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13 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Why is North American English so important? |
Because the US is the largest English speaking country, a global superpower |
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How did English get to North America? |
Through English colonists in the 1600s. Jamestown in Virginia, and Plymouth and Massachussets. From there they expanded into the 13 colonies, governed by Britain. |
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Where did the colonists come from? |
The first ones were from England mostly. The second wave mostly from Northern Europe. Scandinavians, Germans, Scots. Also Black Africans. The third wave mostly from Southern and Eastern Europe. |
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How did Spanish and Native American influence North American English. |
Alot of words were borrowed from Native American and Spanish, especially words for new things, which was unique to the new world. Words like Maize, Ranch, burrito, and a lot of animals native to the new world, like Raccoon. |
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What about Scots, Irish and African languages? |
They influenced accents to, but they influenced the regions and different groups of people mostly. African had more influence in the south, where there WERE a lot of africans. |
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What are the three different catergories of ways that Southern Standard English and General American differ? |
Spelling Volabulary Grammar. |
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How does it differ in spelling and why did the differences arise? |
Brits use Centre, not Center. Brits use Baptise, not baptize. Brits say Colour, not color. There are also some UNSYSTEMATIC differences in spelling that generally do not WHY - In many cases, Britain created a new form, while the US maintained an old one. Noah Webster created an American dictionary in 1828, and that made many of the American "traits" stick. |
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What are the differences in vocabulary and how did they come about? |
Words like Petrol/gas, Truck/lorry, eggplant/aubergine. Some words exist in both languages but they have different meanings. Example: Biscuit and first floor. These are differences that you will know when you see them, they are however hard to remember. |
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What are some differences in grammar? |
Have you eaten yet? British or american Did you eat yet? American Have you any money? Britsh. Has GOT, British. Has GOTTEN, American. |
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What are the 4 big areas of American dialects? |
General American areas Southern Inland North (around the great lakes) Northeastern American. (massachussets) |
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What characterizes General American? |
It's the standard. Has NO class connotions, unlike RP. It's RHOTIC. No intrusive R, or linking R. Flapping - Better is pronounced like Bedder. Yod-dropping News becomes news, not njews. BATH TRAP merger Palm-lot merger. Goat is like GÅAT, not gøut. |
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What characterizes Southern American English? |
Black Americans and British Immigrants. NON-RHOTIC, unlike General American. No intrusive, or linking R though. Alveolar ING Y'ALL instead of you all. |
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What characterises North Eastern American English? |
General American spreading here, but it is still distinct. Non-rhotic. The high class Boston accents is actually kind of close to RP. |