English
American pop culture LOVES these 10 accents
Play videovideo explaining how different accents are used to portray personae in American pop culture media
Grace and Frankie: Everything Sounds Better with an Accent
A clip from a TV show- comparing 'data' from Costco on toilet and variations of the word toilet (i.e. loo, sh*tter). Grace points out that sh*tter doesn't sound great, while her assistant points out that with an accent- it does! [Published on 02-27-2022]
Rep. John Lewis’ Speech at March on Washington 1963
Play videoA speech given by Rep. John Lewis at the March on Washington in 1963.
Culcha Candela- I like it
Play videoThis is a German band that sings in various codes, this song is an example of code switching between Spanish, German and English. [Published on 03-19-2015]
Why we say "OK"
Play video"How a cheesy joke from the 1830s became the most widely spoken word in the world." A short video about the origin of the word OK and how it rose in popularity.
How old English would have sounded like
Play videoA reconstruction of old English through a (fictional) interview with an anglo Saxon.
SODA / POP / COKE
This video is a nice, cute compilation of examples of linguistic variation across the US. Most of the examples are more semantic, simply having different names for things like "soda" or "sub" as we've seen in class. The different areas that are highlighted on the map are particularly drastic for some of them, like "in line" versus "on line," with "on line" only really being said around New York and in most of Colorado (outside Denver). These isolated instances make me wonder what drove the variation, especially when they aren't very populated areas. It would also be interesting to know how multidialectal individuals would respond to these questions.
The Anglish Moot
This fandom page is dedicated to the Anglish movement, a form of English linguistic purism. Followers of this movement speak English only using Germanic-based words, purposefully omitting words with Latin or Greek roots. They do this either because they think it's fun and historically interesting, because they think that's how the language was "meant" to be, or because they think it simplifies the language, therefore making it easier to speak. This is a really informative site, but can be kind of difficult to navigate due to the Anglish terms.
For a more concise but thorough explanation, I will also link the following YouTube video. Here he explains more of the linguistic aspects rather than the movement itself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIo-17SIkws
Additionally, here is a Reddit page devoted to Anglish and opinions about it (but not written in Anglish, so easier to read): https://www.reddit.com/r/anglish/
I found this fascinating because this is an idea that has allegedly been about since the 1100s. [Published on 03-10-2019]
South Africa's University of Pretoria dropped Afrikaans in favor of English as its official language
South Africa's University of Pretoria dropped Afrikaans in favor of English as its official language. A majority of the classes have been taught in Afrikaans, making it very difficult for students, specifically black students, who do not speak the language, to learn and succeed at the university. As a result, all classes will now be taught in English. The hope is that more students will feel welcomed and supported at one of the nations top Universities.
For Me Formidable, French & English code-switching
Play videoThis song utilizes code-switching between English and French to make use of puns and access prestige in both languages. It questions constraint models with its intra-sentential switches that produce ungrammatical expressions in both English and French.
Tant Que J'ai Soleil (Staring at the Sun - French Version) - MIKA
Play videoA song by French-speaking British artist MIKA, who is known for releasing songs in English, French, and occasionally both, as this example demonstrates. It features examples of inter- and intra-sentential codeswitching and has an all-English counterpart against which it can be compared.
Helga Feddersen & Didi Hallervorden - Du, die Wanne ist voll
Play videoDu, die Wanne ist voll is a very famous parody on the song "You're the one I want". It demonstrates code-switching between German and English.
English Conundrums
Play videoThis is a clip from an "I Love Lucy" episode in which a foreign man is having troubles with some English words. It is interesting, because it points out the several different ways one can say -ough. In my opinion, this is a great example why English is considered one of the more difficult languages to learn as a second language.
How to speak Japanese properly
Play videoThis is a Canadian YouTuber who enjoy learning Japanese. Although this video only 2 minutes long, it shows proper language usage in Japan and see the cultural difference. This video can help people to understand the asian culture, especially how Asian show their etiquette in a formal way. Specifically, in the use of language, the video shows a very complicated sentence to express gratitude, but the expression in English is very simple, just simply say thank you.
Teens Tell All About Slang
Play videoThis video emphasizes a new language habit of teenagers in todays' world. What I mean is using slang. Slang is highly informal and often used in colloquial speech. It is a part of a language that is usually outside of standard usage and that may consist of both newly coined words and phrases and of new or extended meanings attached to established terms. This video helps you to understand some slangs with a good explanation of the reason for these changes.
Hey Ma
Play videoPitbull, J Balvin, and Camila Cabello made a bilingual version of the song Hey Ma. This song is an example of code-switching with them switching between Spanish and English throughout the song. They do this to bring in a larger audience and be more inclusive and show off their heritage.
I know you Want Me
Play videoThis artifact is of the Song "I know you want me" by Pitbull and is an example of code switching because he uses Spanish and English to sing the song, Pitbull also tries to incorporate his version of the Spanish heritage into the song by switching between Spanish and English to reach out to his audience of both languages.
Camila Cabello - Havana (Spanglish Solo Version)
Play videoCamila's Havana song is one of many examples of popular songs that are using Spanglish. Spanglish, an example of how code-switching, is becoming popular in the music industry. It is interesting to see how artists are proud and secure to show that they are bilingual. I feel, in a way, these artists are using code-switching to grab audience's attention and to show their roots (Hispanic/Asian/ etc.).
Vladimir Putin Speaks English for the International Expositions Bureau
Play videoThis artifact shows Russia´s president Vladimir Putin welcoming the members of the 2013 International Exhibitions Bureau while speaking entirely in English. Putin usually avoids speaking in English even though he is known for knowing enough English to even correct his translators. Speaking English in this welcome video shows his appreciation and respect to the members and guests of the exhibition.
Philippine English vs. Australian English
Play video"Philippine English vs. Australian English" is a funny YouTube video by a Filipino husband and his Australian wife illustrating the differences between the two different dialects of English. By comparing different words and terms between the two dialects, the differences are sometimes profound, incomprehensible, and often very funny!
How English Sounds to Non-English Speakers
Play videoThis video is representation of the theory of anthropological practice by showing how body language can be used to show both intentions and motives in a social environment. A couple, speaking what sounds like English have a common dinner date, but something goes wrong. The ability to notice something is wrong, even though the spoken language is not real, shows that the practice of natural, and probably learned body language are obvious to those of the culture and those familiar to it. Body language does not have a written code, it is ever fluid, and it is likely you understood everything minus the exact details of the fight in this skit.
Code Switching
Play videoThis video talks about code switching, which means people sometimes use more than one language in a conversation. I found it very interesting, because I usually do code switching. I speak Chinese to my friend, and speak English to my professors. In this video, it introduces us why people would use more than one language or dialect in a conversation. Sometimes people act different around different people, such as we always use formal English to talk to teachers, but we will use causal or personalized English to talk to our friends. Also, when people are sharing a secret, they are more likely to use a different language, because they don't want the people around them to understand it.
Icelanders Seek to Keep Their Language Alive and Out of 'the Latin Bin'
Icelanders are becoming concerned that their language is being overridden by the English language. The current official language in Iceland is Old Norse. It has changed in incredible amount over more than a thousand years and is now a unique dialect. Nowadays English is becoming more prominent due to the tourism industry and devices with automated voices in English. Only about 400,000 people speak it now, and with the vast globalization Icelanders as well as linguistic experts are in fear that Old Norse will have the same fate as Latin. [Published on 04-22-2017]
English = civilized language
Play videoIn the episode series, The 100, there are three groups of people, the mountainmen, the ark, and the grounders. The mountainmen and the Ark have both been living in conditions with a school system and a more systematic type of life in general. They both speak Standard English and after 97 years apart come back together and can communicate. The grounders, who live on the ground in a less "civilized" way in the modern worlds eyes, speak a language called “Trigedasleng”, which is supposed to be a descendant of modern English. The grounders have to speak English in order to communicate with the mountainmen and the ark. There is a language ideology within the show that seems similar to the English-only ideology around today. This idea that English is the best language and should be the language to communicate with others as well as the most civilized language (Crawford, 2000). I have attached a video of the language spoken by the grounders and one can also see how they are depicted within the show in accordance to the ideology that they are “less civilized”.
The Specialized Language of Sports
This is a link to a blog post describing the specialized language of sports. This post highlights the various terminology used in a variety of sports. The author describes some of his favorite terms in both American sports as well as terms used in European countries. He likes these terms for the actual sound the words make when uttered.
Tags: Community of practice, British, French, Portuguese, Italian, Slang, semantics [Published on 08-11-2010]
Bilingual children switching between English and Spanish
Play videoThis video includes children in a one on one setting switching between spanish and english, during various exercise. It features bilingual children in an office setting. The focus is on literacy and acquisition of bilingual children.
Speech community or community practice/ code switching and the big bang theory
Play videoThis is a great example of a group of people who are speaking English but the are speaking a jargon that they only know and those that are in their field or have the same interests shear known as Community practice. code-switching within their speech community.
Global Business Speaks English
A Harvard Business Review study from 2012 that revealed English is fast becoming the language of the business world through mandated corporate language initiatives meant to foster ease of communication amongst employees worldwide. [Published on 05-01-2012]
Don't Stop the Party - Pitbull lyrics
These lyrics contain the lyrics from the song Don't Stop the Party by artist Pitbull, where he uses Spanish and English throughout the song.
Pardon my Spanglish
Play videoA comedian joins Spanish CNN to talk about his new book about Spanglish. The comedian and the anchor switch between English and Spanish throughout the video, talking in Spanglish. While there's a good deal more Spanish being spoken in the video, there's also English, just not as much as Spanish. The intro of the video is a great example of Spanglish, as is the whole interview for the most part.
Emotions that have no names in English
A chart of how emotions that have no names in English relate to emotions that have names in English.
When Dirty words first appeared in English
A chart of when slang terms for genitalia and sex first appeared in English. [Published on 12-19-2014]
Time to say goodbye
Play videoAndrea and Sarah Brightman were invited to perform the duet 'Time To Say Goodbye (Con Te Partirò). I love this song and I do not even know what they are saying, until code-switching occurs. I do not know the language that they are singing in?
effects of english hegemony on education
blog post by john fotheringham discussing his view on english hegemony and education; the globally skewed view that if you don't speak english you're not well educated
Code-switching example
Play videoThis is a perfect example of a child being put in a very unique linguistic environment. This video depicts code-switching for a boy at a very young age. While discussing a hole found in a pair of shorts, the boy uses Indonesian, French and English to talk to his parents.
Shakespeare: Original pronunciation
Play videoA demonstration and explanation about what Shakespeare would have sounded like with its original pronunciation (Early Modern English). [[Something else that I would like to point out is how its "unexpected" good reception with the modern audience could have to do with their preconceived notions and therefore encouraged them to actually try to understand what was being said (taking it back to our discussion on accents).]]
The rise of "No" meaning "yes"
Discussing the idiosyncrasy of using "no" to mean "yes" [Published on 04-13-2015]
How using 'they' as a singular pronoun can change the world
This is an article that discusses the importance of using singular 'they' and addresses issues related to its "correctness". [Published on 02-03-2015]
"Culs de sac"
Play videoDebating how to make words plural in English when words are taken from other languages (relevant material ends at about 0:30)
Global English
(Enlarge image)A map showing the use of English around the globe, as a native language and as a second language or lingua franca.
SEEED - Dickes B (Code Switching and Jamaican Creole English)
Play videoA reggae/dancehall song from German band SEEED, with code switching from German to English and a verse in Jamaican Creole. Submitted for Contact Languages music assignment.
France protects itself from dreaded English language
A Daily Mail (a British publication) article on the restrictions on English borrowings into French put forth by the Academie Francaise in France. [Published on 03-12-2008]
XKCD: Period Speech
A XKCD comic highlighting language change.
What will globalization do to languages?
A 2008 forum on the effects of globalization on language, including thoughts from linguist Mark Liberman.
Anita Hill-Clarence Thomas Hearings
Play videoA clip from the 1991 confirmation hearing of Supreme Court Justic Clarence Thomas, which shows Senator Arlen Specter questioning Anita Hill.
I use this with the reading: Mendoza-Denton, Norma. 1995. "Pregnant Pauses: Silence and Authority in the Anita Hill-Clarence Thomas Hearings."
R Grammar Gaffes Ruining the Language? Maybe Not
Improper grammar usage is becoming more and more prevalent in the world, yet it may not necessarily be a bad thing.