The Ages of English
By David Crystal
Last updated 2011-02-17
The Colonisation of the New World 1600s
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Let us then seize the present moment, and establish a national language, as well as a national government. Let us remember that there is a certain respect due to the opinions of other nations. As an independent people, our reputation abroad demands that, in all things, we should be federal; be national; for if we do not respect ourselves, we may be assured that other nations will not respect us. In short, let it be impressed upon the mind of every American, that to neglect the means of commanding respect abroad, is treason against the character and dignity of a brave independent people.
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- The Colonisation of the New World 1600s
- In the late 16th century, Walter Raleigh's expeditions lead to the first settlement in America, at Chesapeake Bay in 1607. In 1620, the Mayflower arrives in Cape Cod, and by 1640 around 25,000 people have settled there. By 1700, inhabitants in the region number more than a quarter of a million.
The Elizabethan age witnesses the rapid geographical expansion of English in the New World, with colonists arriving in droves. They come principally from the Midlands and the North (settling in Pennsylvania) or are Irish or Scots Irish (initially in Philadelphia, but moving swiftly inland). Immigrants from across the world rapidly follow, flooding the language with new words from a variety of nationalities.
- Language development
- In 1604, Robert Cawdrey's 'A Table Alphabeticall', listing the meanings of over 2,500 'hard words', is published. It is the first English dictionary.
Across the Atlantic, the deluge of settlers from all over the British Isles influences the development of different American accents. The early settlers come from the west of England; the 'Pilgrim Fathers' from Norfolk. Even to this day, remnants of these accents can be discerned in these particular areas.
Many so-called 'Americanisms' today are actually remnants of Middle English that crossed the Atlantic at this time: for example, 'I guess' for 'I think', 'gotten' for 'got', 'mad' for 'angry', 'fall' for 'autumn'.
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