English is the most important language of the world today. Last century’s quantum leaps in
information technologies, like the Internet, enabled us for the first time in history to
communicate with people from all over the world. The world-wide transfer of information in
a global community requires a lingua franca, a language that is understood and can be used
by everybody. Artificial languages, like Esperanto, have not attracted many learners - a
language without a past can have no future.
Instead, English and its numberless variants seem to be able to solve communication
problems in the future. No other language is so widespread, so commonly understood around
the globe. Obviously, the outstanding position of the USA in the fields of politics, economics,
science, and - most important - popular culture like pop music and cinema has contributed to
this fact.
The British Empire has laid the fundament for this development by founding colonies all
over the world, exporting their language even to the opposite side of the globe - Australia and
New Zealand. Like everything else alive, languages in use are subject to change and
development, especially in colonies, as new words are needed for new discoveries and ideas,
or just to simplify communication with natives. Sometimes new ways of pronunciation come
into fashion and spread until everyone has adjusted to them. In the course of the centuries,
even completely new languages can come into existence this way.
In this paper I will examine linguistic particularities of Australian English (AusE) and New
Zealand English (NZE) to find out if they are languages of their own, creoles or just variants
of English. In order to make their development better understandable, I will combine
historical facts about colonists, natives and language developments with linguistic analyses of
today’s Australian and New Zealand English.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Australian English
- 2.1 Historical Development of Australian English
- 2.1.1 Prisoners
- 2.1.2 Free Settlers
- 2.1.3 Aborigines and their languages
- 2.2 A Linguistic Analysis of Australian English
- 2.1 Historical Development of Australian English
- 3. New Zealand English
- 3.1 Development
- 3.2 Linguistic Analysis
- 4. Conclusion
- 5. References
Objectives and Key Themes
The objective of this paper is to analyze the linguistic particularities of Australian English (AusE) and New Zealand English (NZE) to determine their status as independent languages, creoles, or simply variants of English. The analysis will integrate historical context with contemporary linguistic features.
- The historical development of Australian and New Zealand English.
- The influence of various groups (convicts, free settlers, indigenous populations) on language evolution.
- A comparative linguistic analysis of AusE and NZE.
- The role of language contact and societal factors in shaping these varieties of English.
- The ultimate classification of AusE and NZE within the broader spectrum of English varieties.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage by highlighting English's global dominance, facilitated by advancements in information technology and the historical influence of the British Empire. It emphasizes the dynamic nature of language, particularly in colonial contexts, where new words and pronunciations emerge. The chapter then frames the paper's central question: are Australian and New Zealand English independent languages, creoles, or simply variants of English? It foreshadows the methodology of combining historical and linguistic analyses to answer this question.
2. Australian English: This chapter delves into the historical development of Australian English, starting with the establishment of British penal colonies in the late 18th century. It explores the linguistic contributions of the diverse groups who populated Australia, including convicts predominantly from Britain and Ireland, free settlers (including American loyalists), and the indigenous Aboriginal population. The chapter examines how the interactions and societal structures of these groups impacted the evolution of a distinct Australian English, discussing the processes of language contact, dialect leveling, and the ultimate displacement of Aboriginal languages.
3. New Zealand English: This section would provide a parallel analysis of the historical development and linguistic features of New Zealand English, mirroring the structure and depth of the Australian English chapter. It would discuss the waves of immigration to New Zealand and their impact on the language. It would examine the interplay between different linguistic influences and the emergence of distinctive features in New Zealand English, following a similar framework as Chapter 2, highlighting relevant historical and linguistic aspects.
Keywords
Australian English, New Zealand English, language contact, colonial English, dialect leveling, sociolects, historical linguistics, linguistic analysis, Aboriginal languages, immigration, British Empire.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview of Australian and New Zealand English
What is the main objective of this paper?
The paper aims to analyze the linguistic characteristics of Australian English (AusE) and New Zealand English (NZE) to determine their classification as independent languages, creoles, or simply variants of English. The analysis will combine historical context with contemporary linguistic features.
What are the key themes explored in this paper?
The paper explores the historical development of AusE and NZE, the influence of various population groups (convicts, free settlers, indigenous populations) on language evolution, a comparative linguistic analysis of AusE and NZE, the role of language contact and societal factors in shaping these varieties, and ultimately, the classification of AusE and NZE within the broader spectrum of English varieties.
What is covered in the Introduction chapter?
The introduction highlights English's global dominance, its dynamic nature in colonial contexts, and the emergence of new words and pronunciations. It poses the central question of classifying AusE and NZE and outlines the methodology of combining historical and linguistic analyses.
What does the chapter on Australian English cover?
This chapter details the historical development of Australian English, beginning with the British penal colonies. It examines the linguistic contributions of convicts, free settlers, and the Aboriginal population, analyzing the impact of their interactions and societal structures on the evolution of AusE. The chapter discusses language contact, dialect leveling, and the displacement of Aboriginal languages.
What will the chapter on New Zealand English cover?
This chapter will provide a parallel analysis of the historical development and linguistic features of New Zealand English, mirroring the structure and depth of the Australian English chapter. It will discuss immigration waves and their linguistic impact, the interplay of different influences, and the emergence of distinctive features in NZE.
What are the key chapters included in the text?
The text includes chapters on the Introduction, Australian English, New Zealand English, Conclusion, and References.
What are the main subtopics within the Australian English chapter?
The Australian English chapter includes subtopics on the historical development of Australian English, broken down further into the contributions of prisoners, free settlers, and Aboriginal peoples, and a linguistic analysis of Australian English.
What are the main subtopics within the New Zealand English chapter?
The New Zealand English chapter includes subtopics on the development of New Zealand English and a linguistic analysis of New Zealand English.
What keywords are associated with this paper?
Keywords include Australian English, New Zealand English, language contact, colonial English, dialect leveling, sociolects, historical linguistics, linguistic analysis, Aboriginal languages, immigration, and the British Empire.
What is the overall structure of the Table of Contents?
The Table of Contents is structured hierarchically, starting with main chapters (Introduction, Australian English, New Zealand English, Conclusion, References), and then breaking down some chapters into sub-chapters and sub-sub-chapters to provide a detailed outline of the content.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Andreas Hennings (Autor:in), 2003, Australian and New Zealand impact on the English language, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/21782
