 What are the implications of relating a certain variety of American English to

Shakespeare or the English queen?

Worthy of admiration

As the English used by Shakespeare or by the royalty is considered to belong to the high
social class, to the people who are well-read, educated, that have good manners and power,
that certain variety of American English has more prestige, power and status over the other
varieties of American English.

Having said that, it may be implied that other varieties of American English are not highly
appreciated, they may be considered a “plebeian”. Having less education, manners.

Going further, I can relate this situation when one is learning a foreign language and when one
speaks using the Colombian accent is somehow discriminated or pointed because of the fact
of being “criollo” and not imitating the features that are more close to the standard.

 Why do you think English in London was more susceptible to changes during the last
couple of centuries than English in the United States?

I think that English in London was more susceptible to changes first since its origins it has
been evolving due to the contact of different empires. Secondly, in 18th century, Industrial
Revolution took place in England. And there was internal migration to London, as a result,
language varieties were put in contact and changes took places.

On the other hand, the English language in the United States was new. It was being acquired and
learned. So it didn’t suffer major changes in comparison with the one in London. However, I
consider that many varieties emerged such as the Africa-American, the Appalachian, Native-
American English, among others.