Languages and Cultures of America Notes

Introduction

  • Presentation by Justin D. McIntosh on Languages and Cultures of America from UCSD.
  • Discusses the differences and implications of official and national languages.

Overview

  • Review of earlier topics:

    • Elements of grammar: Words & Rules.
    • Interaction between these elements in creating language.

  • Current presentation agenda features:

    • Definition of Dialect.
    • National vs. Official Languages.
    • Language status.

Dialects and Language Status

  • Importance of speech characteristics in forming impressions about speakers (Wolfram & Schilling-Estes, 1998):

    • Judgments made based on:
    • Regional background.
    • Social status.
    • Ethnicity.

  • Misjudgments are common based on speech.

  • Dialects reflect language diversity driven by civilization's social and geographical dispersion.

Defining Dialect

  • Dialect:

    • Neutral term for a language variety shared by a group of speakers.
    • Speaking a language implies speaking a dialect of that language.
    • Lacks social judgment; purely descriptive of variety.

  • Dialect identification can be by:

    • Geography.
    • Cultural identity.

  • Standard varieties (e.g., those deemed socially favored) considered dialects alongside marginalized forms.

Subjective Perceptions of Dialect

  • Subjective experience of dialect is influenced by comparison to one's own speech.
  • Individual perception of dialect can vary.

Examples of Dialects in English

  • Recognizable varieties of American English include:
    • Boston accent.
    • Southern accent.
    • New York accent.

Misconceptions about Dialects

  • Error in perceiving dialects as deficient or corrupted English:
    • Dialects viewed as imperfect attempts at 'proper' English.
  • Reality:
    • Dialects represent different systems with unique language feature distributions (Wolfram & Schilling-Estes, 1998).

Language Varieties Status

Official vs. National Languages
  • Official Language:
    • Legally recognized for use in official settings (e.g., government, courts).
  • National Language:
    • Symbolizes national identity facilitating unity among a nation's people.

Functions of Language Types

  • National languages signify political unity and cultural identity.
  • Official languages serve functional purposes mainly in governance.

U.S. Language Landscape

  • English recognized as the "de facto" national language without federal-level official status.
  • Many states enact official language laws, predominantly English.

Multilingualism in the U.S.

  • Common cultural joke reflects perception of language fluency:
    • Trilingual = speaks three languages.
    • Bilingual = speaks two languages.
    • One language = American.

U.S. Census Insights

  • Language usage trends show:
    • 2000 Census: Majority of people, primarily English speakers at home.
    • Notable prevalence of Spanish, Chinese, and other languages in subsequent censuses.
    • Fun fact: California had a significant percentage of non-English speakers.

Immigration and Language Integration

  • Immigrants often learn and adopt English, especially by the second generation:
    • 1st Generation = immigrants.
    • 2nd Generation = born in the U.S., often bilingual.
  • Observed pattern of “Three-Generation Shift” whereby subsequent generations trend towards English predominance.

Linguistic Diversity in the U.S.

  • Presence of approximately 280 languages, with many varieties both indigenous and non-indigenous:
    • 231 living, 42 in trouble, and many nearing extinction.
    • Significant varieties, including numerous American Indian languages, exist particularly in California.

Conclusion

  • Summary of language functions:
    • National Languages foster unity.
    • Official Languages fulfill governmental roles.
    • America characterized by rich multilingual and multiethnic diversity.