SOC104 - The Spread of English

The Virtual Linguistics Campus

25 Jun 201311:17

Summary

TLDRThis e-lecture traces the development of English from a regional to a global language. It covers key historical periods, including Old, Middle, and Early Modern English, and examines how English spread globally through colonialism and cultural influence. Using the three circles model, the lecture outlines countries where English is a native, second, or foreign language. The future of English is discussed in terms of its global dominance, influence from American English, and the rise of new varieties of English worldwide.

Takeaways

📜 English evolved from a regional to a global language over centuries.
⚔️ Old English had a strong Germanic character, while Middle English incorporated many Romance, especially French, influences.
📚 Early Modern English developed a rich vocabulary and laid the foundation for the global spread of English.
🌍 The first major step toward English becoming a global language occurred after the late 16th century, during Elizabeth I's reign.
🏛️ English's global spread is explained through Braj Kachru’s 'Three Circles' model: Inner Circle (native speakers), Outer Circle (colonized nations), and Expanding Circle (foreign learners).
🇺🇸 In North America, the first English-speaking settlers established permanent colonies in the 1600s, shaping early American English.
🚢 Australia’s English roots began with Britain’s penal colonies, which evolved as more settlers arrived in the 19th century.
📈 English is now used by over 1.5 billion people worldwide, with 300 million native speakers.
🛑 Some predict a resistance to English due to colonial history, while others foresee growing American influence.
🌐 The rise of 'World Standard Spoken English' may allow for a globally intelligible form, preserving national dialects while enabling international communication.

Q & A

What are the main periods of the English language mentioned in the lecture?
-The main periods of the English language mentioned are Old English, Middle English, and Early Modern English.
How did Old English differ from Middle English?
-Old English was Germanic in character, while Middle English lost many Germanic aspects and adopted Romance (especially French) properties, particularly in vocabulary.
What key development in the 16th century contributed to English becoming a global language?
-By the end of the 16th century, English literature boomed with works by Shakespeare and others, and explorers like Francis Drake and Walter Raleigh laid the foundation for the spread of English in the New World and Australia.
What is the 'three circles' model of the spread of English?
-The 'three circles' model categorizes countries into the Inner Circle (where English is a native language), the Outer Circle (where English is a second language), and the Expanding Circle (where English is recognized as a foreign language).
Which countries belong to the Inner Circle of English speakers?
-Countries in the Inner Circle include Great Britain, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland.
What is the significance of the Outer Circle in the spread of English?
-The Outer Circle consists of countries that were colonized by Britain or the United States, where English is spoken as a second language and plays a significant historical and governmental role. Examples include India, Nigeria, and South Africa.
How did English develop in North America?
-English in North America began with the arrival of English settlers in the 1600s, such as Sir Walter Raleigh's expeditions and the Puritans on the Mayflower. Dialects evolved, influenced by groups like the Quakers and Scots-Irish.
How did the British penal colony in Australia influence the spread of English?
-In 1788, Britain established a penal colony in Australia, which brought a large population of British settlers. By 1900, Australia had nearly 4 million people, with English becoming the dominant language due to British influence.
What are some of the possible future developments in the global use of English?
-Possible future developments include resistance to English due to its colonial history, increased influence of American English, and the creation of new English varieties. A global standard of English may emerge while allowing for national dialects.
What role does the internet and mass media play in the future of English?
-The internet and mass media play a crucial role in developing a globally understandable form of English, promoting international intelligibility while preserving national identity.

Outlines

00:00

🌍 The Evolution of English to a Global Language

The paragraph introduces the e-lecture's topic: the development of English from a regional language to a global one. It outlines the lecture’s structure: starting with a historical overview of English, followed by a discussion on its spread using the 'three circles' model. The paragraph highlights key stages in English's evolution, such as Old English (Germanic roots), Middle English (influence of French vocabulary), and Early Modern English (which laid the foundation for global spread). The global expansion began during the 16th century, driven by British literature and exploration under figures like Shakespeare and Francis Drake.

05:02

🚢 The Spread of English in North America

This section focuses on the early spread of English to North America. The first major colonization began in 1607 with settlers from England’s West Country, bringing with them a dialect said to resemble Shakespeare’s English. The arrival of the Pilgrims on the Mayflower in 1620, seeking religious freedom, was another significant event. Subsequent waves of immigration brought Quakers, Scots, and Irish settlers. By 1776, at the time of American Independence, a variety of English dialects had emerged, including African American English, American Indian English, and regional dialects like Southern American English and Canadian English.

10:04

🇦🇺 The Establishment of English in Australia

The paragraph outlines the arrival of English in Australia, starting with the establishment of a penal colony at Sydney in 1770, after James Cook's explorations. Initially, the colony was used to alleviate overcrowded British prisons. Over time, this small settlement grew rapidly due to waves of settlers, and by 1900, Australia's population reached nearly 4 million. The British Isles were the main source of settlers, shaping the language in Australia. The paragraph concludes by discussing English’s rise as a global language, with over 300 million native speakers and 1.5 billion users.

🔮 The Future of English: Global Influence and Lingual Change

This paragraph looks to the future of English as a global language. It explores two potential developments: (1) the possibility of a backlash against English as a colonial language, with former colonies favoring their indigenous languages, and (2) the increasing influence of North American English due to the U.S.’s control over modern developments and the digital revolution. The spread of English across different regions will lead to the emergence of new English varieties, much like how dialects develop within countries. These new ‘Englishes’ will be shaped by local cultures and settings.

🌐 Towards a Standardized Global English

The final paragraph discusses the possibility of a world standard spoken English emerging as the global form for international communication. This process is already underway, thanks to the internet and mass media, which ensure global intelligibility while allowing countries to retain their national identities. English has evolved from a regional dialect influenced by other languages into the world’s dominant communication system, serving as a global lingua franca. Its influence on other languages continues to grow.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Old English

Old English refers to the earliest form of the English language, which was Germanic in nature and heavily influenced by Continental Germanic languages. This period of English, described in the video, marks the initial stage of English before it evolved into its modern form. It is essential to understanding how English developed from a regional to a global language.

💡Middle English

Middle English is the phase of the English language that followed Old English, characterized by the loss of many Germanic features and the incorporation of Romance, particularly French, vocabulary and grammar. This period reflects a significant transformation in the language and set the stage for the later rise of Early Modern English.

💡Early Modern English

Early Modern English is the version of English that emerged after Middle English, particularly during the 16th century. It saw the standardization of grammar and vocabulary and became the initial phase of the global spread of the language. The script emphasizes this period as foundational to English's expansion through literature and colonization.

💡Three Circles Model

The Three Circles Model, proposed by linguist Braj Kachru, is used to describe the spread of English globally. It divides English-speaking countries into three categories: the Inner Circle (native speakers), Outer Circle (former colonies where English is a second language), and Expanding Circle (countries where English is learned as a foreign language). The model helps explain how English became a global language with different functions across the world.

💡Inner Circle

The Inner Circle refers to countries where English is spoken as a first or native language, such as the UK, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The video highlights these countries as the origin points of English's global spread, with a large proportion of the world's native English speakers.

💡Outer Circle

The Outer Circle includes countries that were colonized by Britain or the United States, where English serves as a second language and holds a significant role in governance and education. Examples given in the video include India, Nigeria, and South Africa. These countries maintain English as an important part of their multilingual societies.

💡Expanding Circle

The Expanding Circle consists of countries where English is not a native or official language but is taught and recognized as an important foreign language. The video mentions countries like Japan, Russia, and Egypt, where English plays a crucial role in international communication and globalization.

💡Colonialism

Colonialism refers to the historical period when European powers, including Britain, established colonies around the world. The spread of English as a global language is closely tied to British and American colonization efforts, which embedded English in the education and government systems of the colonized regions, particularly in the Outer Circle countries.

💡American English

American English is the variety of English spoken in the United States, which, according to the video, plays a significant role in the global dominance of the language. The United States, as a leading nation in modern technology and mass media, is influential in spreading its version of English, making it a major force in the future development of the language.

💡Global English

Global English refers to the widespread use of English as a lingua franca, or common language, for international communication. The video describes how English has become the dominant language for business, science, and digital communication, evolving from a regional language into a truly global system of communication used by millions of people worldwide.

Highlights

English developed from a regional language to a global language over less than 300 years.

Old English was heavily influenced by Germanic elements, while Middle English saw the introduction of Romance, especially French, features.

The 16th century marked the first significant step in English's expansion, driven by literature and explorers like Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh.

BRJ Kachru's three concentric circles model describes the spread of English globally, divided into the Inner, Outer, and Expanding Circles.

The Inner Circle countries include Great Britain, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland, where English is a native language.

The Outer Circle consists of former British and American colonies, where English is used as a second language in multilingual societies, such as India, Nigeria, and South Africa.

The Expanding Circle refers to countries where English is learned as a foreign language, including China, Japan, and Russia.

The first permanent English settlement in North America occurred in 1607, with later immigrants shaping American English dialects, like African American Vernacular English and regional varieties.

Australia's first penal colony was established in 1770 after James Cook's visit, marking the start of British influence on Australian English.

Today, English is spoken by over 1.5 billion users globally, including 300 million native speakers.

The dominance of American English is growing, especially with the influence of the United States in modern developments like the digital revolution.

Linguistic changes are predicted in English, as it becomes more adaptable with the emergence of new varieties in different regions.

New national varieties of English are developing, but international intelligibility is maintained through a global standard spoken English.

English remains the dominant global communication system, influencing other languages as the world's primary lingua franca.

The future of English may involve tension between its global role and efforts to promote indigenous languages in former colonies.