A national variety is a variety of a language (as native language or second language) which is characteristic for a specific country.1 This term is necessary to keep in mind for the description of linguistic situations in anglophone countries. English has spread over many countries as no other language had done before. The English language is spoken at present as a native language by approximately 270 million speakers spread over four continents. The number of speakers of English as a second language is estimated to be around 135 million.2 The number of English speakers is consistently increasing. Nearly all of the English speakers have regional features in the way they speak English. The majority of the population speak in a manner which identifies them as coming from a particular place.The English language consists of the sum of all its dialects, not of one correct version and a number of substandard varieties.3 But even if Standard English is defined as one dialect among many, it is no longer a regional dialect. It has spread throughout the world as the educated variety of English. It is natural that people may regard dialects as imperfect versions of English. This term paper tries to examine several linguistic varieties in England in comparison to Standard English. The present discussion will be limited to Standard British English. The discussion about the linguistic varieties, which includes their grammar in general, will consistently be contrasted with the standard syntactic pattern in Standard British English. Before that a short overview about some of the peculiarities of Standard British and Standard American English in the fields of spelling, vocabulary and grammar will be given in detail.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- I. Language Areas of Present Day English
- I. 1 British English versus American English
- I. 2 Selected Peculiarities of British English and American English
- II. Standard Syntactic Patterns in Present Day English
- III Selected Syntactic deviations from Standard British English
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This term paper aims to examine several linguistic varieties in England in comparison to Standard English, focusing specifically on Standard British English. The discussion will explore deviations from the standard syntactic patterns of Standard British English, highlighting the differences between dialects within Great Britain and Ireland. The paper also provides a brief overview of the peculiarities of Standard British and American English in spelling, vocabulary, and grammar.
- The spread of the English language across different countries and continents.
- The emergence of regional variations in English, particularly those related to Standard British English.
- The differences between Standard British English and Standard American English in terms of spelling, vocabulary, and grammar.
- The role of Standard English as a global language and its relationship to regional dialects.
- The identification and analysis of syntactic deviations from Standard British English in various English varieties.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter provides a general overview of the English language as a global phenomenon, discussing the various dialects and regional varieties that have evolved over time. It highlights the role of Standard English as a global language and its relationship to regional dialects.
- I. Language Areas of Present Day English: This chapter focuses on the spread of the English language across the globe, discussing the history of its expansion from England to various parts of the world, including North America, India, West Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. The chapter also explores the development of different varieties of English in these regions, with a particular emphasis on the differences between Standard British English and Standard American English.
- I. 1 British English versus American English: This chapter delves into the specific distinctions between British English (BE) and American English (AE), analyzing their differences in terms of spelling, vocabulary, and grammar. It examines the historical and social factors that have contributed to the development of these two distinct varieties of English.
- I. 2 Selected Peculiarities of British English and American English: This chapter provides a detailed analysis of selected peculiarities of British English and American English, exploring their unique features in the fields of spelling, vocabulary, and grammar. It highlights the distinct characteristics of each variety and examines the reasons for their differences.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This term paper focuses on exploring the linguistic varieties of English, specifically Standard British English and its deviations. Key topics include the global spread of English, the emergence of regional dialects, the comparison between Standard British English and Standard American English, and the analysis of syntactic deviations from Standard British English.
- Quote paper
- Emel Deyneli (Author), 2002, Syntactic distinctions within present day English, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/10866
