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GO Unit 2 Quiz Study Guide
Unit 2 Study Guide
(32 Points)
20 Multiple Choice Questions
4 Short Answers
Terms to know:
Be able to define terms and give an example. For origins of English, know the chronological order as well as the
contributions made to English at that time. For dialects, be able to identify different elements of the dialect as a
pronunciation or vocabulary change, as well as general info (r-lessness in New England/Boston Urban for example).
cognate

having the same linguistic derivation as another; from the same
el parque
brunette
Freund
loanword
 a word adopted from a foreign language with little or no
rodeo
motif
Angst
original word or root
modification
Origins of the English Language
- Anglo Saxons
o Romans departed England in 410 AD
o Germanic tribes (Angles, Saxons, and Jutes) began arriving in 450 AD.
o Anglo-saxon vocabulary was quickly adopted by the English due to its practicality
o Most words were limited to two syllables
o Vocabulary related to the human body, familial relationships, farming, weather, and common
activities such as cooking, sewing, hunting and carpentry
o Christian missionaries arrived in 597 AD.
o Latin began to be integrated into the English languages based on the Christian languages.
o Vikings arrived in 800 AD contributing over 2000 phrases to the English language.
o Mostly contributing action words.
- the Norman conquest
o William the Conqueror
o Hailed from France
o Was the only son of the unmarried Duke of Normandy
o Arrived to England in 1066 AD
o French became the language of the aristocracy and royal court.
o Words like judge, jury, evidence, and justice were all contributed to English from French
o The terms beef, mutton, and pork demonstrate the use of French by the aristocracy
o French contributed over 10,000 words and phrases to the English language.
o English regained power after the 100 years war.
- Shakespeare’s English
o William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616) came to the scene in Stratford, England.
o He contributed over 2000 phrases and words to the English language through his contributions to
literature.
o Eyeball, puppy dog, lackluster, besmirch
o Flesh and blood, house and home, green-eyed monster, and more!
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GO Unit 2 Quiz Study Guide
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o Helped English to be seen as an expressive and beautiful language.
The King James Bible
o 1611
o A new translation of the Bible was mandated by King James
o The translation allowed all members of English society to read and interpret the bible on their own
without the need for clergy.
o Numerous phrases and metaphor were contributed via the King James translation. (roughly 257
examples)
o “Wolf in sheep’s clothing.”
o “A leopard cannot change its spots.”
o At this time English was in a fluid state and both this translation and Shakespeare were able to make
large contributions to the language.
English and Science
o Scientists began to appear over England in the 17th century.
o Isaac Newton, Robert Hooke, Robert Boyle, and many more
o 1660 – the Royal academy of science was formed in England.
o English scientists originally conducted business in Latin until realizing that the English language was
capable of describing their discoveries
o Words were constantly being created to describe new discoveries (gravity, acid, pendulum)
o Many human body words were also added at this time.
English and Empire
o 1583 – 1914 the British Empire expanded around the globe contributing its language as well as
adopting new words.
o The Caribbean, India, New Zealand, Australia, and Africa all contributed multiple words to the
English language.
o 400 million people were under the English realm.
The Age of the Dictionary
o Lexicographers wanted to outline and standardize the English language.
o Dr. Johnson completed the first noted comprehensible dictionary in 1755.
o It took him 9 years to complete.
o Over 42,000 entries
o Standardized spelling
o 1857 began the Oxford English Dictionary and was finally completed in 1928.
o It continues to be adapted today.
percriptivism
 Ask the question – “What should English be like?”
 Tradition of classical grammars and language preservation
descriptivism
 “What is English like?”
 Focus is on how to describe a language based on its current use.
standard English
dialect
 a variety of a language spoken by members of a particular group. The term does not have any positive or
negative connotations.
accent

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GO Unit 2 Quiz Study Guide
a distinctive mode of pronunciation of a language, especially one associated with a particular nation, locality, or
social class.
Various regional dialects
- New England/Boston Urban
o Spoken in Boston, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Eastern Conneticut
o R-lessness (drops the R sound after a vowel in a sentence)
o Closely tied to British English
- Appalachian
o Border of North Carolina, Eastern TN
o Heavy Scottish influences
o thrives/grows due to isolated topographical regions
- Southern (Gulf and Louisiana)
o French influences as well as British influences in pronunciation
o Spoken throughout eastern Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama
o Characterized as having a drawl and slower cadence
- Midwestern (Upper and Mid)
o Scandinavian influences
o Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio,
South Dakota and Wisconsin.
o known for an a – e vowel shift (“bag” pronounced like “beg”)
- Gullah
o East coast in the Carolinas
o Often considered a creole
o Mixing of English and West/central African languages
- Rocky Mountain
o Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada, Colorado, Utah
o Native American, Coal miners from England
- Pawpaw
o French influence from miners in Missouri and some of the Midwest
o Disappearing rapidly
o Speak a form of French
- Pennsylvania Dutch
o Spoken in Eastern PA
o Frequently spoken by the Amish and old Mennonites
o Often an English pronunciation of a German word
- Pittsburghese
o Spoken in Western PA
o Unique vocabulary and pronunciation differences
o Similar to Appalachian
vocabulary difference
 A non-standard English word that is used in the dialect.
thorns - jaggers
eye-dialect
 is the use of nonstandard spelling for speech to draw attention to an ironically standard pronunciation.
dogs - dogz
pronunciation difference
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GO Unit 2 Quiz Study Guide

Standard English words are spelled the same, but pronounced differently
downtown
- dahntahn
Potential Short Answer Questions:

Describe major cultural/exterior influences on the development of American Engilsh.
 A exemplary answer would include information listed from the terms above on the origins of English.

How did French influence the English language? How did the official status of French in England change the way we
speak today? Give a specific example.
 See the notes on the Norman conquest above
 Beef and cow – Beef is a French word used by the aristocracy, Cow is a Anglo-Saxon word used by the
farmers of the animals

Do you agree more with prescriptivism or descriptivism? Give two positives and two negatives for each school of
thought and state your opinion.
 An exemplary answer will define the terms (seem list above)
 Positives for prescriptivism – keeping our language alive, depth of expression, ability to understand one
another
 Negatives for prescriptivism – doesn’t allow new words in the language, doesn’t allow for regional
expression, requires a certain level of education
 Positives for descriptivism – allows new words in the language, more comfortable tone, easier to
express oneself
 Negatives for descriptivism – doesn’t insure the lasting of the language and mutual intelligence
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