american english 2
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American English 2. 11 September 2014 Pétur Knútsson. Baugh § 243 p.360 Archaisms. The language of the first British settlers in America was Early Modern English Since them, both British and American English have developed and diverged. A and B diverge. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
American English 2
11 September 2014Pétur Knútsson
Baugh § 243 p.360 Archaisms
• The language of the first British settlers in America was Early Modern English
• Since them, both British and American English have developed and diverged.
• A and B diverge.• A recognises some of the differences as archaic forms
of his own variety.• Assumes that others are (in fact they are innovations)• B does the same.
Baugh § 243 p.360 Archaisms
Most of Baugh’s examples are thoroughly suspect:• rhoticism• “flat a” - also in Britain But o-unrounding is an American innovation!• Vocabulary: – mad, sick, rare (meat) , platter, gotten– fortnight? fall/autumn? (ME: “hervest”. Thus “autumn” is
earlier!)
p.360-1
• Languages as tress ? (shades of Deleuze and Guattari)
• Other reasons for the preservation of Icelandi inflections .......
Baugh § 242 p.356 Uniformity
• The language of the first British settlers in America was Early Modern English
• Complete lack of mutual intelligibility• “Better English”
p.357
p.357