Language Change

Americanisms
What am I learning today?
• Know about how Americanisms have affected the English
language
• Understand attitudes towards Americanisms
• Produce own opinion article about use of Americanisms in
England
How can I succeed today?
C – Show detailed knowledge of linguistic ideas, concepts and
research
B – Identify and comment on different views of linguistic
issues
A – Evaluate and challenge views of linguistic issues
British vs American English
Can you think of examples of how British English is different from
American English?

C – Show detailed knowledge of linguistic ideas, concepts and research

B – Identify and comment on different views of linguistic issues
A – Evaluate and challenge views of linguistic issues
British vs American English
Why do you think people object to the use of American English in
Britain?

C – Show detailed knowledge of linguistic ideas, concepts and research

B – Identify and comment on different views of linguistic issues
A – Evaluate and challenge views of linguistic issues
 Americanize https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08qxd0
2
Note down what these people say about examples of
Americanisms and attitudes towards them:

Michael
Prophet
(Editor of
Oxford
John Dr Bernard Dr Lynn English Marty
Humphrys Lamb Murphy Dictionary) Wild
(Radio 4 (Queen’s (Sussex (Rock
Susie Dent presenter) English and Roll
(Countdown) University)
Society) singer)

Dr Nick Walton Jonathan Green

(Shakespeare Tamsin Greig (Slang Dictionary
Birthplace Trust) (Actress) Author)
 Should we embrace the use of
Americansims?

Yes No

A/A* - evaluate and challenge

B - identify and comment
C - show detailed knowledge
British vs American English
• The first wave of English speaking settlers arrived in America in the
17th century, followed by further waves in the 18th and 19th centuries.
• The settlers spoke with many different regional accents and dialects,
which blended and merged together. Furthermore, the settlers came
into contact with the Native American people and later Spanish
speakers from Mexico, along with other colonising nations such as
Germany, France and Holland.
• Many words which we see as ‘American’ are words that were
borrowed from these languages, such as ‘racoon’ (Native
American),‘cookie’ (Dutch), kindergarten (German) and ranch
(Spanish)
• Other words actually come from Middle English or Early Modern
English but have fallen out of use in British English. Examples of these
include fall, faucet, diaper and candy.
C – Show detailed knowledge of linguistic ideas, concepts and research
B – Identify and comment on different views of linguistic issues
A – Evaluate and challenge views of linguistic issues
British vs American English
• Along with differences in vocabulary, there are differences in
spelling (orthography). Many of these date back to the first
American English dictionary, which was published in 1828 by
Noah Webster. At the time, a range of spellings were in use in
both countries, and Webster simply chose differently from the
compilers of dictionaries in Britain.
• American English tends to use adjectives as adverbs eg. ‘He ran
quick’ rather than ‘He ran quickly’. This is a feature which is
being adopted increasingly frequently in British English.

C – Show detailed knowledge of linguistic ideas, concepts and research

B – Identify and comment on different views of linguistic issues
A – Evaluate and challenge views of linguistic issues
Opinion Articles
• First person
• Use of anecdotes
• Clear position taken on the issue
• Some level of informality
• Use of counter-argument
• Use of persuasive techniques
• Several different clear points

C – Show detailed knowledge of linguistic ideas, concepts and research

B – Identify and comment on different views of linguistic issues
A – Evaluate and challenge views of linguistic issues
British vs American English
Read Matthew Engels article ‘Viewpoint: Why do some
Americanisms irritate people?’

• What reasons does Engels give for people disliking

Americanisms?

• How does he use language to make his point?

C – Show detailed knowledge of linguistic ideas, concepts and research

B – Identify and comment on different views of linguistic issues
A – Evaluate and challenge views of linguistic issues
British vs American English
Do you think the use of Americanisms in English is a problem?

Write an opinion article giving your own viewpoint on the issue.

What AO2 knowledge are you going to bring in?

• Origins of English language and of American English
• John Cheke – inkhorn controversy
• Prescriptivism/ Descriptivism
• Quotes from ‘Americanize’

C – Show detailed knowledge of linguistic ideas, concepts and research

B – Identify and comment on different views of linguistic issues
A – Evaluate and challenge views of linguistic issues