鲁艳波
云南省保山市隆阳区丙麻中学 678000
Abstract：American English is very popular and it is developing. Characteristics of American English attract widespread attention because of its important position in world politics, economy and culture. English has truly become a world language in science and business, and over time it will attach more characteristics of American English . So it’s very important to know about the characteristics of American English. In the essay three main characteristics of American English will be discussed, which can make contributions to English study.
Keywords： general uniformity; vocabulary; grammar; syntax; phonology
1. Introduction
The spread of English is self-evident,particularly in western developed countries, is used as the mother tongue and official language.They speak the same language with each other, but everyone has their own characteristics. Characteristics of American English attract widespread attention because of its important position in world politics, economy and culture. In this paper discusses the three main characteristics of American English. They are unified across the country, rich variety of vocabulary, and impatient disregard for grammatical, syntactical, phonological rule. In order to further understand the relevant characteristics of American English, we can identify its historical background and modern development. Eventually, we have found that American English is also important, and they are talkedin the passage. This paper gives a detailed introduction and summary of the characteristics that influence the development of American English.
2. History of American English
American English shows the influence of different cultures and languages from people living in North America. The historical background and cultural idea determine the development course of American English.Especially British invadedthe United States. The achievement of their military conquests was supported by language and culture of a common language and was enriched by the contributions of many cultures. American English acceptedenormous foreign usages in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.Actually,immigration had an impact on American English.
2.1 Colonial Period
The British became the first invader in North America. Britain makes up about 90% of the French population. Therefore, English is the only candidate for the lingua franca of the United States. But when creating the American English, everything has changed many types of words began to disappear. Working on their own farm, without affecting neighbors, regardless of their religion or nationality. This common goal encourages the improvement of a normaldialect and is upgraded by different historical background.
When European immigrants contacted the first American English involved many aspects of work. Native American culture was greatly restricted. The sharp decline of the Indian population was associated with diseases brought by The Spanish colonists.
Independent organizations emerged. But most intermingled with British immigrants, causing individual language changes that changed the form of American English. American English was influenced by them, as was the "R" sound after the vowel sound. As possible as the double verb form.
In the early settlements throughout North America, Africans were imported as slaves.
The slaves opposed Keefkol's ideas and learned American English through their bosses. Some slaves may have developed Creole on plantations. lost the characteristics of Creole. African Americans in the communities of South Carolina and the Sea Islands of Georgia say that a real American plantation Creole is still Gula.
African American English words, including gumbo, gumbo and voodoo.
2.2 Territorial Expansion and Urbanization
The concentration of urban populations has enabled certain areas to maintain the language of immigrants, and most people still find that learning and using English is the best daily discourse for Americans.
While immigrants in other countries adapt to English, they are also affecting English.
As a matter of fact, American English USES diverse words that are commonlyconnected with Spanish, just like enchilada, Pueblo, Sombrero. The Scandinavians built their homes in the upper Midwest and added smorgasbord and sauna to American English. Other European immigrants are mainly attracted to urban areas. For example, Jewish immigrants are particularly relevant to New York City, and satisfiedmany different conditions. Just like Kosher and Kibitz. Polish immigrants, who are closely connected with Chicago, provided canoes.
3. Main characteristics of American English
American English has three main characteristics: national unity; rich vocabulary; and impatient disregard for grammar, syntax, and phonetic rules.
3.1 General uniformity throughout the country
The first of these roles moved all local and foreign observers.USA is a vast and complex country. However, for many things, most Americans’ attitudes and views are same essentially. For some social conventions, standards of behavior and life-styles, most Americans accept and follow. American English doesn’t have misunderstanding in regional dialect. Different nationalities throughout the country can communication with each other by using the same language just like a family. American English has no misunderstanding in race and stage, and it provides an equal speech tool for American people.
Language was lacking in the Tennessee Mountains and New England. As An American searcher put it: "Once there was a country of similar territory to Britain that disappeared, with a large number of 4.039 million people being discriminated against. We stand here today to redress their grievances, and no one can stop us from moving forward,"stand by British critic.” Language lacks distinctiveness." People in Maine often say that even though they have very little education or ability, he could get along well with the Oregon man.”
Canada is the representative country where the language does not achieve unity. Petrograd's citizens are haunted by Ukraine's Russian spirit. People in northern Italy have little to do with Sicilians. The lowland Germans from Hamburg are foreigners from Munich. Brittany's plight in Gascony. Even in Britain, there are big differences.
Generally, ordinary people were not far away from home in Europe. They always stayed in hometown because of the economy and concept. Only the middle class, nobles and well-educated elites can travel, study and travel at home.As a result, the language has a regional character, mainly in the south and north of England, even in the country and the city are very different. Not so in the United States.People in USA insisted on speaking their own language. Their status and rank in the colony usually change, and they do not have settled dwellings. They often flew one area to another area. Regionalism had few influences in pronunciation and words using. So American English overcame the area obstacles and achieved uniformly.
3.2 Rich variety of vocabulary
American English vocabulary are words formed and made the most of the United States. The 1930s marked the formal formation of American English words.its own characteristics. Rich words of American English didn’t appear in the works of Shakespeare or Milton. They appeared in the talk of western boatmen, businessmen and explorers.
3.2.1 Absorption of the Indian vocabulary
The Indians were the first masters of North America. In 1642, Columbus discovered the New World,he made a mistake in it for India. Then the natives were called American Indians in order to distinguish them to Indians. Many words which absorbed from the Indian language are the states names and place names in America. For instance,Kentuckydemonstrated this position is a flatland or grassland in Indian language; Ohio is a good, great and beautiful river; Massachusetts means this harbor. Additionally, a lot ofwords were related to social relations, daily necessities and Indian crops, like sachem, squaw, toboggan, moccasin, wigwam, pemmican, hickory, squash, powwow and papoose. These words had spread widely in middle 18th century.
3.2.2 English compounds
Americans like to create or use a word for any specific purposes or new things. Many words are compounded of well-known words.Diverse compounds were brands of animals and plants discovered in North American land.For example, bullfrog, catbird, basswood, bluegrass, pitch- pine, and buck-eye.
The noun-verb formation in American English is obvious. Verb nouns include interview style, advocate, vacuum, lobby, pressure, back end, transition features, image, spearhead, surge, display, service (such as car), corner, torch, exit author(traffic violations), and of course verb as used at the start of this sentence.
Compounds created in the United States include: foothills, flat land, wasteland, landslides (in all senses), overviews (nouns), background, teenager, group discussion, a little time, no heartbeat. Many of them are phrases used as adverbs. These are essentially noun-phrasal verbs. Some prepositions and phrasal verbs actually originate in the United States. Speak clearly, think clearly, hold on, conduct a judgment, and do it.
Americans have changed that, and Nasty, false, Buddy and Kitty Horns are the best examples. Presumptuous, charming, or rooted (in children) and Shared in many oral forms such as lively or eccentric. American motels, guesstimate, infomercial and televangelist.
3.2.3 Foreign words
During the 19th century, borrowing loanwords to express American English was an important moment. This is because immigrants from Britain and other countries in contact with each other here. When American English came into contact with other foreign languages, it absorbed a lot of words from Indian and it also borrowed some words from Spanish and German. Some words come from the first settlers in Louisiana, Florida and Mexico, like rancho, calaboose, and hacienda. Some words are from Germans descendants who settled in Pennsylvania, like loaf and sauerkraut. Besides, some words are from French like bayou, cache and chute. Some words are from Dutch like boss, Pancakes and decadence. Because of the Chinese language, some new words appeared, such as loquat, kowtow and jiaozi.
The colonists began borrowing the names of strange plants, animals, and terrain from Native American languages to begin the process of creating new vocabulary. Examples include opossums, raccoons, pumpkins and moose (from Algonquin). Other Native American loanwords, such as hut or moccasin, describe objects commonly used by Indians. The languages of other colonial countries have also increased the vocabulary of the United States, such as biscuits, fritters, preserved fruit and pits from the Netherlands. Anxiety, kindergarten, German sauerkraut; French embankment, porter (ship or cargo) and gophers; barbecue from Spain, loading and unloading workers and rodeo.
When the times into the early colonies to the early 19th century, American vocabulary embodied the grand scenery of North America vividly. such as running, branching, bifurcation, intermittent, bluff, canyon, (forest) Neck, barren land, lowlands, gaps, knobs, shallow trenches, rapids, truncation, tailing and separation. Existing words such as streams, sloughs, sleet, and (used later) watersheds have new meanings and are unknown in England. Other noteworthy American place names have also been found in foreign words, such as prairie, butte (French); bayou (Choctaw via Louisiana French)
The development of American English doesn’t depend on the new words or rules in dictionaries and grammar books. It depends on substandard words and can be created in real language. In the fast-growing United States,there are a lot of new words to add. Many unique words were created by The lives and activities of Americans such as Jet Leg, Kodak, and Sanforized.
3.3 Impatient disregard for grammatical, syntactical, phonological rule
English speaking countries have normal language structure and a basic set of vocabulary, while American English is particularly outstanding in terms of vocabulary, spelling and grammatical structure. "Dropout" is a quintessentially American term.
3.3.1 Grammar and Syntax
The grammar of English-educated people varies slightly from country to country. In speeches by people with less education, grammatical changes in regional and social variants of American English are very common in normal systemic events. (not as an error).
"English grammar can change a way of thinking," Morrison says. This is unprecedented. Modern English has reached a plateau, with racism and political rhetoric running through it. It can reflect a person's thinking ability. The true criterion is social mores. The language she rejected yesterday is accepted today.
American English have broken through the boundaries of conventional grammar among correct and incorrect. It thinks ideological concept as the core and thinks useful aim as the new point. There are six characteristics of American grammar rule: first, taking descriptivism against regulations; second, to distinguish strictly between modern English and traditional English when describing modern English; third, considering that English has its own grammar system; fourth, focus on oral English instead of paying attention to written English; fifth, insisting that the analysis should be from the situation; sixth, care more about the ideal analysis.
In terms of many of its syntactic patterns, American English also seems to be more standardized. We will consider four such patterns: verbs with direct and indirect objects, construction of adjectives, use and inversion of articles.
3.3.2 Phonology
There are the difference in American English and British English. The famous Irish writer Bernard Shaw once said: “It is easy to recognize an American because syllables of words are always omitted in American English.”
American English is more homogeneous than British English. in part because these areas are so closely linked to England that they imitate the famous English as they change. ByUnited States, people from the different position of the United States settled and developed a more general language model.
Virginia owns a wide tidal basin, and people in eastern New England have failed to breach historical restrictions and still make the most of the"R" and non-stressed accents, though they are declining among younger speakers. If R is in an unstressed syllable or word and the following syllable or word begins with a consonant, the rat the culmination of the syllable is sometimes discovered in a concrete language.
4. Modern Variation in American English
Regional linguistic forms existed in American colonial period. By the 20th century, however, social conditions had changed. Mass migration and irregular establishment were replaced by migration between fixed locations in the country, where people lived in one location, improving local linguistic patterns. Paradoxically, social conditions have led to the diversification of American English. Scholars believe that American cities now have more similar regional accents than ever before.
4.1 The Spoken Standard
Like most European languages, American English has never been considered a ``correct'' strict standardbecause of oral English. In the contemporary time, it is conducive to demonstrate the communicativestyle of American English as a relatively lack of features (such as word selection or pronunciation), which may identify the speaker as coming from a specific region or social group. Like many Americans on formal occasions such as schools, courts, and boards, national newscasters and other broadcasters often adopt this type of speech in public.
4.2 Regional and Social Variation
Regional variations in American English are striking. Nowadays, many Americans choose to live in cities and suburbs rather than live separately on farms. This change in lifestyle promoted the development of informal language types, each called dialects. The improvement of the mother tongue is particularly noticeable in the communities with which people come into daily contact.
American English pronunciation is also changing. American sociolinguist William Labov proposed three sets of pronunciation changes, each of which is applicable to a different language.
A pattern of change affects northern cities: deformed vowels are usually more like rotten vowels. In turn, rotten vowels are more like mouse vowels. Vowels in rats are pronounced more like vowels in Rhett. Another mode of change is taking place between South Midlands and the southern speakers: the red vowels are usually more like the one in the raid. In turn, vowels in raids are usually more like vowels in riding. Each vowel is actually pronounced by a combination of two vowels, called a diphthong.A lot of people would call this is core of the sound extraction. Thirdly, mode of change affects New England, North Midlands, most of the western United States, and Canada. Many speakers in these areas no longer use cots, grip, children’s walking, and teaching feet to pronounce vowels with different pronunciations, Therefore, they looks like very analogous now. And these plenty of patterns of change are mostly united by features such as regional terms, the result is that dialect expressions often differ between cities or in remote areas.
Although geography and social background influence speech, context does not prevent people from learning spoken language standards or other aspects of regional and social differences.Itusually sound more like locals. The result is that almost every community has speakers from different regions and social backgrounds mixed together. Almost every community uses spoken standard American English. Sociologists offer detailed opinions and Suggestions that expectation is a loss of social identity. However, passive contact with the media does not exceed individual contact and regional travel within communities and social groups. This kind of contact results in the regional and social diversity of language.
4.3 African American Vernacular English
African American dialect Of English, which refers to the variety of American English most influenced by African American culture. In fact, African American English may have absorbed many characters from plantation Creole. In addition, many features of South American English are related to plantation culture.
"Door is like Doe or Poe poor." Words like these can be pronounced dis and dat. A group of consonants at the climax of a word is usually reduced by a consonant, for example, while separately selling or walking.
When Great Depression of the 1930s, a lot of African Americans left farms on old plantations and moved to cities in search of jobs and chances.
Because of the housing segregation, they maintain a strong common culture in the city. Although some African Americans start to promote more local linguistic features, African American vernacular English was also preserved.
4.4 Spanish and English
In the southwestern United States and many cities, large Hispanic communities have been developed. These communities usually use Spanish and English, however, it is often facilitated for different aims or surroundings. People sometimes blur Spanish words in English sentences or English words in Spanish sentences. This process is called transcoding. The English of these communities is enlarged by a lot of Spanish words. However, transcoding exercise in American English is different from the social change.
5. Conclusion
Because American business and technology have been successful globally, American English has been becoming better and better. English has truly exchange the world words in the position of knowledge and culture.When the times fly, it will gradually have more American English sound.
During the colonial period, the common goal of immigrants encouraged the development of a common language, enlarged by the progress of dual historical background. In the 19th and 20th centuries, American English. produced many words, among which immigration had an influence on American English. Three main characteristics of American English which are general uniformity throughout the country, rich variety of vocabulary, and impatient disregard for grammatical, syntactical, phonological rule can make contributions to learn English well. American English have changed and developed. There are four modern variations in American English: spoken standard; regional and social variation; African American vernacular English; Spanish and English. Talk about the characteristics of American English by studying the history of American English based on the modern variation in American English.
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