Assignment of World Englishes

Department of English
Topic: World Englishes Study In North America and
Carribbean
Submitted to : Ms Shaista Hassan

Submitted by: Group 1 (BS-4 Ss1)

Group members:

Shereen Akhtar

Sidra Zafar

Iqra Arshad

Javeria

Yashfa Amjad
 American English

English was brought to America primarily through colonization efforts by the

English in the early 17th century. The first successful English settlement was
established at Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607. Subsequent waves of English settlers
arrived in North America, founding colonies along the eastern coast, including
Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, and Georgia. These settlers brought the
English language with them, establishing it as the dominant language in the
colonies. English was used for communication, governance, trade, and religious
practices among the colonists. Over time, as the colonies grew and interacted
with indigenous peoples and other European settlers, English in America evolved,
incorporating new words, expressions, and grammatical features influenced by
these interactions. The spread of English in America was also facilitated by factors
such as the establishment of schools and churches, the printing press, and the
growth of trade and commerce. Through these channels, English became firmly
entrenched as the primary language of the American colonies, laying the
foundation for its continued development and dominance in the United States.

Colonization:
English became prominent in America due to the colonization efforts of the
British in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Nationalism:
The Declaration of Independence, drafted in English, solidified the language's
importance in American history and government.
Education:
 English became the primary language of instruction in American schools, further
cementing its popularity.
Literature:
Works by American authors like Mark Twain, Ernest Hemingway, and F. Scott
Fitzgerald helped to shape and popularize the English language in America.
Media:
The rise of English-language newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and, later,
the internet, contributed significantly to its widespread use.
Immigration:
Waves of immigrants from English-speaking countries like England, Ireland, and
Scotland, as well as other regions, further entrenched English as the dominant
language.
Government and Law:
English is the official language of the United States government and is used in
legal documents, further reinforcing its prevalence.
Business and Trade:
English became the language of commerce and trade in America, facilitating
communication and transactions domestically and internationally.
Cultural Dominance:
English-speaking cultural exports, such as music, movies, and TV shows, played a
significant role in spreading the language's influence.
Globalization:
As a global lingua franca, English's dominance in international affairs and
technology has reinforced its position as the primary language in America and
around the world.

Grammar
There are several differences between American and British English grammar,
though many rules are shared. Here are some key distinctions:
Verb Agreement: In American English, collective nouns are usually treated as
singular (e.g., "The team is winning"), whereas in British English, they can be
treated as singular or plural ("The team are winning").
Past Tense Forms: Some irregular verbs have different past tense forms, like
"learned" (AmE) vs. "learnt" (BrE).
Prepositions: There are differences in preposition usage, such as "on the
weekend" (AmE) vs. "at the weekend" (BrE).
Vocabulary: While not strictly grammar, differences in vocabulary can affect
sentence structure. For example, "truck" (AmE) vs. "lorry" (BrE).
Punctuation: There are minor differences in punctuation usage, such as single
quotation marks being more common in British English for direct speech.
Past Participles: Some verbs have different past participle forms, such as "gotten"
(AmE) vs. "got" (BrE).
Auxiliary Verbs: In British English, "shall" is often used for first-person future
tense ("I shall go"), while in American English, "will" is more common ("I will go").
Tense Usage: British English tends to use present perfect tense more frequently
than American English. For example, "I've just eaten" (BrE) vs. "I just ate" (AmE)
Conjunctions: British English sometimes uses "and" before the last item in a list
(the Oxford comma), while American English often does not.
Quotations: In British English, periods and commas are typically placed outside
quotation marks unless they're part of the quoted material. In American English,
they are usually placed inside the quotation marks.

Vocabulary:
American English and British English share many similarities, but they also have
notable differences in vocabulary, spelling, and pronunciation. Here's a brief
overview of some common vocabulary differences:
 • Truck (US) / Lorry (UK)
• Elevator (US) / Lift (UK)
• Cookie (US) / Biscuit (UK)
• Diaper (US) / Nappy (UK)
• Sweater (US) / Jumper (UK)
• Sneakers (US) / Trainers (UK)
• Apartment (US) / Flat (UK)
• Trash (US) / Rubbish (UK)
• Gasoline (US) / Petrol (UK)
• Vacation (US) / Holiday (UK)
• Sidewalk (US) / Pavement (UK)
• Mail (US) / Post (UK)
• Fries (US) / Chips (UK)
• Cellphone (US) / Mobile phone (UK)
• Candy (US) / Sweets (UK)

Spellings:
The differences between American English and British English spellings mainly
stem from historical reasons, cultural influences, and the evolution of language
over time. These differences often arose due to the efforts of lexicographers in
each country to standardize spelling according to their own preferences or
linguistic traditions. British spellings refers to etymology while American spellings
refers the actual pronunciation of words. Noah Webster made an effort to
reforms English spellings in 1700s.
• Color (American) vs. Colour (British)
• Center (American) vs. Centre (British)
 • Defense (American) vs. Defence (British)
• Flavor (American) vs. Flavour (British)
• Honor (American) vs. Honour (British)
• Traveling (American) vs. Travelling (British)
• Analyze (American) vs. Analyse (British)
• Program (American) vs. Programme (British)
• Tire (American) vs. Tyre (British)
• Realize (American) vs. Realise (British)
Pronunciation:
Rhoticity: In American English, the "r" sound is pronounced in words like "car"
and "bird," while in British English, it's often not pronounced, especially in words
like "car" where it might sound more like "cah."
T in the middle of words: Americans typically pronounce the "t" sound more
clearly in words like "water" and "butter," while in British English, it's often
softened or even dropped, making it sound like "wa'er" or "bu'er."
A: The "a" sound can differ, such as in words like "bath" and "dance." Americans
might pronounce it with a flat "a" sound, while British English speakers might use
a broader "ah" sound.
Vowel Sounds: Vowel sounds can vary significantly, with notable differences in
words like "schedule" or "tomato."
Final -er: In American English, the final "er" sound in words like "butter" or
"water" is pronounced more clearly, while in British English, it's often more like
"uh" or even "ah," so it might sound like "buttuh" or "watah."

Different Varieties and Dialects within North-

America :
There are many types of dialects , based on geographical and social
divisions of North America.

African American Vernacular English:

It may be called as Black English , and it is not a regionl variety of English. It is
the group of dialects that developed between African American communities ,
when they were ensalved by Americans in 1619. It first developed as a creole
and now is spoken by many (even by Whites in some areas) in USA. Mostly this
variety is known for its usage of various idioms and slangs , which then became
a part of many dialects ,such as diss ( short for disrespect) , beef (a conflict),
squash (to resolve) co-sign (to vouch for someone), give props ( to give
compliment).
It differs in Grammar as:
• She over there.

• They kinda crazy.

• He don't know what he talking about.

• She work in this shop.

• They was acting crazy.

• I was at my Dad house.

It differs in pronunciation also as:

• bath (bæθ)= bæf

• south (sæθ) = sæf

• with (wɪð)= wit

• that (ðæt) = dat

• don't know = 'on know

 • fixing to = finna

Canadian English
Canadian English is by and large the outcome of the two earliest settlement
waves. The first wave was a direct result of the American Revolution in 1776. The
second wave started in 1815 at the end of the Napoleonic wars and, until 1867
when Canada gained considerable independence from Britain (Confederation),
was responsible for over a million immigrants from England, Scotland, Wales, and
importantly, Ireland.
• Washroom for a public bathroom.

• hydro for electricity.

• butter tart for a pastry shell with a filling of butter

• parkade, a car parking structure

• garburator ‘in-sink garbage grinder

• torque , a woolen cap

• Canadians prefer shwa sound in place of broad 'a' sound in words like plaza
, drama ,pasta

• Even words like ;behind ,before , about are pronounced with a shwa sound.

• Another distinct feature of Canadian variety is the use of "Eh" at the end of
every utterence

Chicano English
It is spoken primarily in the Southwestern UnitedStates ranging
from Texas to California
• . Some studies on Chicano English have used terms such as "Mexican-
American English", "Latino English", and "Mexican Heritage English".

• Spanish-speaking Tejanos, Nuevomexicanos, Californios, and Mission

Indians have existed in the American Southwest.

• Chicano English tends to have an intermediate prosody between a Spanish-

like syllable timing

/ð/ sounds may be replaced with /d/ sounds, as in "dese" and "dem"
instead of "these" and "them”
• t/d deletion occurs at the end of a word when those consonants are part of
a consonant cluster. For example, "missed" becomes "miss".

• /z/ undergoes devoicing in [ˈisi] for easy and [wʌs] for was.

• Chicano speakers may realize /v/ as stop [b] or a fricative/approximant [β],

with very being pronounced [ˈbɛɹi] or [ˈβɛɹi].

Southern Drawl:
This dialect is spoken in Virginia , South Carolina, West os Mississippi,
Pennsylvania, Arkansas and Texas. It is well known for the elongation of the
vowel sound, by adding a diphthong ( diphthongization)
• have = have ,yes = yes , believe = believe ,dog = dawg

• First syllable of a word is always stressed irresective of their grammatical

category , POlice ,GUItar ,HAlloween , UMbrella

In some regions people tend to articulate all sounds as nasal sounds ,

there this accent become Southern Twang, like in Florida and louisiana

Eastern New England

This includes the states like Vermont Contecticut Massacusetts and New England
while Boston is it's focal point. This variety retains the British tradition of dropping
'r' sound in the end or in middle of a word.
• cah (car), gil (girl) , paak (park) , haad (hard)

• Rounded 'o' in words like hot , top ,shot

• Sometimes a shwa sound is introduced inbetween the words in place of 'r'

sound i-e divaws (divorce), faws ( force)

• There is a high inntonation even at the end of a sentence.

New York Accent

This is much similar to the Boston accent except that there is a much rounded
'o' retention in words like 'cot' , 'caught' ,'bought'
• curl like coil , third like thoid

• There is a flap 't' (more like 'd') instead of a sharp 't' sound in words like
water , city , bottle, identity.

Californian English
California English is a dialect of the English language spoken in the U.S. state of California , most
populous of the United States
• Fillers , for example , "Like" , "I mean" , "you know" are used tremendously in daily
conversation.

• It is a spoken bit faster than other varieties,with extra stress on some words only.

Upper North

This accent is the identity of the Dakortas living in Minnesota , Nabraska , Ohio, Illinois
and Indiana.
• Their characteristic feature is the prolonged (stressed) sound of "O", like in bOat ,
sOap.

• Flat 'a' sound is also stretched as in flag and bag.

Caribbean region
The Caribbean region is a vibrant and diverse area located in the
Americas, comprising over 7,000 islands, islets, and cays, and spanning
more than 1 million square miles. It is home to more than 40 million
people and is known for its rich cultural heritage, shaped by indigenous,
African, European, and Asian influences. The region is divided into 30
territories, including sovereign states, overseas departments, and
dependencies, with six official languages: Spanish, French, English,
Dutch, Haitian Creole, and Papiamento. The Caribbean is famous for its
beautiful beaches, coral reefs, and tropical climate, and has a complex
history of colonialism, slavery, and piracy, which has shaped its music,
art, literature, and cuisine. Today, the region is a popular tourist
destination, and its economy is driven by tourism, agriculture, and
financial services, with many countries also having significant oil and gas
reserves. The Caribbean is also vulnerable to natural disasters, such as
hurricanes and earthquakes, and faces challenges related to climate
change, poverty, and social inequality. Importance of Caribbean
Englishes study:- Understanding the study of the English language in the
Caribbean is crucial for comprehending the region’s cultural heritage,
identity, and history, as it has been shaped by colonialism, slavery, and
language variation. English is a vital tool for effective communication,
education, economic development, and international relations, and
proficiency in the language can empower individuals to participate fully
in regional and global discourse. Moreover, grasping the English
language in the Caribbean is essential for appreciating its rich literary
heritage, preserving cultural identity, and fostering greater
understanding and cooperation among nations, ultimately contributing
to the region’s overall progress and prosperity.

1. Colonization by European powers

The British colonization of the Caribbean was a deliberate and

systematic process aimed at establishing control over the region’s
resources, people, and trade. The British Empire’s expansion into the
Caribbean was driven by economic interests, political power, and
cultural superiority. As the British established colonies, they imposed
their language, culture, and political systems on the indigenous
populations and enslaved Africans. The English language was imposed
on the Caribbean through British colonization and dominance, starting
in the 17th century, as the British Empire established colonies and
exploited the region’s resources, making English the dominant language
in many territories. British colonizers implemented systems of
governance, law, and education that reinforced the use of English, while
other European powers like Spain, France, and the Netherlands also
colonized parts of the Caribbean, bringing their own languages and
cultural influences, contributing to the region’s linguistic diversity, but
with English emerging as the predominant language in many territories
due to British colonization. English became the language of: -
Administration: British officials, governors, and administrators used
English to govern and manage the colonies. –

Commerce: English was used for trade, business, and financial

transactions. - Education: British-established schools and educational
systems taught English as the primary language.

- Law: English was the language of the legal system, courts, and justice.
This led to the suppression of indigenous languages and cultures, as well
as the enforced adoption of English by enslaved people and colonized
populations. _

2.Translantic Slave trade_

The transatlantic slave trade was a brutal and inhumane system that
forcibly brought millions of enslaved Africans to the Caribbean. The
transatlantic slave trade forcibly brought enslaved Africans from diverse
regions of Africa to the Caribbean, introducing a wide range of
languages and ethnic groups, each with their own linguistic and cultural
traditions, resulting in a linguistically diverse region where numerous
African languages coexisted with European languages. Amidst this
diversity, English emerged as a lingua franca, facilitating communication
among different ethnic groups and with European colonizers, and
eventually evolving into creole languages in some territories, blending
African linguistic elements with English vocabulary and grammar,
thereby creating a unique linguistic landscape in the Caribbean. The
slave trade was driven by European powers, including the British, who
sought to exploit African labor for profit. Enslaved people were
subjected to inhumane conditions, forced labor, and cultural erasure. To
communicate with their enslaved population, plantation owners and
overseers used a simplified form of English, known as “Pidgin English.”
This pidgin language was a blend of: -

English: Simplified vocabulary and grammar.

African languages: Enslaved people’s native languages, such as Wolof,

Yoruba, and Igbo.

Indigenous languages: Languages of the indigenous populations, such

as Taino and Kalinago. Over time, enslaved people and their
descendants adopted Pidgin English as a means of communication,
which eventually evolved into creole languages. Creole languages
blended African, indigenous, and European languages, and became a
 unique form of expression and identity for enslaved people and their
descendants

Spreading of English language in Caribbean areas

• Plantation economy and labour force:
• English as a language of administration and commerce :
English was imposed as a language of administration in the Caribbean during the
colonial period, serving as the official language of government, law, and education.
This meant that all official documents, laws, and government communications
were written in English, making it the language of power and authority. As a result,
English became the language of administration, used in government offices, courts,
and administrative buildings. It was also the language of education, taught in
schools and used as the medium of instruction. This helped to perpetuate the use of
English and reinforce its dominance in the region.
English also became the language of commerce in the Caribbean, used for
international trade, business transactions, and financial dealings. It was the
language of contracts, invoices, and financial records, making it an essential tool
for merchants, traders, and entrepreneurs. As the Caribbean economies became
increasingly integrated into the global economy, English became the language of
international trade and commerce, facilitating communication and business
transactions with other English-speaking countries. Today, English remains an
official language in many Caribbean countries and is widely used in government,
education, business, and tourism, serving as a legacy of the region's colonial past
and a key factor in its economic and cultural development.

Impact of English language on Caribbean areas:

English language begin to be used as unification , for development ,for cultural
exchange and as a language of opportunity.
Interaction between population owners, overseers and enslaved population:
In the Caribbean during the colonial period, the English language played a
complex and multifaceted role in the interactions between the population, owners,
overseers, and the enslaved population. While English was used as a tool of control
and oppression by the owners and overseers, the enslaved population also utilized
it as a means of survival, resistance, and liberation, creating their own creoles and
pidgins to maintain cultural identities and secretly communicate. English enabled
the enslaved population to access abolitionist literature, learn about legal rights,
and petition for emancipation, but it also perpetuated power dynamics and was
used to justify oppression. Despite this, the enslaved population employed English
to challenge their oppressors, writing petitions, letters, and autobiographies that
exposed the brutality of slavery and demanded freedom and equality, ultimately
making English a site of resistance, creativity, and liberation that allowed them to
reclaim their humanity and fight for their rights, leaving a lasting impact on
Caribbean culture and identity.
• Education and formal institutions:
• Establishment of English medium schools by colonial authorities and
religious organizations:
The establishment of English medium schools by colonial authorities
and religious organizations had a profound impact on the Caribbean region.
It helped to spread the English language and European culture, and created
a local elite that was loyal to the colonial powers. However, it also
contributed to the erasure of indigenous cultures and languages, and
reinforced the social and economic hierarchies of the colonial system. The
legacy of these schools can still be seen in the modern education systems of
the Caribbean, where English remains the dominant language of
instruction.

Role of education in perpetuating English language dominance:

The education system has perpetuated English language
dominance in the Caribbean and other colonized regions by imposing
English as the medium of instruction, prioritizing it over indigenous
languages, and associating it with intelligence, sophistication, and
modernity, thereby suppressing native cultures and languages and creating
a self-reinforcing cycle of English dominance, which continues to shape
language policies and practices, limiting opportunities for language
 diversity and multilingualism, and perpetuating language hierarchies and
language shame, highlighting the need for efforts to address the historical
and ongoing impacts of colonial education policies and practices to
promote language diversity and multilingualism.

Trade networks and global connections:

Integration of Caribbean into British empire economics system:
The Caribbean's integration into the British Empire’s economic
system was a gradual process spanning centuries, initially establishing trade
relationships with indigenous populations and later enslaved Africans and
European settlers, with the region becoming a vital source of raw materials
and a hub for the transatlantic slave trade, leading to the imposition of
British economic systems, laws, and institutions, suppressing local
economies and cultures, and exploiting natural resources, enriching British
merchants and planters, and shaping the region’s social and cultural fabric,
with a lasting legacy of economic underdevelopment, poverty, and
inequality, continuing to influence the region's economic systems,
institutions, and cultures, and remaining an important part of the global
economy and international trade.

English as a language of trade communication and cultural

exchange:
English as a language of trade, communication, and cultural exchange in
the Caribbean has played a multifaceted role, facilitating commerce and
communication among diverse populations, enabling the transatlantic slave trade
and the spread of ideas and innovations, shaping the region’s cultural identity
through literature, art, and music, and perpetuating British dominance while
suppressing local languages and cultures, resulting in a complex legacy where
English remains a vital language for communication and trade, while efforts to
promote language diversity and multilingualism seek to preserve and celebrate
the region's rich linguistic and cultural heritage.
Development of English in Caribbean Region
The development of English in the Caribbean region is fascinating, shaped by a
complex history of colonization, slavery, migration, and cultural exchange. English
became prevalent through British colonial rule, but it’s evolved uniquely in each
Caribbean country, blending with indigenous languages, African languages, and
other influences to form distinct creole languages like Jamaican Patois,
Trinidadian Creole, and Bajan Creole. These creoles are rich expressions of
Caribbean identity, reflecting the region’s diverse heritage and ongoing linguistic
evolution.
• Creolization and linguistic diversity:
Emergence of Creole languages and their relationship with English: Creole
languages developed in the Caribbean as a result of interactions between
European colonizers, enslaved Africans, and indigenous peoples. These languages
blend elements of English with African and indigenous languages, reflecting the
region’s diverse linguistic heritage.
Influence of African, Indigenous, and other languages on Caribbean English:
African and indigenous languages have influenced Caribbean English through the
incorporation of vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammatical structures. This
linguistic borrowing has enriched Caribbean English and contributed to its
distinctiveness as a variety of English.

• Varieties of English in the Caribbean:

Dialectal differences across Caribbean Territories:

Different regions of the Caribbean have developed their own varieties of English,
characterized by differences in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar. These
dialectal variations reflect historical, social, and cultural factors unique to each
territory.
Influence of sociohistorical factors on linguistic variation:
 Sociohistorical factors such as slavery, colonialism, migration, and cultural
exchange have shaped the development of English in the Caribbean. These factors
have influenced patterns of language use, language contact, and language
change, contributing to the linguistic diversity observed in the region.

• Language policies and attitudes:

Official language status of English in Caribbean Countries: English is the official
language in many Caribbean countries, used in government, education, media,
and business. It is taught in schools and used for official documents, legislation,
and public communication.
Attitudes towards English and its role in identity formation: Attitudes towards
English in the Caribbean vary depending on factors such as social class, education,
and cultural background. While some view English as a symbol of prestige and
opportunity, others may value local languages and dialects as markers of cultural
identity and resistance to colonialism.

Conclusion:
Recap of key points about the reaching, spreading, and development of English in
the Caribbean:
We have explored how English reached the Caribbean through colonization and
the transatlantic slave trade, spread through plantation economies,education,
and trade networks, and developed into various creole languages and dialects
influenced by African, indigenous, and other languages. Reflection on the
Enduring legacy and significance of English in the region: English has left a lasting
Impact on Caribbean society, culture, and identity, shaping communication,
education and social interactions. It continues to be a vital tool for economic
development, International relations, and cultural exchange in the Caribbean and
beyond. Implications for language policy, education, and cultural identity in the
Caribbean today:
The history and development of English in the Caribbean have important
implications for or language policy, education, and cultural identity in the region
today. Efforts to Promote bilingualism, preserve indigenous languages, and
celebrate linguistic diversity are essential for fostering inclusive and equitable
societies in the Caribbean.