Historical variations of American EnglishColonial America The establishment in 1607 of the settlement which the explorers called Jamestown marked the beginning of British colonization in America. By 1732 the original thirteen English colonies had been set up. The language of the early immigrants brought with them was Elizabethan English, the language spoken by Shakespeare, Milton and Bunyan, which belonged to the early stage of Modern English.
Historical variations of American English Teacher : M.A Nimfa Student : Le Thu Ha - River ) Colonial America The establishment in 1607 of the settlement which the explorers called Jamestown marked the beginning of British colonization in America. By 1732 the original thirteen English colonies had been set up. The language of the early immigrants brought with them was Elizabethan English, the language spoken by Shakespeare, Milton and Bunyan, which belonged to the early stage of Modern English. 3 After independence The independence led to the emergence a sense of nationality. In the field of language, this patriotic feeling was expressed by the argument for the recognition of the American variety or standard of English. In 1806, Noah Webster first used “American English”. Webster stated that his countrymen had not only the right to adopt new words but were obliged to modify the language to suit the new circumstances, geographical and political. Many great writers, such as Washington Irving, Mark Twain, and O. Henry… helped to promote the development of the American English. American English has developed a character of its own, reflecting the life and the physical and social environment of the American people. The Americans invented large numbers of new words to meet their various needs. The future of American English Since World War II, American English has been developing and changing. There is no doubt that American English will enrich the English language greatly. With the rapid development of modern mass media and the common needs of economic, cultural and political exchanges, American English will be more widely used in the world than British English. 1. Historical Americanisms: - In American usage ,some words still retain their old meanings while British English their meanings have changed or fell out of use. Eg: fall - ‘autumn’ to guess - ‘to think’ sick - ‘ill, unwell’ 2. Proper Americanisms - were not discovered in British vocabulary: Eg : redbud - ‘an American tree having small budlike pink flowers’ blue-grass - ‘a sort of grass peculiar to North America’. 3.American borrowings - reflect the historical contacts of the Americans with other nations on the American continent: Eg :- ranch, sombrero (Spanish borrowings), - toboggan, caribou (Indian borrowings). 4. American shortenings: dorm dormitory– mo moment– cert certainly– [...]... are few in number and trifling in nature However, it is important for non-native speakers to understand these distinctions English lexicology (III) 12 prepositions BrE AmE different from… different than… talk to… talk with… at college in college late for work late to work the key of the door the key to the door five minutes past six five minutes after six Differences in spelling BrE -re -er Centre, . English Teacher : M.A Nimfa Student : Le Thu Ha - River ) Colonial America The establishment in 1607 of the settlement which the explorers called Jamestown marked the beginning of British. English. American English has developed a character of its own, reflecting the life and the physical and social environment of the American people. The Americans invented large numbers of new words. spelling Differences in pronunciation Differences in vocabulary English lexicology (III) 12 Differences in grammar On the whole BrE and AmE use the same grammar system. Differences in grammar