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What was the primary reason for the First Diaspora of English?
The Second Diaspora of English primarily occurred due to colonization in the 18th and 19th centuries.
True
Name one region where the First Diaspora of English took place.
USA, New Zealand, or Australia
The four stages of the development of English include Old English, Middle English, Early Modern English, and _______.
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In which period did the impact of Old French on the English language become evident?
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The English language was proposed to be used as a medium of education in India during the 18th century.
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List one characteristic of the Second Diaspora of English.
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Match the following stages of English with their time periods:
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What event marked the beginning of the Middle English period?
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Middle English was characterized by the dominance of the French language in England.
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Name one significant contribution of the Middle English period.
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The Early Modern English stage began in the late _____ century.
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Match the following events or features with their corresponding periods:
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Which invention had a profound impact on the spread of Early Modern English?
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The Great Vowel Shift started in the Early Modern English period.
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What is the significance of English serving as a lingua franca in the 21st century?
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Which of the following influences contributed to the divergence of American English from British English?
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African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and White American Vernacular English (WAVE) are both considered standard forms of American English.
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Name the two competing theories that explain the variations in American English.
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The province of Quebec features a sizable minority of _____ speakers.
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Match the regions with their linguistic characteristics:
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What was a characteristic of social dialects in the development of American English?
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The primary linguistic influence in Canada is from the indigenous languages.
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American English often integrates elements from the languages of _____ and European immigrants.
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What year was New Zealand established as a British colony in its own right?
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The majority of New Zealand settlers were speakers of the Maori language.
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Which language was designated as an associate official language in India?
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In Pakistan, English is used as an official language alongside ______.
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Match the countries with their corresponding details about English language usage:
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Which language is spoken by approximately 300,000 people in New Zealand?
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English was first taught in schools controlled by Christian missionaries in India.
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What is the official language of Nepal?
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Which of the following countries has English as an official language alongside Mandarin and Tamil?
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English is no longer used in the media in Malaysia.
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What is the status of English in Hong Kong?
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In the Pacific, some island territories like Fiji and Solomon Islands speak English as a ______ language.
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When did the Philippines declare independence from the United States?
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Match the following regions with their English language status:
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English is expected to lose its relevance in the corporate community of Hong Kong.
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What type of English is spoken in Papua New Guinea?
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Study Notes
The Two Diasporas of English
- First Diaspora: Approximately 25,000 people from South and East England, Scotland, and Ireland migrated to North America, New Zealand, and Australia. This dispersal led to new varieties of English as a native tongue.
- Second Diaspora: Attributed to the colonization of Asia and Africa in the 18th and 19th centuries. English became prominent in Colonial Africa due to the slave trade, contributing to the development of pidgin and creole languages. The spread of English to South Asia, including India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bhutan, occurred in the latter half of the 18th century. This expansion led to the formation of "New Englishes" or "World Englishes".
Stages of English Development
- Old English (450-1150 AD): Earliest form of English, influenced by West Germanic people, specifically the Jutes, Angles, and Saxons, who conquered Great Britain.
- Middle English (1150-1450 AD): Marked by the influence of Old French due to the Norman conquest of England in 1066. This period is characterized by significant variation in language use.
- Early Modern English (1450-1750 AD): Coincided with the invention of the printing press by Johann Gutenberg in London. This era saw the publication of the King James Bible, major works by William Shakespeare, the beginning of the Great Vowel Shift, and the emergence of a standard form of English.
- Late Modern English (1750 onwards): Driven by the global expansion of English, particularly through the influence of the British Empire and the United States. English became the language of colonial expansion, the Industrial Revolution, and international discourse. Modern English grammar exhibits significant evolution from Old English, demonstrating changes in inflectional morphology, word order, and use of auxiliary verbs.
Influence on American English
- American English diverged from British English due to factors including: a decline in respect for English culture, the standardization of informal speech, the leveling of social dialects, and the integration of foreign elements from immigrants.
Regional Variations in English
- Africa: The residents of many small islands in the Atlantic and Caribbean, often of African descent, adopted English as their language due to the slave trade.
- Canada: A significant influx of loyalists from the United States and the British Isles after the American Revolution led to a bilingual society with English and French as official languages.
- Australia: British colonization in 1770, with limited Asian immigration until after World War II, fostered a predominantly English-speaking population.
- New Zealand: British settlement in 1792 resulted in a majority English-speaking population alongside Maori language, which is officially used in courts.
English in Second-Language Countries
- South Asia: The East India Company's control of India led to the spread of English, particularly in Christian missionary schools. Hindi is the official language of India while English serves as an associate official language.
- Pakistan: English is an official language, alongside Urdu.
- Bangladesh: Although not an official language, English continues to play a significant role.
- Sri Lanka: Established as a British colony in 1802, English was initially taught in Christian missionary schools. The Sri Lankan government promotes English use, especially in education.
- Nepal, Maldives, and Bhutan: English holds a prominent place in these countries as a foreign language.
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Southeast Asia: Brunei, Malaysia, and Singapore, former British colonies, have varying levels of English usage:
- Brunei: English and Malay are official languages.
- Malaysia: English is required in schools and used in media and higher education, but not an official language.
- Singapore: English, along with Mandarin Chinese, Malay, and Tamil, is an official language.
- Philippines: American colonization led to English being an official language alongside Filipino, though its prominence is decreasing.
- Hong Kong: English is an official language alongside Cantonese but spoken by a small percentage of the population. Its status as a global trading hub is expected to ensure its continued use in business.
- Pacific Islands: Many islands, previously British, Australian, or New Zealand colonies, adopted English as a second language. This includes, among others, Cook Islands, Fiji, Guam, Papua New Guinea, and Solomon Islands.
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Description
Explore the two major diasporas of the English language, tracing its migration from England to various parts of the world and the emergence of New Englishes. This quiz covers the stages of English development from Old English to Middle English, examining the influences that shaped the language over centuries.
