A Linguistic Empire

There is a very close relationship between language and power. For one thing, there is power in knowledge. Therefore, if you speak a lingua franca and others don't, you are more powerful. But, on the other hand, what if you speak a lingua franca and a rare language? Then, you have a huge head start. The more languages you know the easier it is for you to build bridges amongst different cultures. I'm not sure if languages are still as valuable. English is so strong that most people are able to communicate with you if you can't talk to them. So when one language is stronger, it pulls the other one to lose power. 

Economy is also a very important reason to meet halfway. Some were eager to sell, thus they learned English. Others would wait for the merchant to learn their language. It's also a matter of pride. Like Robert Burns, many don't want to treat their language as less important. This happened in India, where the natives weren't eager to learn English. I believe the problem was that the language was imposed, most people didn't want to replace one of India's 200 languages with English. One gets attached to what one cherishes. In this case, people care about maintaining their culture. The host would agree with John Locke, who also thought less misunderstandings would lead to peace, but India's population has something else to say about that. 

Language can also become an empire. Just like Rome, English is close to controlling everything it touches, but will it fall? We discussed it in class, but I'm certain the word "empire" has a negative connotation. Or that's how I think about it.

A No-Talk Empire

A. The word "assassin" comes from the Arabic word hashishin from 1122.

B. The English lexicon is a hard number to find. On this source I found that Shakespeare wrote with about 884,647 words (including proper names) , even though there is a doubt whether a word's derivatives count as words or all are categorized as one word. Our famous "David Crystal, in the Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language, suggests that there must be at least a million words in the language. Tom McArthur, in the Oxford Companion to the English Language, comes up with a similar figure." 

C. I recognize most prefixes and suffixes. Prefixes like mono- and penta- I'm very familiar with because of Chemistry. Some are very common, like non- or dis-. In terms of the suffixes, most were easily recognizable such as -ology or -ography.

D. Neologistic borrowings appear especially in the 18th and 19th centuries because of the British Empire and its expansion into India, South Africa, United States, etc. As the British had never been exposed to certain activities or objects they found no remedy other than adopt these words.

E. As we discussed in class, the empire will always impose a language. This language won't just disappear without putting up a fight (or creating new dialects, neologistic borrowings, etc.) In this case, with language lies power. 

F. I believe the 21st century empire is different from the 18th century one, but through certain means English still imposes itself. A clear example is technology and how it controls most aspects of daily life.  By being in English, one must adhere to these changes and try to understand. This is a modern empire. 

THE Adventure of English

Everybody can comment on any topic and his opinion will probably never reach people outside his circle of friends, but when a renamed person gives their thoughts, well, it's another story.

English philosopher John Locke thought there was a need to set a definition for each word. Oh, he would have loved dictionaries! He once said that “if the definition of words could be agreed and misunderstandings avoided, peace would follow.” (The Adventure of English, 2:25). I agree that words must have a set of definitions so there are no confusions but Locke says after this "peace would follow"? OR NOT! I've heard about two fights between people I know that have begun with a linguistic misunderstanding. I bet he meant some ridiculous war or something. Even the host's mocking tone supports my arguments. 

Funny how Latin became a benchwarmer as English slowly became a star. In his book Opticks, Newton introduced new words and also modified the meaning of some. I believe English wouldn't have become as powerful a language had people not invented new words to help them say whatever they needed to. Newton and other writers who did this benefitted English as they made it a more complete language.

Hahaha, The Spectator. Maybe it's the same franchise as El Espectador. Back to the adventure of English (yay!), I think Swift would disagree with my thoughts that people who created words made English "a more complete language." Swift disliked vulgar liberties, or modifications people would do on English as they spoke. Daniel Solano agrees "with Swift in the sense that English should be standardized and should have clear gramatical rules. This is essential for its well-functioning." All I can say is I disagree entirely. So you want to control how the common people  speak? You might start considering THEY AIN'T GOT NO EDUCATION. How are they supposed to learn? Then consider controlling every dialect and convincing any English-speaking person that, let's say, Queen's English is the correct way to speak. Good luck with that. Also start shutting down frontiers with other countries and cities because this would cause dialects to breakthrough. Aha, that's what I thought. I bid you and your academy luck Swift.

Samuel Johnson and Locke would have been the best of friends. Johnson created one of the most celebrated dictionary, avoiding words that he didn't understand or that were related to science. There might have been a discussion had he met Newton. 

Johnson's dictionary showed class, just like Jane Austen thought one could judge social status with word choice and syntax. She didn't use any "words of the street." (33:25) This is still a common thought. When somebody uses a word known to be of a lower class, other's notice. This is a sad reality, but people like Robert Burns defend their language, not allowing others to make them feel inferior.

On the other hand, William Wordsworth wrote his poetry in simple language that would be understood by anybody. Even though he caused controversy, Wordsworth preferred that people read his poems without misunderstanding. Thomas Paine considered this accurate. He wrote Rights of Man in common English to "deliver precise thoughts," (28:44) and at the same time, embrace as many people as it was possible. Smart move by both men, addressing the masses.

Lastly, William Cobbet studies the language of these masses, or slang. It is rarely understood by outsiders but nowadays, most people speak with slang. TTYL, BRB, G2G.

On Wednesdays We Wear Pink

"Americans and Canadians haven't fought since the War of 1812." (7:25)

I've actually never heard of Canadians fighting. If countries were people, America would be the popular girl everyone wants to be but who engages fights with other girls who start becoming attractive. In Mean Girls, she's probably be Regina George with her murderous stares. Few mess with Regina George. 

Canada could be part of the hippie bunch who are awkward, think green, and love peace:

Funny how before I watched this documentary, I had never considered English had more types other than American and "British" English. I didn't even consider Australia or Canada not that I think about it. But I aye consider pirate English t' best o' these dialects. Reminds me o' SpongeBob. And these dialects are very similar to the way sailors spoke. Modern sailors probably changed the way they speak but still are fond of certain words.

The funny thing is, any phrase that survives these changing times is considered cliché. For example, an eager beaver? C´mon. Having a good business means you own a "gold mine." Takes me back to APUSH and the Gold Rush! Not that I am excited of reviewing these topics (I failed with a 2). I hadn't thought about the influences of Spanish on English. Cowboy words like rodeo, corral, and sombrero stand out. This connection also works the other way around. I always doubt whether its roundpoint or ronvoy. My doubt is 100% valid since few refer to this paved roundabout with its real name, glorieta. 

MacNeil, Robert, William Cran, and Robert McCrum. "Pioneers, O Pioneers!" The Story of English. BBC. 1986. Television. Transcript.

Don't Matter if You're Black or White

The Carolinas were actually some of the states with a largest slave population. Even if people attempted to stunt their cultural growth, there was still an exchange. Other than language, African culture is stronger than common white one, though they would never accept they received these influences.

And in terms of Mr. MurderingCow's question,

 you may understand them easily when the speak but go ahead and turn the volume down. Then you'll be in trouble. I once tried to read Uncle Tom's Cabin. I said tried because on page 37 I was already tired of having to read everything more than once. This is a random example I just found on page 43:

"My sakes alive, if it ain't Lizy! Get on your clothes old man, quick! - There's Old Bruno, too, a pawning' round: what on airth! I'm gwine to open the door."

If you didn't understand the first time, I'll tell you this. I bet half of the things we read today in class are in these sentences. Beecher Stone writes earth as airth. Then, spells gonna or going to as gwine. She writes like it would sound. I believe English shouldn't be like this. It reminds me of how Shakespeare used to write dialogue in a certain way depending on the character. For Aunt Chloe's master, Beecher Stone writes in the following way: "Poor fellow, poor boy! They have sold you! but your mother will save you yet!" Well, that's VERY different, is it not?

Another different thing is mass. Just like the documentary shows, preaching is very important for Black culture. So is music. I attended to gospel they took faith to a whole new level. It was all but monotonous. This is an example:

And a fun one if I will. Over and out.

MacNeil, Robert, William Cran, and Robert McCrum. "Black on White." The Story of English. BBC. 1986. Television. Transcript.

President's English

Of all the Scottish words the narrator mentioned, I've only heard "wee!" And about the old saying "Scotland was born fighting," I only get a mental image of Mel Gibson continously engaging battles.

There, now you get me. 

Back to both my previous blogs, there is a strong trend in the relationship between the way people speak and their status. Scots many times attempt to hide their accent to appear more classy. But as classy as any of their accents appear, if there were no subtitles I'd be utterly lost. Other than that, there's not much to say. The last twenty minutes all I've heard is a couple talk about their accent. It's gotten a little monotonous.

Another way language travels is music! I hadn't realized this, but we even have a tendency to quote artists and learn their words. I even find myself imitating Alejandro Sanz's Spanish or forcing myself to sound like Jorge Celedón as he plays vallenato.

Lastly, the data in the video has an issue.  Nowadays, the American population is about 20% white. This means the standard English will never stop changing. If people with all the heritage mentioned in the image speak English, they are prone to personalize it. Prescriptivists shall now face a huge challenge.

Ay aw th' scottish words th' narratur mentioned, i've only heard "wee!" an' abit th' auld sayin' "scotlain was born fightin'," Ah only gie a mental image ay mel gibson continoosly engagin' battles. thaur, noo ye gie me. back tae baith mah previoos blogs, thaur is a strang trend in th' relationship atween th' way fowk spick an' their status. scots mony times attempt tae hide their accent tae appear mair classy. but as classy as onie ay their accents appear, if thaur waur nae subtitles eh'd be utterly tint. other than 'at, there's nae much tae say. th' lest twintie minutes aw i've heard is a coople gab abit their accent. it's gotten a wee monotonoos. another way leid travels is graphite loons! Ah hadnae realized thes, but we e'en hae a tendency tae quote artists an' learn their words. Ah e'en fin' myself imitatin' alejandro sanz's spanish ur forcin' myself tae soond loch jorge celedón as he plays vallenatae. lastly, th' data in th' video has an issue. nowadays, th' american population is abit 20% white. thes means th' standard sassenach will ne'er gonnae-no changin'. if fowk wi' aw th' heritage mentioned in th' image spick sassenach, they ur prain tae personalize it. prescriptivists shaa noo coopon a huge challenge.

MacNeil, Robert, William Cran, and Robert McCrum. "The Guid Scots Tongue." The Story of English. BBC. 1986. Television. Transcript.

Sunday Funday

I'd say the title of the episode is very appropriate for the episode because of the word "muse." A muse is a source of inspiration and I sure bet Shakespeare had one. Every time I think about Shakespeare that word somehow comes to mind. It seems appropriate to mention Shakespeare since he invented many words and gave them a meaning. 

It's funny that people like Shakespeare used to make up words when today it's difficult to even think of a contraption that hasn't been created yet. Maybe the words that existed weren't enough for Shakespeare to express himself. He must have felt like a mute person whose sign language isn't enough. Like I previously stated, language shows social class and Shakespeare's was reflected in his vocabulary. He also wrote with words the characters should have used, were they alive. It's amazing to think "his plays have every kind of spoken English" considering he had very basic education. Now that I think about it, I'm thankful to have read some of his plays before. It's common knowledge.

It's funny to think that only in the United States there are many different types of English, some more Elizabethan than others. Was this because of the vast separation between settlements or the Indians colonized? Are there other reasons? I'd always wondered why different accents unravel and how children learn them. My mother explained what they hear is what they repeat, a pretty obvious answer. Also, self containment of territories causes language to avoid different changes. Just like Spain, where the mountains protected the language from imminent changes around it. 

The way people recreate Plymouth reminds me of Harry Potter World. There, people who are have an English accent act as students, making the attraction very similar to the movies. 

As to the vocabulary, I heard the narrator use the word vernacular. The meaning of this word is "the language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people in a particular country or region" or "spoken as one's mother tongue; not learned or imposed as a second language."

Lastly, the citation.

MacNeil, Robert, William Cran, and Robert McCrum. "The Mother Tongue." The Story of English. BBC. 1986. Television. Transcript.

The English Language as of Yesterday

The first thing I thought as I watched the video and the voiceover informed me that "the English language is infiltrating the Iron Curtain from Britain and the United States" (00:32) is that language has no barriers. If it ever had, they are lost forever because of technology. As the movie advances, the narrator actually mentions this. It´s funny that I write this towards the beginning of the video and the video actually emphasizes on this.

English is used by air controllers everyday. 75% of telegrams are (or were) sent in English. More than half of the world's newspapers are in English and it dominates the world's news casts. (03:35) Now that I think about it, it´s true that most movies and songs are in American English! An example of this is A*Teens, a Swedish pop music group (used to be my favorite) that produced all their songs in English even though Sweden's official language is, well, Swedish. I hope you get the point. Everything is in English.

Stop right there. Sometimes people don't want to lose their language so they just don't learn it. Or other times they create varieties of them because the idea of a right way of speaking English is very recent. Nowadays social status is shown in the way people speak the language and a language is like an idea, you can't stop it from spreading or changing. It is unreal to expect a change if one decides on it. Indians tried to make Hindi the official language and this created a confusion that has long-lasted. I met a girl who lived in India and told me the cultural shock was mostly because everyone spoke different languages and their English had a very perceptible accent. But still, most knew English, a language "indispensable for a career" and a synonym of a good education.

Close by, in Africa, more than a thousand languages are spoken. How can one communicate in a place with such variety? It is necessary to find a common denominator and in this case it would be English. I'm writing as I watch the video and it's quite a coincidence that the video mentions a lingua franca. It's not only uncomfortable but dangerous not to have a language in common with neighboring groups. Knowing languages gives you power. I've always thought that. This may be the reason why I've tried learning French other than English but "English is everybody's second language." That's a true statement, even for me. Yesterday I visited Fundacioón Hogar San Mauricio, where neglected children reside. The woman in charge told us it was necessary for her children to learn English because it was a very useful tool, especially for work and business. 

This will seem out of the blues but I have to cite the video.

Robert, McCrum, MacNiel Robert, and William Cran. "An English Speaking World."The Story of English. BBC, 1986. Television.