The Second Diaspora - Focus United States

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• Kachru's classification of the three diasporas
  • The first diaspora
  • The second diaspora
    • Canada
    • Australia and New Zealand
  • The third diaspora
• The historical spread and development of English in the United States
  • Early beginnings on the new continent
  • More land, more settlers, more languages
  • Native population and slaves
  • British and American English drifting apart?
  • Search for linguistic unity
  • English going west
    • The beginnings of the Westward Expansion
    • The Louisiana Purchase
    • Expanding into Spanish-speaking territory
    • The Oregon Trail
    • Linguistic results of the Westward Expansion
  • Generational gap
  • Spanish on its way to threaten the English linguistic supremacy?
• The linguistic situation of English in the US as of today
  • English in the South
    • Southern American English
    • Appalachian English
    • Texas English
    • New Orleans English
  • English in the North
    • New England English
    • Maine English
    • New York English
    • Philadelphia English
  • Midland English
    • Midwestern English
    • St. Louis English
    • California English
    • Arizona English
  • Ethnic varieties of American English
    • African American English
    • Chicano English
• Conclusion

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This paper focuses on the spread and development of the English language in the United States, exploring its historical journey from the arrival of the first settlers to its current linguistic landscape. It aims to analyze how English has evolved in the US, considering factors such as historical events, migration patterns, and cultural influences.

• Kachru's classification of English diasporas and its relevance to the US
• The historical spread of English in the US, including major events and settlements
• The development of distinct American English dialects and their linguistic features
• The influence of ethnic varieties of American English on the linguistic landscape
• The interplay of language and culture in shaping the American English identity

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The paper begins by introducing Kachru's classification of English diasporas, outlining the three circles of English and their historical contexts. The second diaspora, which includes the United States, is then discussed in detail, focusing on the spread of English in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. This overview provides a framework for understanding the historical and linguistic context of English in the US.

The paper then delves into the historical spread and development of English in the United States. It explores the early beginnings of English on the new continent, including the arrival of the first settlers and the subsequent blending of different dialects and languages. The analysis then examines how major historical events, such as the Westward Expansion, the Louisiana Purchase, and the arrival of non-English speaking immigrants, have shaped the linguistic landscape of the US.

Finally, the paper discusses the contemporary linguistic situation of English in the US, focusing on the development of distinct regional dialects and the influence of ethnic varieties. It analyzes the linguistic features of various dialects, such as Southern American English, New England English, and African American English, highlighting the unique characteristics of each.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The paper explores the spread and development of English in the United States, focusing on themes such as linguistic diversity, historical events, regional dialects, ethnic varieties, and the interplay of language and culture. Key concepts include Kachru's classification of English diasporas, the Westward Expansion, the Louisiana Purchase, the founder effect, American English dialects, and African American English.