Chapter 5

Language

French Road Signs, Québec

Language

• Language is: a system of communication through speech & a collection of symbols that a group of people

understands to have the same meaning. Many LANGUAGES also have a

Literary tradition: a system of written communication.

Many countries, (not all) designate an official language: used by govt., for public interests, road signs money, stamps, form, etc.

Geographers look at the similarities among languages to understand the

diffusion & interaction of people around the world, including:

• Scale

• Local diversity

• Global distribution

• Connection

• Regions

Key Issue #1: Origin, Diffusion, & Dialects of English

• Origin and diffusion of English (case study)

– English colonies• The PROCESS of DISTRIBUTION of language

originates in a particular place , then diffuses via MIGRATION

• Mandarin #1 lang. spoken on earth is CLUSTERED in one location.

• English #2 (spoken fluently by only ½ billion), distributed around the world. (1/3 of the world’s population lives in a country w/ English as an official language, even if they cannot speak it).

English Speaking Countries

English is an official language in 50 countries, including some in which it is not the most widely spoken language. It is also used &understood in many others.

Key Issue #1 cont.’d– Origin of English in EnglandGermanic Invasion- Angles, Jutes & Saxon; Norman invasion 1066 - French mingled w/ Germanic for

300yrs. = new lang.

Modern English evolved from these 3 Germanic tribal languages.

Differences emerged as these tribes began to migrate.

- EnglishDistributed around the world because the people of England migrated with their language when they established colonies over the past 4 centuries.

*West to No. America 17th c. * Ireland, 7th c. * S. Asia 18th c. * S. Pacific 18th c. * S. Africa 19th c.

Key Issue #1 Cont.’d:Origin, Diffusion, & Dialects of English

• Dialects of English dialect: a REGIONAL variation of a language distinguished

by distinctive vocabulary, spelling & pronunciation. Reflects distinctive features of the environment in which groups lives.

BRIEF HISTORY– Dialects in England: 3 “English” tribes. – 4 Regions: Kentish in the SE, West Saxon in the SW, Mercian in the

center , N. Umbrian in the N. – French replace English as the language of the govt. after 1066. – By the time English regained dominance again there were 5 regions.

E. Midland, W midlands, SW, SE. or Kentish. – Dialects used by the upper-class emerged as the standard language

for writing and speech in the capital city and 2important Universities. – Intro of the Printing Press in 1476 influenced everything. The language

of the upper class (BRP) became established in grammar books & dictionaries, etc.

– However, Strong regional differences persist in English dialects spoken in the UK, especially in RURAL areas.

Old & Middle English Dialects

The main dialect regions of Old English before the Norman invasion persisted to some extent in the Middle English dialects through the 1400s.

Key Issue #1 cont.’dDialects in English

– Differences between British & American EnglishVocabulary- new objects in the new world, new innovations, inventions, Indian infusionSpelling- strong National feeling (culture) for an independent i.d. Pronunciation- geographic concepts. Interaction confined to letters and other printed matter.

– Dialects in the United States3 distinct groups- New England, Middle Atlantic & So. Eastern.

1) New England- 2/3 puritans, other Englanders2) South Eastern- SE England, diverse socio-econ

class, (prisoners, indentured servants, & political & religious refugees).

3) Middle Atlantic- more diverse. Quakers, Scots, Irish, German, Dutch & Swedish.

Key Issue #1 cont.’dDialects in English

Dialects In The U.S.

major difference in U.S. dialect originated because of differences in dialects among the original settlers.

ISOGLOSS- word usage boundary constructed for each word.

Language differences tend to be more diverse in RURAL areas

Pronunciation is more difficult to draw Isoglosses from, but migration is commonly the tool of diffusion.

NOTE: English diffusion pattern in the U.S. is similar to the housing pattern.