may 7, 2015s. mathews1 human geography by james rubenstein chapter 5 key issue 1 where are...

April 18, 2023 S. Mathews 1

Human Geography

By James Rubenstein

Chapter 5Key Issue 1

Where Are English-Language Speakers Distributed?


Estimates of Distinct Languages

2000 to 4000 languages in the world.

About 100 languages are spoken by at least 5 million people.

Another 70 languages are spoken by 2 to 5 million people.


Language

A system of communication through speech.


Literary Tradition

A system of written communication.


Official Language

A language designated by a

country for business and government.


A country with more than one official

language may require all public documents

to be in all languages.


Study of Geographic Elements

Migration spreads language. Cultural Values, such as religion and ethnicity, or communicated through language.

Global distribution results from - interaction- isolation


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

migration of its speakers.


Origin and Diffusion of English

English is spoken fluently by 1/2 billion people, more than

any language except for Mandarin.

Whereas nearly all Mandarin speakers are clustered in one

country – China – English speakers are distributed

around the world.


English ColoniesThe contemporary

distribution of English speakers around the world exists because the people of England migrated with their language when they

established colonies during the past four centuries.


The Diffusion of English Beginning in the 17th

century, from England to America.

Next to Ireland. To South Asia in the mid 18th century.

To South Pacific in the late 18th century.

To southern Africa in the late 19th century.


Invasion and

Migration

Routes


Origin of English in England

Inhabited for thousands of years by tribes whose languages are unknown.

In 2000 B.C., the Celts arrived from Europe.

Around A.D. 450, Germanic tribes arrived and pushed the Celts to remote areas of parts of the island.

In 1066, French speaking Normans arrived from France.


German Invasion The Angles, Jutes, and Saxons were among the German tribes that invaded England.

In Old English, Angles is spelled “Engles” and is the source of the name England.

The Angles came from a corner or “angle” of Germany.


Viking Invasion Failed in their attempt to conquer the island.

Many remained in the country.

The language was enriched with many new words of Viking origin.


Norman Invasion England was conquered by the Normans in 1066.

From the French province of Normandy

The invaders made French the language of the ruling court.

The majority of the people still spoke English.


Loss of Normandy England lost control of Normandy in 1204.

In 1362, the Parliament enacted the Statue of Pleading which made English the official language of the court.

During the 300 years of Norman influence, French and German mingled to form new language.


Dialects of English


Dialect

A regional variation of a language

distinguished by distinctive

vocabulary, spelling, and pronunciation.


Standard DialectA dialect that is well

established and widely recognized as the most

acceptable for government, business, education, and mass

communication.


British Received Pronunciation (BRP)

A dialect of England associated with upper-class London, which is

recognized as the “standard form” of

British speech.


Dialects in England The 3 original dialects of Old English were associated with the 3 original invading groups.

By 1362, 5 regional dialects had emerged.

The BRP was encouraged by the introduction of the printing press to England in 1476.


Language expert

Professor Henry Higgins

in “My Fair Lady”

teaching “Cockney”

speaking Eliza Doolittle proper

English.


Regional Dialects Rules for spelling and grammar were established in the eighteenth century.

Several dozen dialects are grouped into 3 main ones:

- Northern- Midland- Southern


Differences between British and American

EnglishThe earliest colonists were

most responsible for the dominant language

patterns that exist today in the English-speaking

part of the Western Hemisphere.


English in the UK and US evolved

independently during the 18th and

19th centuries.


Differences in Vocabulary

Settlers in America borrowed names from Native Americans for many new objects and experiences encountered.

New inventions acquired different names on either side of the Atlantic.


Differences Spelling

Spelling diverged because of a strong national feeling of need in U.S. for an

independent identity.


Examples of differences

American EnglishElevator LiftFlashlight TorchAuto Hood BonnetAuto trunk Boot


Noah Webster Created the first comprehensive American dictionary and grammar books.

Argued that spelling and grammar reforms would help;

- establish a national language - reduce cultural dependence on

England- inspire national pride


Differences in Pronunciation

Between the U.S. and British speakers are immediately recognizable.

Has changed more in England than in the U.S.

“Proper” English today is not the same as “Proper” English during the colonial period.


Dialects in the United States

Major differences in U.S. dialects originated because of differences in dialects among the

original settlers.


Settlement in the East

Original American settlements

- New England- Middle Atlantic- Southeastern


Original Settlemen

ts


New England Colonists

Two-thirds were Puritans from East

Anglia in southeastern England.


Southeastern Colonists

About half came from southeast England and represented a diversity

of social-class backgrounds.


Middle Atlantic Colonists

More diverse – most came from the north of England, or from

other countries.


Isogloss

Words that are not used nationally, but

have regional boundaries.


Current Dialect Differences in the East Major differences occur primarily on the East Coast.

Eastern U.S. is separated into 3 major dialect regions due to two important isoglosses.

- Northern- Midland- Southern


Regional Isoglosses Some words are commonly used in one of the three major dialect areas, but rarely in two.

These words relate to - rural life

- food- objects from daily life


Regional Isoglosses Many words that were once regionally distinctive, now are national in distribution.

Mass media (especially radio and television) influence the adoption of the same words throughout the country.


Regional pronunciation differences are more familiar to us than word differences,

although it is harder to draw precise isoglosses

for them.


New England Accent Well-known for dropping the “r” sound maintained especially close ties to the important ports of southern England.

New Englanders received more exposure to the changes in pronunciation that occurred in Britain during the 18th century.


The mobility of Americans has been a major reason for the

relatively uniform language that exists

throughout much of the West.

may 7, 2015s. mathews1 human geography by james rubenstein chapter 5 key issue 1 where are...

Documents

mathews10 slide

englishlanguage speakers

diffusion of english

migration routes slide

interaction isolation

mathews3 language

people of england

old english