American and British English - Divided By a Common Language?

Is British English becoming more like American English? If so, why, and in what ways? This book compares examples of American and British language data from the 1930s, 1960s, 1990s and 2000s, to track the most important ways that both varieties are changing over time, and compares the extent to which they are following similar paths using a mixture of computer and human analysis. The analysis is carried out across several levels, including spelling differences (such as colour vs color), vocabulary (truck vs lorry), and a range of morphological, grammatical, semantic and pragmatic features. Baker explores the changing aspects of American and British society which help to explain the findings.

List of contents

1. Introduction; 2. Spelling differences; 3. Letter sequences and affixation; 4. Higher frequency words; 5. Lower frequency words; 6. Part of speech categories; 7. Semantic categories; 8. Swearing, identity and discourse markers; 9. Conclusion.

About the author

Paul Baker is Professor of English Language at Lancaster University. He has written fourteen books on a variety of topics including language, corpus linguistics, discourse analysis and identities. These include Using Corpora in Discourse Analysis (2006) and Discourse Analysis and Media Attitudes (Cambridge, 2013). He is a commissioning editor of the journal Corpora.

Summary

Is British English becoming more like American English, and if so, why, and in what ways? Paul Baker compares eight large sets of American and British English from the 1930s, 1960s, 1990s and 2000s, using a mixture of computer and human analysis to identify how both varieties are changing over time.

Report

'An engaging, in depth look at British and American English. In addition, Baker demonstrates a range of methods for analyzing language at many levels, and for contextualizing the results.' Randi Reppen, Northern Arizona University

Product details

• Authors: Paul Baker, Paul (Lancaster University) Baker, Paul Potts Baker
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 19.09.2017
• EAN: 9781107460881
• ISBN: 978-1-107-46088-1
• No. of pages: 276
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > English linguistics / literary studies; Vereinigte Staaten von Amerika, USA, English, Amerikanisches Englisch, Vergleichende Literaturwissenschaft, LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / Linguistics / General, Vergleichende Literatur- u. Sprachwissenschaft, Komparatistik, Sprachwissenschaft / Komparatistik, Literaturwissenschaft (vergleichende), Anglistik / Sprachwissenschaft, Englische Bücher / Geisteswissenschaften / Sprachwissenschaft, Amerikanistik / Sprachwissenschaft, American English, Historical & comparative linguistics, Historical and comparative linguistics