Changing English

In reading these documents that focus mostly on the history of language I found one thing that was very surprising. I was really surprised how English in America and English in Britain really aren’t that different. While they have a completely different dialect, and many of the words have different spellings, the English is still very similar. We have always had very close ties to Britain and this could explain how our English is still very similar, there are many reasons that English between the two countries should not be so similar. In the readings it was very evident that language is very susceptible to change in vocabulary and use. With the many influx of immigrants to the United States over the past three-hundred years it is surprising of how little of an impact it has had on our English. Britain also has a very large immigrant population, especially from India, and yet their language remains very similar to ours. There is also a very large ocean in between the two countries. It is not as if we share borders, and that is why we share a language. Communication has made it very easy for language to stay consistent today. But right after this country was founded and many of the strong ties were cut from Britain communication was very difficult. It was not until much more recently that we could have open communication with all other English speaking countries.

English has become a very popular language around the world. It is regarded in one of the readings as the language of scholars. This means that is becoming more widely spoken than ever. This should lead to increase influence around the world. This influence might morph English into a language that someday would be recognizable, but somehow for now it is a constant. It may have to do with the written word. No matter how we speak, when we are writing formal documents we go back to what is regarded as proper English. This may be the one thing that keeps English constant through out this fast paced, changing world.