Chapter 5: LanguageChapter 5: Language

Essential Questions: Essential Questions: Where are English-language Where are English-language

speakers located?speakers located? What is the origin of the English What is the origin of the English

language?language? How did the English language diffuse How did the English language diffuse

throughout the world?throughout the world?

Random language facts

In the US only 30% of graduates from high school have studied 3 years or more of a language, 53% 1 or 2 years and 17% have had none

Dutch—62% have learned at least 3!

There are 7,299 languages but of all these only 10 are spoken by more than 100 million people.

English, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, German, Mandarin, Hindi, Bengali, Arabic and Japanese

100 are spoken by at least 5 million, another 70 between 2 & 5 million and the remaining 6,000 or more are spoken by fewer than 2 million people

What is language?What is language?

Language is a system of Language is a system of communication through speech, communication through speech, a collection of sounds that a a collection of sounds that a group of people understands to group of people understands to have the same meaning.have the same meaning.

Not all languages have a literary Not all languages have a literary tradition, or a system of writingtradition, or a system of writing..

What are the problems with this for What are the problems with this for linguists?linguists?

How are Languages How are Languages Formed?Formed?

A language originates at a A language originates at a particular place and then particular place and then diffuses to other locations diffuses to other locations through the migration of through the migration of

its speakers its speakers

Languages develop Languages develop distinctly through distinctly through

migration and migration and subsequent isolationsubsequent isolation

Can find linkages among languages Can find linkages among languages by examining by examining sound shiftssound shifts – a slight – a slight change in a word across languages change in a word across languages over timeover time..

eg. Milk =eg. Milk = lacte in Latinlacte in Latinlatta in Italianlatta in Italianleche in Spanishleche in Spanishlait in French lait in French

Language divergence – Language divergence –

when a lack of spatial interaction when a lack of spatial interaction among speakers of a language breaks among speakers of a language breaks the language into dialects and then the language into dialects and then new languagesnew languages..

Language convergence –Language convergence –

when peoples with different languages when peoples with different languages have consistent spatial interaction have consistent spatial interaction and their languages collapse into oneand their languages collapse into one. .

Language and CultureLanguage and Culture“No one was allowed to speak the language – the Dena’ina language. They [the American government] didn’t allow it in the schools, and a lot of the women had married non-native men, and the men said, ‘You’re American now so you can’t speak the language.’ So, we became invisible in the community. Invisible to each other. And, then, because we couldn’t speak the language – what happens when you can’t speak your own language is you have to think with someone else’s words, and that’s a dreadful kind of isolation [emphasis added].”

- Clare Swan, elder, Kenaitze band, Dena’ina Indians

What is an official What is an official language?language?

Used by the government for laws, Used by the government for laws, reports, public objects and reports, public objects and

documentsdocuments, , Name a country with more than 1.Name a country with more than 1.

Mandarin and EnglishMandarin and English

1. Mandarin 2. English (1/3 of world 1. Mandarin 2. English (1/3 of world live in a country with official live in a country with official language)language)

Difference between Mandarin and Difference between Mandarin and English?English?

ENGLISH!!!!!ENGLISH!!!!!

English is a good illustration of the English is a good illustration of the development and diffusion of development and diffusion of languages in general. Most languages in general. Most

languages follow a similar pattern.languages follow a similar pattern.

The origin of EnglishThe origin of English

Celts arrived around 2,000 BC and spoke Celts arrived around 2,000 BC and spoke CelticCeltic

Around 450 AD tribes (Jutes, Angles and Around 450 AD tribes (Jutes, Angles and Saxons) arrived from mainland Europe, Saxons) arrived from mainland Europe, pushing Celts North and Westpushing Celts North and West

Modern English is rooted in the languages Modern English is rooted in the languages spoken by these tribes, from present-day spoken by these tribes, from present-day Germany and Denmark.Germany and Denmark.

French in ENGLAND!!!French in ENGLAND!!!

In 1066 the Normans invaded In 1066 the Normans invaded England and conquered it. England and conquered it.

They established French as the They established French as the official language for the next 300 official language for the next 300 years.years.

Nobles, royalty, clergy, judges and Nobles, royalty, clergy, judges and other educated people spoke French. other educated people spoke French.

Most people did not know French so Most people did not know French so they continued to speak English.they continued to speak English.

And so, the languages mingled…And so, the languages mingled… MotherMother SkySky HorseHorse ManMan WomanWoman

MaternalMaternal CelestialCelestial EquestrianEquestrian MasculineMasculine FeminineFeminine

What exactly is a dialect?What exactly is a dialect? A dialect is a regional variation distinguished by A dialect is a regional variation distinguished by

distinctive vocabulary, spelling and distinctive vocabulary, spelling and pronunciation.pronunciation.

Many countries that have numerous dialects may Many countries that have numerous dialects may recognize one as the standard language.recognize one as the standard language.

British Received Pronunciation (BRP) is the British Received Pronunciation (BRP) is the standard language for the UK.standard language for the UK.

There were numerous dialects in Britain, following There were numerous dialects in Britain, following the Norman invasion. the Norman invasion. The printing press The printing press (introduced 1476) encouraged diffusion and (introduced 1476) encouraged diffusion and books printed in the 18books printed in the 18thth century established the century established the London dialect.London dialect.

What’s the difference between What’s the difference between British and American EnglishBritish and American English??

Most differences account for separationMost differences account for separation Differences are mainly vocabulary, spelling and Differences are mainly vocabulary, spelling and

pronunciationpronunciation Vocab differences are accounted for in new Vocab differences are accounted for in new

animals and objects and inventions that began to animals and objects and inventions that began to appear i.e. lift/elevatorappear i.e. lift/elevator

Spelling—good ole’ Miriam Webster honour, Spelling—good ole’ Miriam Webster honour, colour, defencecolour, defence

Pronunciation differences mainly because of Pronunciation differences mainly because of isolation. Mainly r and aisolation. Mainly r and a

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuPsoPIzRXQ

Dialects in the USDialects in the US

Three original dialect patterns: New Three original dialect patterns: New England, Middle Atlantic and Southeast England, Middle Atlantic and Southeast

New England—most settlers were Puritans New England—most settlers were Puritans from southeast Englandfrom southeast England

Half of southeasterners came from Half of southeasterners came from southeast, but varying backgroundssoutheast, but varying backgrounds

Settlers in Middle Atlantic were much more Settlers in Middle Atlantic were much more diverse—Northern England, Scots, Irish, diverse—Northern England, Scots, Irish, and even German, Dutch and Swedishand even German, Dutch and Swedish

New EnglandNew England

Pahk the cah in hahvahd yahdPahk the cah in hahvahd yahd http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_

pVhT10s2E&feature=related (New England) (New England)

Similar to south of England and Similar to south of England and reflects the contactreflects the contact

Current Dialect DifferencesCurrent Dialect Differences

Dialects are easily studied through Dialects are easily studied through usage of wordsusage of words

A Word usage boundary is known as A Word usage boundary is known as an ISOGLOSSan ISOGLOSS..

Example: calling a cowExample: calling a cow New England—co, come,Boss, bossie,New England—co, come,Boss, bossie, Midlands—sook, sookie, sook cowMidlands—sook, sookie, sook cow South Co-wench, Co-inch and Co-eeSouth Co-wench, Co-inch and Co-ee

DialectDialectvariants of a variants of a

standard standard language language

along regional along regional or ethnic linesor ethnic lines

- vocabulary- vocabulary-syntax-syntax

- - pronunciationpronunciation

- cadence- cadence- pace of - pace of speechspeech

Isogloss

A geographic boundary within which a particular linguistic feature occurs

Middle AtlanticMiddle Atlantic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaauYOsG6uE

New England and Southern accents New England and Southern accents sound weird to Midwesterners sound weird to Midwesterners because most settlers came from the because most settlers came from the Middle Atlantic states.Middle Atlantic states.

The SouthThe South

Hay, ya’all. I was wondrin if she was Hay, ya’all. I was wondrin if she was gowin to the po-ur howyuss on gowin to the po-ur howyuss on sundy.sundy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQvjtttVurg&feature=related (NC) (NC)

The diffusion of these accents The diffusion of these accents resembles that of the folk houses.resembles that of the folk houses.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UgpfSp2t6k