ENGLISH 121 “An English Speaking World” 09/06/05 Topics: --Number of English speakers --Perception of Dialect Types --Spread of English.

ENGLISH 121ENGLISH 121“An English Speaking “An English Speaking

World”World”09/06/0509/06/05

Topics:Topics:--Number of English speakers--Number of English speakers--Perception of Dialect Types--Perception of Dialect Types--Spread of English--Spread of English

Distribution of languages in the Distribution of languages in the world (6,912 living languages )world (6,912 living languages )

World and Country Population World and Country Population (July 2005 est.)(July 2005 est.)

WorldWorld 6,446,131,400 6,446,131,400

Top 15 Countries:Top 15 Countries:1.1. ChinaChina 1,306,313,812 1,306,313,812 2.2. IIndiandia 1,080,264,388 1,080,264,388 3.3. European UnionEuropean Union 456,953,258 456,953,2584.4. United StatesUnited States 295,734,134 295,734,134 5.5. IndonesiaIndonesia 241,973,879 241,973,879 6.6. BrazilBrazil 186,112,794 186,112,794 7.7. PakistanPakistan 162,419,946 162,419,946 8.8. BangladeshBangladesh 144,319,628 144,319,628 9.9. RussiaRussia 143,420,309 143,420,309 10.10. NigeriaNigeria 128,765,768 128,765,768 11.11. JapanJapan 127,417,244 127,417,24412.12. MexicoMexico 106,202,903 106,202,903 13.13. PhilippinesPhilippines 87,857,473 87,857,473 14.14. VietnamVietnam 83,535,576 83,535,57615.15. GermanyGermany 82,431,390 82,431,390 http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/rankorder/2119rank.htmlhttp://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html

The Ten Most Common The Ten Most Common Languages in the World Languages in the World ((Ethnologue Volume Ethnologue Volume

I: Languages of the WorldI: Languages of the World, 14th ed. (2000).), 14th ed. (2000).) 1.1. Mandarin Chinese 874,000,000Mandarin Chinese 874,000,0002.2. Hindi (India) 366,000,000Hindi (India) 366,000,0003.3. English 341,000,000English 341,000,0004.4. Spanish 322-358,000,000Spanish 322-358,000,0005.5. Bengali (India and Bangladesh)   Bengali (India and Bangladesh)  

207,000,000207,000,0006.6. Portuguese 176,000,000Portuguese 176,000,0007.7. Russian   167,000,000Russian   167,000,0008.8. Japanese125,000,000Japanese125,000,0009.9. German (standard) 100,000,000German (standard) 100,000,00010.10. Korean  78,000,000Korean  78,000,000

Countries in Which English IsCountries in Which English Isan Official Language (red areas) an Official Language (red areas)

Distribution of native English Distribution of native English speakers by region (1997) speakers by region (1997)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Language

The number of mother-tongue English speakers in the world The number of mother-tongue English speakers in the world

326,652,000. 67% of these live in the United States.326,652,000. 67% of these live in the United States.

Facts of English Facts of English ((Ethnologue Volume I: Languages of the WorldEthnologue Volume I: Languages of the World, 14th ed. (2000).), 14th ed. (2000).)

► English is far more world wide in its distribution English is far more world wide in its distribution than all other spoken languages.than all other spoken languages.

► It is an official language in 52 countries. It is an official language in 52 countries. ► 1/4 to 1/3 of the people in the world understand 1/4 to 1/3 of the people in the world understand

and speak English to some degree. and speak English to some degree. ► English is the dominant language in electronic English is the dominant language in electronic

communication.  About 75% of the world's mail, communication.  About 75% of the world's mail, telexes, and cables are in English.telexes, and cables are in English.

► Approximately 60% of the world's radio programs Approximately 60% of the world's radio programs are in English.  are in English. 

► About 90% of all Internet traffic is in English.  About 90% of all Internet traffic is in English. 

Who uses English?Who uses English?

►First Language UsersFirst Language Users►Second language usersSecond language users►Foreign language usersForeign language users►Internet usersInternet users

1.9 billion speakers (including nearly 1.9 billion speakers (including nearly 350 million native speakers) 350 million native speakers)

Who speaks the best English?Who speaks the best English?

The Queen's English Test The Queen's English Test

1.Which is the correct spelling?1.Which is the correct spelling?a. Coleura. Coleurb. Coulorb. Coulorc. Colorc. Colord. Colourd. Colour

2.Which is the correct spelling?2.Which is the correct spelling?a. Realizea. Realizeb. Realyseb. Realysec. Realicec. Realiced. Realised. Realise

3. The standard abbreviation for 'Mathematics' 3. The standard abbreviation for 'Mathematics' is...is...a. Matha. Mathb. Mathsb. Mathsc. Math'sc. Math'sd. Mathesd. Mathes

4. If a person breaks into your house and 4. If a person breaks into your house and steals from you, you have been...steals from you, you have been...a. Burgleda. Burgledb. Burgaledb. Burgaledc. Burglarizedc. Burglarizedd. Burglared d. Burglared

5. The chemical symbol "Al" refers to which element?5. The chemical symbol "Al" refers to which element?a. Astatinea. Astatineb. Aluminumb. Aluminumc. Arsenicc. Arsenicd. Aluminiumd. Aluminium

6. A car runs on...6. A car runs on...a. Gasolinea. Gasolineb. Oilb. Oilc. Petrolc. Petrold. Kerosened. Kerosene

AnswersAnswers

1.1. bb

2.2. dd

3.3. bb

4.4. aa

5.5. dd

6.6. cc

CompareCompare

A. “a little bit of bread with a bit of A. “a little bit of bread with a bit of butter on it”butter on it”

B. "a li'le bi' of breab wiv a bi' of bu'er B. "a li'le bi' of breab wiv a bi' of bu'er on i' on i'

►What qualities would you associate What qualities would you associate with A and B?with A and B?

What does this tell you?What does this tell you?

English Education Act of 1870 and English Education Act of 1870 and dialect leveling from above.dialect leveling from above.

Receive Pronunciation (RP) associated Receive Pronunciation (RP) associated with money, power, and educationwith money, power, and education

BBC News Story BBC News Story Wednesday, 20 December, Wednesday, 20 December,

20002000 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/1080228.stmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/1080228.stm

► The researchers compared recordings from the 1950s The researchers compared recordings from the 1950s and the 1980s with the standard accent of southern and the 1980s with the standard accent of southern Britain, as spoken by female BBC broadcasters. Britain, as spoken by female BBC broadcasters.

► Writing in the scientific journal Nature, the team Writing in the scientific journal Nature, the team stated that the Queen's pronunciation of vowel stated that the Queen's pronunciation of vowel sounds has slowly shifted over the years "towards sounds has slowly shifted over the years "towards one that is characteristic of speakers who are one that is characteristic of speakers who are younger and/or lower in the social hierarchy". younger and/or lower in the social hierarchy".

► In the Queen's Christmas broadcasts of the 1950s, for In the Queen's Christmas broadcasts of the 1950s, for example, the word "had" almost rhymed with "bed". example, the word "had" almost rhymed with "bed". But 30 years later "had" migrated halfway to the But 30 years later "had" migrated halfway to the standard southern English pronunciation, which standard southern English pronunciation, which rhymes with "bad". rhymes with "bad".

A shift in prestigious dialects in A shift in prestigious dialects in Britain Britain

A change from “below”A change from “below”

What about the U.S.A.?What about the U.S.A.?

►What do you consider “Standard What do you consider “Standard English”?English”?

►Who speaks it?Who speaks it?

►Do you want to speak it? Always?Do you want to speak it? Always?

►Has Standard English changed over time?Has Standard English changed over time?

Dialects in the U.S.A.Dialects in the U.S.A.

Perceptions of Dialects in the Perceptions of Dialects in the U.S.A. U.S.A.

Hand-drawn map of a Michigan respondent’s idea of the dialect areas of Hand-drawn map of a Michigan respondent’s idea of the dialect areas of

the USthe US

Perceptions of dialects (cont’d.)Perceptions of dialects (cont’d.)Mean scores of the rankings for ‘pleasant English’ by Auburn University Mean scores of the rankings for ‘pleasant English’ by Auburn University (Alabama) students (‘1’ = ‘least pleasant English’; ‘10’ = most pleasant (Alabama) students (‘1’ = ‘least pleasant English’; ‘10’ = most pleasant

English)English)

Review: Examples of Dialect Review: Examples of Dialect change/perceptionchange/perception

1. Concept of “prestige” (overt; covert) 1. Concept of “prestige” (overt; covert) a. Change from “above”a. Change from “above”b. Change from “below”b. Change from “below”

2. Perceptions often based on where you live2. Perceptions often based on where you live

3. People associate personality traits based 3. People associate personality traits based on speech. Quite often, these perceptions on speech. Quite often, these perceptions are wrong.are wrong.

Or…more seriously…Or…more seriously…

Thomas Purnell, William Idsardi and John Thomas Purnell, William Idsardi and John Baugh. 1999. Baugh. 1999.

Perceptual and Phonetic Experiments on Perceptual and Phonetic Experiments on American English Dialect Identification. American English Dialect Identification. Journal of Social PsychologyJournal of Social Psychology. .

http://www.stanford.edu/~jbaugh/baugh.ffthttp://www.stanford.edu/~jbaugh/baugh.fft

Global EnglishGlobal English

English in other languagesEnglish in other languages

JapaneseJapanesefaitingu supirittofaitingu supiritto ( (fighting spirit)fighting spirit) guddobaiguddobai ( (goodbye)goodbye)

EcuadorEcuadortravoltarse (to be a swinger)travoltarse (to be a swinger)

Any other examples?Any other examples?

Other words in EnglishOther words in English

Algonquian, including Abnaki, Cree, Algonquian, including Abnaki, Cree, Micmac, Ojibway, Narragansett, Micmac, Ojibway, Narragansett, Shawnee:Shawnee:

caucus, chipmunk, hickory, manitou, caucus, chipmunk, hickory, manitou, moccasin, moose, muskrat, opossum, moccasin, moose, muskrat, opossum, papoose, pecan, persimmon, pow-wow, papoose, pecan, persimmon, pow-wow, rac(c)oon, skunk, squash, squaw, succotash, rac(c)oon, skunk, squash, squaw, succotash, toboggan, tomahawk, wigwam, woodchuck.toboggan, tomahawk, wigwam, woodchuck.

Arabic, through European languages: Arabic, through European languages:

admiral, albatross, alchemy, alcohol, admiral, albatross, alchemy, alcohol, alcove, algebra, almanac, apricot, alcove, algebra, almanac, apricot, arsenal, assassin, aubergine, azimuth, arsenal, assassin, aubergine, azimuth, bedouin, cipher, gazelle, genie, ghoul, bedouin, cipher, gazelle, genie, ghoul, giraffe, hazard, jasmine, lemon, giraffe, hazard, jasmine, lemon, magazine, mohair, monsoon, saffron, magazine, mohair, monsoon, saffron, sash, scarlet, sequin, sherbet, sofa, sash, scarlet, sequin, sherbet, sofa, syrup, talisman, tariff, zerosyrup, talisman, tariff, zero

ThursdayThursday

►Homework #1 Due—Questions?Homework #1 Due—Questions?►First movieFirst movie►Hand out paper responseHand out paper response

►Any questions?Any questions?