2. Language: a system of communication thru speech, signs, gestures, etc
Ensures cultural transmission
Literary Tradition: a system of written communication

3. Many countries have an official language.
Used by govnts for laws, reports, and public objects
If a country has more than 1 official lang.  can require all public documents to be in both langs.
As of 1988, Canada has 2 official langs, English and French
States Right in US (Wikipedia link to list)

4. Most people in the US know only English
English is the official language in over 50 countries
1/3 of the world’s population live in countries where English is the official language
English is the second most spoken language in the world

5. The distribution of language is a result of interaction and isolation
Interaction occurs when ppl migrate to another place and teaches their language to the ppl they encounter
Isolation occurs if the people have few connections after the migration
Examples?

6. English is widely dist. thru world as a result of British Imperialism
English diffused to NA in the 1600’s w/ the settling of Jamestown
English diffused to Ireland, India, Australia, New Zealand, Southern Africa, etc. in the form of Colonialism
US also brought English to other countries (Philippines, PR)

9. The Celts came to GB in 2000 B.C.E.  Celtic
In 450 C.E., tribes from Europe invaded, pushing the Celts into modern-day Scotland and Wales
Invading groups:
Angles (northern Germany),
Saxons (southern Denmark)
Jutes (northern Denmark)

10. One reason English and German are different today  Normans (1066)
The Normans spoke French  official lang of England for 300 yrs
In 1489, English became the official lang of England

11. Origin of English in England
Today:
- Simple, straightforward words from Germanic roots (man, woman, sky, horse)
- Fancy, more elegant words from French roots (celestial, equestrian, masculine, feminine)
- French only spoken by royal family, nobles, clergy, judges
- Majority of people (uneducated) still spoke English

13. Dialect: a regional variation of a language distinguished by distinctive vocabulary, spelling, and pronunciation
Usually, a speaker of one dialect can understand the speaker of another
Ex: American English and Australian English

14. 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. The first colonists spoke a British form of English
With isolation from GB, and the arrival of immigrants, the form of English shifted into what it is today
American and British English differ in 3 ways: vocabulary, spelling, and pronunciation

16. New names needed for features, plants, animals, etc.
Native Americans also added to our vocabulary: canoe and moccasin
New inventions like the elevator (lift), flashlight (torch), toilet (loo)

17. He created new grammar and spelling rules
Noah Webster was determined to make American English unique, & published his dictionary with that agenda
Reduce dependence, nat’l pride
He created new grammar and spelling rules
Color vs. Colour,
Analyze vs. Analyse
Center vs. Centre

18. 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 (we pronounce all syllables)
See Hugh Laurie 

19. An isogloss is a word-usage boundary
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?