1. Historical Linguistics
Modern English

2. Modern English
Where do we get the idea that there’s a “right” way to talk?
Late 1600s: Writers wanted uniformity in the language
Thought if definitions were fixed, peace would follow
Didn’t want language to change
Started writing dictionaries
Grammar started to be labeled “correct” and “incorrect” to make people conform

3. Modern English
1700s
Middle classes wanted to “speak properly” to rise in status
Writers published grammar books, dictionaries, and pronunciation guides
These became thought of as the “right” way to talk.
Some writers thought unique dialects should be preserved to keep people connected to their identity

4. Modern English
Robert Burns: Scottish Poet—wanted to preserve unique Scottish identity through language.
Auld Lang Syne
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,  And never brought to mind?  Should auld acquaintance be forgot,  And auld lang syne!  Chorus.-For auld lang syne, my dear,  For auld lang syne.  We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,  For auld lang syne.  We twa hae run about the braes,  And pou'd the gowans fine;  But we've wander'd mony a weary fit,  Sin' auld lang syne.  For auld, &c. 

5. Modern English 1800s Industrial Revolution Introduced new words:
steampipe, machine, hydraulic, lithograph, wheels, teeth, horsepower;
took Greek and Latin words to name new things: biology, paleontology, taxonomy, ethnology, histology, locomotive
Dialect became a marker of class. Lower classes and upper classes spoke differently
Cockney rhyming slang: a way for people in the slums of London to communicate, “talk dirty” without being understood by outsiders (still used today)

6. Colonialism
At one time or another, Britain had colonies in all of these countries. English either merged with the native languages or completely wiped them out.

7. Colonialism India Colonized by Britain beginning in the 1600s
100s of native Indian languages
At first, British traders had to learn Indian languages introduced new words:
bungalow, cashmere, dungarees, bandana, pajamas, cot, shampoo, cash, polo, jungle, khaki, avatar, yoga
Eventually, English became the language of power. English still spoken in India today.
Gandhi: “To give millions a knowledge of English is to enslave them.”

8. Colonialism Caribbean
“Caribbean” comes from native tribes: Caribs or Canibs
1620s: Colonists pushed natives off the islands to grow tobacco  native languages died
Colonists imported slaves from Africa, who picked up English and Portuguese from slave traders
Slaves spoke English with influence from African languages
Eventually evolved into a unique language for each island, depending on who settled it

9. Colonialism Some linguistic terms you should know
Creole: A distinct language created as a hybrid of two languages—a real language.
Has a stable and distinct grammar
Taught to children as their native language
Haitian Creole, Gullah, Louisiana Creole French, for example
Pidgin: A simplified version of a language that develops so people can communicate. Not a “real” language.
Patois: Generically, the language of the common people. Usually refers to the creole language spoken by Jamaicans.

10. Colonialism Australia
Created its own dialect even though it didn’t combine with a native language
Settled by convicts beginning in 1788
150,000 convicts came to Australia over several years
Interacted minimally with native Aborigines
Kangaroo, boomerang, wombat, dingo
Settlers spoke English dialect of criminal and lower classes
Kept words and sounds that died out in England.