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The Industrial Revolution 1760 - 1830

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• The Industrial Revolution and beyond
• During the 19th century, Britain becomes the world's leading industrial and trading nation, and the period is one of momentous change and upheaval.

The consequences of this ‘Industrial Revolution’ lead to major developments in the sciences and technology, spearheaded by a generation of British entrepreneurs and inventors.

In Africa and South East Asia, colonial expansion continues unabated. Sierra Leone, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Gold Coast (Ghana) are among the many places added to the long list of British acquisitions.

The 20th century sees the British Empire slowly fall apart at the seams, but several major developments ensure its language nonetheless thrives.

The British Broadcasting Corporation is established in 1922, broadcasting first to the Empire, then the Commonwealth from 1931.

With the days of Empire a distant memory, the electronic revolution begins in 1972 with the sending of the first network email. The creation of the world wide web in 1991 diversifies communication – much of it in English - on an unprecedented scale.

• Language development
• There is a frantic need for words and terms to describe the latest developments and concepts in science and technology.

A project is begun in 1884 to compile a 'New English Dictionary', which will eventually become the Oxford English Dictionary. In America, the need to define the identity of the new nation results in Noah Webster's 'American Dictionary of the English Language' appearing in 1828.

The 'novel' becomes the literary genre of the age, exemplified by the works of Dickens, Scott and Twain. These books introduce a wider range of spoken and non-standard English into written expression.

In the first half of the 20th century, the 'received pronunciation' of English is consolidated through public broadcasting, with the plummy ‘´óÏó´«Ã½ accent’ perceived by many as the ‘proper’ way to speak.

In the twentieth century, English emerges as a world language, universally embraced across the globe. Hybrid, local variations of the language appear, such as Singlish (Singaporean English), as recently independent nations promote their identity through local varieties of the language. There are also moves to standardise English used in key areas of communication such as air traffic control (Air Speak) and maritime travel (Sea Speak).

The advent of the Internet massively increases exposure to a wide range of English styles and linguistic experimentation. New technology results in idiosyncratic varieties of English, such as the ‘text speak’ invented by mobile phone users communicating via SMS.