When we think about English in North America, General American English quickly comes to mind. However, English in North America is characterized by a surprising amount of diversity: In addition to more standard-like varieties, there are varieties such as African American Vernacular English, New York City English, Chicano English, and many more.
In this class, we will first trace the history of English in North America and discuss how the relation of English to indigenous language has developed over time. We will then highlight a set of different varieties and their linguistic features before moving on to what has been called the ‘Americanization’ of Englishes around the world. As part of the class, we will also consider the medial representation of varieties of American English (for instance in song lyrics and movies), which has had a significant impact on how English is talked about and learned in different parts of the world.
- Dozent/in: Sven Leuckert