First, the development of adjective forms of comparison should be clarified from the old English untill nowadays to explain the shifts of comparative structures in two national standards. The major change in the development of comparative formation across time span is the shift in American English from synthetic to analytic comparatives. The Standard English shows another pattern of development: the change from analytic to synthetic comparatives.
Secondly, the major differences between British and American varieties in the usage of adjective forms should be explained. Focusing on the syllabic structure and frequency of adjectives, it will be shown that American English prefers more analytic comparatives than British English. Additionally, American variety uses fewer comparatives of both synthetic and analytic kind than British variety (Gonzalez-Diaz 2008, Hilpert 2007, Mondorf 2009, Kytö and Romaine 2000). Moreover, the investigation of different text types and complexity of those texts will help to explain the difference in usage of adjective comparison between two national standards.
Finally, the development of American English in relation to British English will be outlined. In most cases, American English develops independently from British English in terms of adjective formation. American variety prefers innovations whereas British variety tends to preserve older features. This supports the idea that American English does not follow the steps of British English in terms of comparative structure change. So, to regard the American variety as an instance of colonial lag should be misleading. A better understanding of these issues will be presented in the following pages.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Development of Comparatives in the History of English
- Major Differences between British and American English in terms of Comparative Structures
- Some Explanations toward the Preference of One Comparative Form over the Other in British and American English
- Colonial Lag and Comparative Structures
- Conclusion
- Works Cited
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to investigate the development and differences in comparative adjective formation between British and American English. The paper explores the historical evolution of comparative structures, analyzes the key differences in usage between the two varieties, and examines the potential explanations for these variations. The research will also address the impact of British English as a source language on the development of American English.
- The historical development of comparative structures in English
- Major differences in comparative usage between British and American English
- Explanations for the preferred usage of specific comparative forms
- The influence of colonial lag on comparative structures in American English
- The evolving trends in the use of synthetic and analytic comparatives in both varieties.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter introduces the topic of comparative adjective formation in British and American English, highlighting the key areas of investigation. It establishes the importance of understanding these differences and their historical development.
- Development of Comparatives in the History of English: This chapter explores the historical evolution of comparative structures, focusing on the shift from synthetic to analytic forms in English. It discusses the influence of factors like Vulgar English and the impact of Latin and French on comparative formation.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This work focuses on the key topics of comparative adjective formation, British English, American English, colonial lag, language variation, historical linguistics, and language contact. The paper analyzes the differences in the use of synthetic and analytic comparative structures in the two varieties, exploring the potential explanations for these differences and their historical development.
- Quote paper
- Alina Müller (Author), 2010, Comparative Forms in British and American English, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/182424
