Abstract
Abstract
This brief section introduces readers to the main themes of the book. It proposes that American English should be called American Englishes because so many varieties exist side by side. At the same time, all Americans sound distinctively different from speakers of English in other places. It outlines how the book will explain the trajectory of American English from its origins in British English to its current state, highlighting examples of early Americanisms, relevant historical events, and Americans’ attitudes toward their own speech. It also gives necessary background by explaining the basics of language change and variation.
Publisher
Oxford University PressNew York
Reference215 articles.
1. The Preterite and Past Participle of Strong Verbs in Seventeenth-Century American English.;American Speech,1957
2. Verbal Endings in Seventeenth-Century America English.;American Speech,1958