HEL-09 Study Questions for McCrum’s Story of English Prepared by Dr. David F. Maas

8/9/2019 HEL-09 Study Questions for McCrums Story of English Prepared by Dr. David F. Maas

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Selected Objectives for TheSelected Objectives for The

Story of EnglishStory of English

Chapter 9Chapter 9

Dr. David F. MaasDr. David F. Maas


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SQs Story of EnglishSQs Story of English

Chapter 9Chapter 9 1. What did your editor mean by the1. What did your editor mean by the

assertion, the things that bind areassertion, the things that bind arestronger than the things thatstronger than the things that

divide?337:01divide?337:01

Cockney settlerCockney settler

Essex ConvictEssex Convict

Irish SharecropperIrish SharecropperAll spoke some variety of the QueensAll spoke some variety of the Queens

English.English.


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Chapter 9Chapter 9 2. Provide evidence that American2. Provide evidence that American

speakers still give deference to Englandspeakers still give deference to England

as the parent culture. 337:02as the parent culture. 337:02 Longshoremen greeting British ships withLongshoremen greeting British ships with

How is Little Nell?How is Little Nell?

For a few decades the talk and writing ofFor a few decades the talk and writing of

the places we still know as the City,the places we still know as the City,

Westminster, and Grub Street.Westminster, and Grub Street.


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Chapter 9Chapter 9 3. Explain Dr. Robert Burchfields thesis3. Explain Dr. Robert Burchfields thesis

about the future of English 339:06about the future of English 339:06

Historically speaking, languages haveHistorically speaking, languages havealways had a tendency to break upalways had a tendency to break up or toor to

evolve.evolve.


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Chapter 9Chapter 9 4. What analogy did Burchfield use to predict the4. What analogy did Burchfield use to predict the

demise of the English language.308:06demise of the English language.308:06

English, as theEnglish, as the secondsecondlanguage of manylanguage of many

speakers in countries throughout the world, is nospeakers in countries throughout the world, is no

more likely to survive the inevitable politicalmore likely to survive the inevitable political

changes of the future than did Latin, once thechanges of the future than did Latin, once the

second language of the governing regions withinsecond language of the governing regions within

the Roman Empire.the Roman Empire.


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Chapter 9Chapter 9 5.What modifications have the Jamaican5.What modifications have the Jamaican

dub poets made in the Englishdub poets made in the English

language? 311:13language? 311:13Uses a highly localized Jamaican form ofUses a highly localized Jamaican form of

EnglishEnglish

Unhampered by the rules of StandardUnhampered by the rules of Standard

English grammar.English grammar.


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Chapter 9Chapter 9 6. To what does Braithwaite compare the6. To what does Braithwaite compare the

state of written Caribbean English? 343:17state of written Caribbean English? 343:17

We are at the stage Chaucer was in hisWe are at the stage Chaucer was in histime. Thats my assessment of it. Chaucertime. Thats my assessment of it. Chaucer

had just started to gel English, French,had just started to gel English, French,

and Latin. We are doing the same thingand Latin. We are doing the same thing

with our Creole concepts, our standardwith our Creole concepts, our standardEnglish, our American, and our modernismEnglish, our American, and our modernism


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Chapter 9Chapter 9 7. Explain the attitude dub poets have7. Explain the attitude dub poets have

toward standard English.344:19toward standard English.344:19

Many of the dub poets have had aMany of the dub poets have had auniversity education. They are turning theiruniversity education. They are turning their

backs on Standard English out of choice.backs on Standard English out of choice.


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Chapter 9Chapter 9 8. Explain the concept of Nation8. Explain the concept of Nation

language. 345:19language. 345:19

A distinct Caribbean identity that is notA distinct Caribbean identity that is notovershadowed by English or Americanovershadowed by English or American

English.English.


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Chapter 9Chapter 9 9. What observation does Dr. Herbert9. What observation does Dr. Herbert

Devonish make about the structure of theDevonish make about the structure of the

Caribbean Creoles? 346:22Caribbean Creoles? 346:22 Though the African slaves picked up theThough the African slaves picked up the

vocabulary of English,vocabulary of English,

They retained the grammatical structure ofThey retained the grammatical structure of

their African languages.their African languages.


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Chapter 9Chapter 9 10. What did Devonshire advocate10. What did Devonshire advocate

regarding traffic signs? 346: 23regarding traffic signs? 346: 23

Advocated putting them in JamaicnCreoleAdvocated putting them in JamaicnCreoleNo Ton RaitNo Ton Rait

Skuul Zuon BiginSkuul Zuon Bigin

No EntaNo Enta Kip LefKip Lef


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Chapter 9Chapter 9 11. What method did Devonshire suggest11. What method did Devonshire suggest

to introduce Jamaican Creole? 346:24to introduce Jamaican Creole? 346:24

Using it in games like Monopoly andUsing it in games like Monopoly andScrabbleScrabble


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Chapter 9Chapter 9 12. Explain the middle position12. Explain the middle position

( Creole/Standard) which Mervyn Morris( Creole/Standard) which Mervyn Morrisadvocates? 317:28advocates? 317:28

Two coTwo co--existing needs :existing needs :

One for Creole expressing things aboutOne for Creole expressing things aboutthe Jamaican experience.the Jamaican experience.

Two for Standard EnglishTwo for Standard English-- not cuttingnot cuttingourselves off from internationalourselves off from internationalcommunication.communication.


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Chapter 9Chapter 9 14. What constitutes the major appeal of14. What constitutes the major appeal of

standard English? 348:27standard English? 348:27

The appeal of Standard English lies in itsThe appeal of Standard English lies in itsassociation with money and success.association with money and success.


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Chapter 8Chapter 8 15. Explain the Patois spoken in15. Explain the Patois spoken in

London.349: 30London.349: 30

In London the Jamaicans have developedIn London the Jamaicans have developedtheir own languagetheir own language

They make up their own words in LondonThey make up their own words in London


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Chapter 8Chapter 8 16. How did the Krio language develop?16. How did the Krio language develop?

351:35351:35

Pidgin English is widely used as a linguaPidgin English is widely used as a linguafranca.franca.

In Sierra Leone this pidgin has evolvedIn Sierra Leone this pidgin has evolved

into Krio.into Krio.


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Chapter 8Chapter 8 17.Differentiate Krio from Pidgin English .17.Differentiate Krio from Pidgin English .

351:36351:36

The language that was adopted by theseThe language that was adopted by theseliberated slaves was Krioliberated slaves was Krio

A mixture of English and YorubaA mixture of English and Yoruba

Together with some other elements,Together with some other elements,

Mainly Portuguese .Mainly Portuguese .


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Chapter 8Chapter 8 18. Illustrate how professional people like18. Illustrate how professional people like

Dr. Coker use two levels of English.351:41Dr. Coker use two levels of English.351:41

Uses Krio sentences with patients: OpenUses Krio sentences with patients: Openmouth widemouth wide--widewide

Uses standard English to diagnose andUses standard English to diagnose and

prescribe.prescribe.


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Chapter 8Chapter 8 19. How does Krio alter the English19. How does Krio alter the English

language? 353: 42language? 353: 42

In process of Creolization word like manIn process of Creolization word like manbegins to work overtimebegins to work overtime

Man klos Mens clothingMan klos Mens clothing

Man pawa strengthMan pawa strength

Manpus tomcatManpus tomcat


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Chapter 8Chapter 8 21. How did English become spread21. How did English become spread

throughout the Indian subcontinent?throughout the Indian subcontinent?357:48357:48--4949

English became the language ofEnglish became the language ofgovernment, education, and advancementgovernment, education, and advancement

English universities Bombay, Calcutta,English universities Bombay, Calcutta,

MadrasMadras By end of century English becameBy end of century English became

prestige language of Indiaprestige language of India


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Chapter 8Chapter 8 22. How did English become the prestige22. How did English become the prestige

language of India? 357:48language of India? 357:48--4949

English became the language ofEnglish became the language ofgovernment, education, and advancementgovernment, education, and advancement

English universities Bombay, Calcutta,English universities Bombay, Calcutta,

MadrasMadras

By end of century English becameBy end of century English became

prestige language of Indiaprestige language of India


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Chapter 8Chapter 8 23. Identify words of Indian origin which have23. Identify words of Indian origin which have

made their way into the English language.357:made their way into the English language.357:

5050

BrahminBrahmin

CalicoCalico

BandanaBandana

JungleJungle JuteJute

VerandaVeranda


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Chapter 8Chapter 8

24. How many Indian words has English24. How many Indian words has English

borrowed ? 358: 52borrowed ? 358: 52 26,00026,000


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Chapter 8Chapter 8 26. Identify some Indian English26. Identify some Indian English

idioms.362:62idioms.362:62

May the fire ovens consume youMay the fire ovens consume youA crocodile in a loinA crocodile in a loin--clothcloth

As helpless as a calfAs helpless as a calf

As lean s an arecaAs lean s an areca--nut treenut tree


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Chapter 8Chapter 8 27. Illustrate how India English has moved27. Illustrate how India English has moved

away from Anglicized to Latinizedaway from Anglicized to Latinized

vocabulary.363:63vocabulary.363:63

An Indian speaker would prefer to sayAn Indian speaker would prefer to say

demisedemise thanthan death.death.


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Chapter 8Chapter 8 28. Why has English remained a dominant28. Why has English remained a dominant

rather than a transitional language in Indiarather than a transitional language in India

past 1965? 365:66past 1965? 365:66

English is of course not necessary forEnglish is of course not necessary for

learning science, but science is anlearning science, but science is an

international activity and its important tointernational activity and its important to

have a link language which is understoodhave a link language which is understoodby most people.by most people.


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Chapter 8Chapter 8 29. Explain the three language formula for29. Explain the three language formula for

India. 367:71India. 367:71

English, Hindi, and one other IndianEnglish, Hindi, and one other Indianlanguage needed for conducting businesslanguage needed for conducting business

in Parliament.in Parliament.


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Chapter 8Chapter 8 30. What are the four characteristics which30. What are the four characteristics which

Dr. Jain has observed about the IndianDr. Jain has observed about the Indian

language? 329: 86language? 329: 86


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Chapter 8Chapter 8 32. Describe some of the steps of the32. Describe some of the steps of the

prime minister of Singapores campaignprime minister of Singapores campaignagainst Singlish.370:81against Singlish.370:81

FirstFirst--language English speakers hiredlanguage English speakers hiredfrom abroad to improve standard English.from abroad to improve standard English.

Bureaucrats sent on special courses toBureaucrats sent on special courses toimprove writing skills.improve writing skills.

Singapore Broadcasting models itsSingapore Broadcasting models itsstandards on BBCstandards on BBC


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Chapter 8Chapter 8 31. Identify some of the distinctive features31. Identify some of the distinctive features

of Singapore English. 338:88of Singapore English. 338:88


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Chapter 8Chapter 8 33. What major factor goes against Dr.33. What major factor goes against Dr.

Burchfields thesis about the breakup ofBurchfields thesis about the breakup of

English? 374:90English? 374:90

Will the translation machine finallyWill the translation machine finally

overthrow the myth of Babel?overthrow the myth of Babel?

Will technology and the need for anWill technology and the need for an

international standard militate against theinternational standard militate against thebreakup of English?breakup of English?

Documents

HEL-09 Study Questions for McCrum’s Story of English Prepared by Dr. David F. Maas