1. Language

2. Introduction to Language

3. Language Tidbits Most people in the United States know only English
English is the official language in over 50 countries
A third of the world’s population live in countries where English is the official language
English is the second most spoken language in the world

4. What is language?
Language: a system of communication through speech, a collection of sounds that a group of people understands to have the same meaning
Does Ebonics meet this criteria?
Literary Tradition: a system of written communication

5. Language Continued Many countries have an official language.
This is used by governments for laws, reports, and public objects
If a country has more than one official language, than they can require all public documents to be in both languages
As of 1988, Canada has two official languages, English and French

6. Global Distribution of Language
The distribution of language is a result of interaction and isolation
Interaction occurs when a group of people migrates to another place and teaches their language to the people they encounter (Ex: British Colonization)
Isolation occurs if the people have few connections after the migration (Ex: Spanish in Latin America)

7. Origin of English
English is widely distributed through the world as a result of British Imperialism
English diffused to North America in the 1600’s with the settling of Jamestown
English diffused to Ireland, India, Australia, New Zealand, Southern Africa, etc. in the form of British Colonialism

8. British Commonwealth

9. Origin of English in England
The Celts came to Great Britain in 2000 B.C. (or B.C.E.) speaking Celtic
In 450 A.D. (C.E.), tribes from Europe invaded, pushing the Celts into modern-day Scotland and Wales
The invading tribes were the Angles, Jutes, and Saxons

10. German Invasion
All three were Germanic tribes, hence English having Germanic roots
All the tribes had a common language, but after being isolated, the language took on a form of its own
This was also due to other European influences that migrated to Great Britain

11. Norman Invasion
One reason English and German are different today is due to the Normans
The Normans spoke French, and it was the official language of England for 300 years
The royal family spoke French, but the people spoke English
In 1489, English became the official language of England

12. Dialects of English
Dialect: a regional variation of a language distinguished by distinctive vocabulary, spelling, and pronunciation (Is Ebonics a dialect?)
Usually, a speaker of one dialect can understand the speaker of another (Ex: American English and Australian English)

13. What is this song about? Waltzing Matilda
Once a jolly swagman sat beside the billabong, Under the shade of a coolibah tree, And he sang as he sat and waited by the billabong You'll come a waltzing matilda with me Waltzing matilda, waltzing matilda You'll come a waltzing matilda with me And he sang as he sat and waited by the billabong You'll come a waltzing matilda with me.

14. Dialects Continued
Sometimes a dialect is recognized as being a standard language
Example: British Received Pronunciation (BRP)
This was the language used at universities like Oxford and Cambridge
Oh why can’t the English learn to speak?

15. British and American English
The first colonists spoke a British form of English
With isolation from Great Britain, and the arrival of immigrants, the form of English shifted into what it is today
American and British English differ in three ways: vocabulary, spelling, and pronunciation

16. Vocabulary New physical features had to be given names
New animal and plant species also had to be named
Native Americans also added to our vocabulary: canoe and moccasin
New inventions like the elevator (lift), flashlight (torch), toilet (loo)

17. Spelling
Webster was determined to make American English unique, and published his dictionary with that agenda
He created new grammar and spelling rules
Color vs. Colour,
Analyze vs. analyse
Center vs. Centre

18. Pronunciation
One key difference between American and British pronunciation are the sounds of the letters a and r.
Fast vs. faaaahhhst
Lord vs Laaahhhd
Secretary vs. Secratry
See Hugh Laurie teach British slang!

19. Dialects in the United States
There are many words in the United States that are unique to that region
An isogloss is a word-usage boundary
Cellar or Basement?
Coke, Pop, or Soda?
Water fountain or drinking fountain?
Are Mary, Merry, and Marry pronounced the same?
Wedgie anyone?