African languages and language varieties are amongst the fastest growing languages in the U.S. from 2016 on. This paper aims to show why and how this sudden development is happening, and what changes and chances it bears for the development of U.S. American communities and society as a whole. To do so, the paper will first look at the languages that are most commonly spoken in the USA, followed by a brief introduction into African languages and language varieties before taking a closer look at how recent migration impacts the language demographics of the United States and the country’s culture.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- I Introduction
- II Introduction to the most commonly spoken languages in the United States
- III Introduction to African languages and language varieties
- IV African languages and language varieties in the United States and reasons for the sudden growth of their speaker communities
- V The impact of African languages and language communities on American society
- VI Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to examine the rapid growth of African languages and language communities in the United States and explore the impact this development has on U.S. American communities and society as a whole. The analysis will focus on understanding the reasons behind this surge in African languages and language varieties, particularly in the context of recent migration from Africa to the U.S.
- The linguistic landscape of the United States and the prevalence of English and Spanish.
- The diversity of African languages and language varieties, and their historical and cultural significance.
- The impact of African immigration on the language demographics of the United States.
- The influence of African languages and cultures on American society and its cultural landscape.
- The potential for linguistic and cultural exchange between African communities and the broader U.S. population.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- I Introduction: This chapter explores the significance of language in Africa, highlighting its historical role during colonization and the ongoing efforts to preserve and promote indigenous languages. It examines the factors driving African migration to the United States, particularly the "first wave" driven by economic opportunities and education, and the more recent "second wave" of migration, primarily from Sub-Saharan Africa.
- II Introduction to the most commonly spoken languages in the United States: This chapter provides an overview of the linguistic landscape of the United States, focusing on the dominance of English as the most commonly spoken language. It also explores the presence of Spanish as the second most widely spoken language, attributing its prominence to Latino immigration. The chapter then discusses the variations in third most-spoken languages across different states, reflecting their unique cultural and historical contexts.
- III Introduction to African languages and language varieties: This chapter offers a brief introduction to the diversity of African languages and language varieties. It highlights the vast number of languages spoken on the continent and the four main linguistic groups: Niger-Kordofanian, Nilo-Saharan, Afro-Asiatic, and Khoisan. The chapter also acknowledges the significance of Arabic, French, and English as major languages spoken across the African continent.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This paper examines the growth of African languages and language communities in the United States, focusing on key themes such as language diversity, migration, cultural impact, linguistic demographics, and the role of African languages in shaping American society. It explores the complexities of linguistic assimilation and the potential for linguistic and cultural exchange between African communities and the broader U.S. population.
- Quote paper
- Marie Will (Author), 2020, The growth of African languages and language communities in the United States and their impact on U.S. American society, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1368678
