Culture Part 2: Culture Part 2: Language Language

AP Human GeographyAP Human Geography

Parkview High SchoolParkview High School

IntroductionIntroduction Only 30% of U.S. students graduate with 3 Only 30% of U.S. students graduate with 3

or more years of a foreign languageor more years of a foreign language 17% have had no foreign language at all! 17% have had no foreign language at all! In contrast, 62% of graduates from Dutch In contrast, 62% of graduates from Dutch

high schools have learned at least THREE high schools have learned at least THREE foreign languages! foreign languages!

Introduction Continued…Introduction Continued…

There are an estimated 7,299 languages There are an estimated 7,299 languages in the world. in the world.

Only 10 of them are spoken by at least Only 10 of them are spoken by at least 100 million people. 100 million people.

The global distribution of languages is a The global distribution of languages is a result of: result of:

--interaction--interaction

--isolation --isolation

Common LanguagesCommon Languages

Introduction Continued…Introduction Continued…

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

Literary TraditionLiterary Tradition Official Language: used by the Official Language: used by the

government for laws, reports, and official government for laws, reports, and official objects (signs, money, stamps, etc.). objects (signs, money, stamps, etc.).

Key Issue 1:Key Issue 1:

Where Are English-Language Where Are English-Language Speakers Distributed?Speakers Distributed?

Origin & Diffusion of EnglishOrigin & Diffusion of English

English is spoken fluently by ½ billion English is spoken fluently by ½ billion people.people.

English is an official language in over 50 English is an official language in over 50 countries! countries!

English is Official…English is Official…1. Antigua and Barbuda 2. Australia 3. Barbados 4. Belize 5. Botswana 6. Cameroon 7. Canada • Dominica 1. Federated States of

Micronesia 2. Fiji Islands 3. Ghana 4. Grenada 5. Guyana 6. India 7. Ireland • Jamaica 1. Kenya 2. Kiribati

19.Lesotho 20.Liberia 21.Malawi 22.Malta 23.Marshall Islands 24.Mauritius 25.Namibia • New Zealand 19.Nigeria 20.Palau 21.Papua New

Guinea 22.Philippines 23.Rwanda 24.Saint Lucia 25.Samoa • Sierra Leone 19.Singapore 20.Solomon Islands

37.South Africa 38.Saint Kitts and Nevis 39.Saint Vincent and

the Grenadines 40.Swaziland 41.Tanzania 42.The Bahamas 43.The Gambia • Tonga 37.Trinidad and Tobago 38.Tuvalu 39.Uganda 40.United Kingdom 41.United States 42.Vanuatu 43.Zambia • Zimbabwe

English ColoniesEnglish Colonies

The people of England migrated with their The people of England migrated with their language when they established colonies language when they established colonies all over the world (relocation diffusion!). all over the world (relocation diffusion!).

More recently, the U.S. has been More recently, the U.S. has been responsible for diffusing English to several responsible for diffusing English to several places. places.

Origin of English in EnglandOrigin of English in England

Celts arrived around 2000 B.C. speaking Celts arrived around 2000 B.C. speaking Celtic. Celtic.

Around A.D. 450, tribes from mainland Around A.D. 450, tribes from mainland Europe invaded, pushing the Celts to the Europe invaded, pushing the Celts to the “fringes”… “fringes”…

Areas where Celtic Culture Survives

Origin of English Continued…Origin of English Continued…German InvasionGerman Invasion:: The invading tribes were the Angles The invading tribes were the Angles

(southern Denmark), Jutes (northern (southern Denmark), Jutes (northern Denmark), & Saxons (northwestern Denmark), & Saxons (northwestern Germany). Germany).

England comes from England comes from Angles’ landAngles’ land. Their . Their language was called language was called engliscenglisc. .

Other people came and added their Other people came and added their languages to basic English (including the languages to basic English (including the Vikings in the 9Vikings in the 9thth century). century).

Origin of English Continued…Origin of English Continued…Norman InvasionNorman Invasion:: English is very different from Germany today English is very different from Germany today

primarily because the French-speaking primarily because the French-speaking Normans invaded England in 1066. Normans invaded England in 1066.

In 1204, King John of England lost control of In 1204, King John of England lost control of Normandy and entered a period of conflict Normandy and entered a period of conflict with France. with France.

The Statute of Pleading in 1362The Statute of Pleading in 1362 English mixed with French…English mixed with French…

Battle of HastingsBattle of Hastings

Bayeux Tapestry 1073-83

Dialects of EnglishDialects of English

Dialect: a regional variation of a language Dialect: a regional variation of a language distinguished by distinctive vocabulary, distinguished by distinctive vocabulary, spelling, pronunciation, and cadence. spelling, pronunciation, and cadence.

Standard Language: a dialect that is well Standard Language: a dialect that is well established and widely recognized as the established and widely recognized as the most acceptable for government, most acceptable for government, business, education, and mass business, education, and mass communication. communication.

British Received Pronunciation (BRP)British Received Pronunciation (BRP)

Dialects in EnglandDialects in England

Examples?Examples? 5 major regional dialects5 major regional dialects Origin of BRPOrigin of BRP 3 main groups today:3 main groups today:

--Northern--Northern

--Midland--Midland

--Southern --Southern

British vs. American EnglishBritish vs. American English

Why is American English different than Why is American English different than British English?British English?

New things needed new wordsNew things needed new words Americans wanted independence from Americans wanted independence from

Britain Britain IsolationIsolation New vocabulary for new inventions New vocabulary for new inventions

Dialects in the U.S.Dialects in the U.S.

Settlement in the East Settlement in the East

--New England--New England

--Middle Atlantic--Middle Atlantic

--Southeastern --Southeastern Current Dialects Differences in the EastCurrent Dialects Differences in the East

--Isogloss: geographic boundary within --Isogloss: geographic boundary within which a particular linguistic feature occurs; which a particular linguistic feature occurs; boundary that divides word usage. boundary that divides word usage.

Example of U.S. Isogloss Example of U.S. Isogloss

Dialects in the U.S. Continued…Dialects in the U.S. Continued…

Pronunciation DifferencesPronunciation Differences--Southern --Southern --New England--New England--Midwest --Midwest

Let’s listen to dialect differences (a.k.a. Let’s listen to dialect differences (a.k.a. accents!):accents!):http://accent.gmu.edu/browse_atlas.php

So…So…

Where are English-language speakers Where are English-language speakers distributed?distributed?