 3.buzzwords 4.dimension 4.dimension 5.non-edible 5.non-edible 6.ASCII 6.ASCII 7.compatibility 7.compatibility 8.RAM/ROM 8.RAM/ROM 1.real or true 2.madness information technology 3. 专业词语 / 技术词语 4.aspect 5.unfit to be eaten 6. 美国信息交换的标准编码 7. 兼容性 8. 随机存取器 / 只读存取 器

Task 3 Language change varying at different times and at different places. The changes are not even and steady. Sometimes they happen quickly, and sometimes slowly. Change in language matches that in our lives. New words enter the language to match new sorts of experiences.

You may have noticed that there are English words newly invented or borrowed from other languages. For instance, dim sum, feng shui, pak choi words from Cantanese, has entered English already. So paying attention to words like this will make our vocabulary larger and our language lively. You may have noticed that there are English words newly invented or borrowed from other languages. For instance, dim sum, feng shui, pak choi words from Cantanese, has entered English already. So paying attention to words like this will make our vocabulary larger and our language lively.

Task 3 In short, By studying texts we can observe change in English as it happens. New words are invented, or borrowed to match new meanings. Or old words are used with new meanings. In the mean time, words are dropped when they are no longer needed.There is change in language but the rate of the change is uneven.Also,people living at the same time don’t have trouble understanding each other. In short, By studying texts we can observe change in English as it happens. New words are invented, or borrowed to match new meanings. Or old words are used with new meanings. In the mean time, words are dropped when they are no longer needed.There is change in language but the rate of the change is uneven.Also,people living at the same time don’t have trouble understanding each other.

Activity 4 Languages and Dialects in the United Kingdom

Task 1-3 United Kingdom is made up of England,Scotland Wales and Ireland. United Kingdom is made up of England,Scotland Wales and Ireland. Comparing scale and Distance with China, It is a small country. Comparing scale and Distance with China, It is a small country. There are many different languages spoken by minorities in the UK. For example, Welsh is still used in Wales and is mother tongue for some Welsh people. There are many different languages spoken by minorities in the UK. For example, Welsh is still used in Wales and is mother tongue for some Welsh people.

Task 1-3 The majority of people living in England use English all the time. But standard English is in use throughout Britain. Spoken English sounds very different in different parts of the country. There are varieties of English, which are called dialects. Usually there is something in common between a language and a dialect. For instance, their grammatical structure is similar, but the accent may be different. The majority of people living in England use English all the time. But standard English is in use throughout Britain. Spoken English sounds very different in different parts of the country. There are varieties of English, which are called dialects. Usually there is something in common between a language and a dialect. For instance, their grammatical structure is similar, but the accent may be different.

Activity 5

Activity 5 Summary Many speakers approximate to RP, but not very closely. Their English has some of the features you have looked at. Knowing about regional varieties is very helpful in understanding these speakers. Many speakers approximate to RP, but not very closely. Their English has some of the features you have looked at. Knowing about regional varieties is very helpful in understanding these speakers. English novelists often use varieties to define characters and to give the reader a sense of place. English novelists often use varieties to define characters and to give the reader a sense of place.