Transformation of the English Language, Research Paper Example

The English language is not only a language, but also a movement. English has gone through many different times and has been developed and re-developed more than many of us can think of on a daily basis. It has been created and re-created by many different people, colonies, and elitists in order to find a proper way to experience the language. The English language provides for us the ideas of pronunciation, dialect, and vocabulary; therefore, giving us a specific feeling of unity that cannot separate us from each other. There are many factors that took part in the transformation of English, such as the emotions of the English people towards the French, linguistic reformation, pronunciation, and the thesis of science. English was not just invented by individuals who wanted a new language. Factors such as the role of modernity, standardization, functions of dictionaries, and the cultural and social effects of modernity all played a role in the way in which English was transformed.

There were many different views in reference to language in the 17^th, 18^th and 19^th centuries. The reformation of English really began in the 16^th century. During this time, there were many characters such as standardization, the making of specific grammar, limited to no gaps between words, as well as the word order and spelling being incomplete. Also during this time, pronunciation was still not established. When we talk about pronunciation during this period, we find the influence of social status which can be considered an external factor of English development. The English language has different viewpoints because England had different social classes. The consequence of this was that schools used linguistic correctness. The puritans then came along and led England towards the cultural independence of protestant scripts which encouraged scientific discovery and expanded English and inverted a new form of writing. The people of the 17^th century were very old school and wanted thing to be a certain way. As the 18^th and 19^th centuries approached, things began to develop a little more. “Lemon, 1793, claimed that the groundwork of modern English is Greek, from the viewpoint that Greek is one of Europe’s most prestigious languages, and that Anglo-Saxons at that time were regarded little more than barbarians” (Chapter 3). In the 19^th century, language was viewed as the connection with the racial origins of the speakers. According to chapter 3, “19^th century philologists (language scholars) focused on the regular patterns of relationships among languages of the same family.” Finally, toward the end of the 19^th century, vocabulary of the English language had been enlarged, but from a mixture of other languages. Many during this time believed that a national language should exist and many were encouraged to use English as that national language.

Modernity took part in the implementation of the national language. In this period, correct English became a marker of the speaker’s social classes. As printing and the cultural renaissance came into play, the transformation of English into the national language occurred. The growth of capitalism was a result of modernity and this led to social correctness and new forms of English according to the speaker’s social position. In addition, after England broke away from the Catholic Church, the feeling of nationalism increased and there was a need for identifying and using a national language. A national language was necessary so that all could communicate effectively with each other. According to chapter 4, “a standard language is one that provides agreed norms of usage, usually codified in dictionaries and grammars, for a wide range of institutional purposes such as education, government and science” (p. 138-139). Many needed this in order to be able to talk and write to each other. “Caxton certainly helped to familiarize people with variants of the east Midlands dialect by establishing that dialect as the medium of print” (Chapter 4, p. 141). By doing this, Caxton was able to establish one specific variety in reference to standardization which was east Midlands English. Using this dialect in print made it possible for people throughout the entire territory to read simultaneously and they were all able to learn the language by reading what was in print at the time. Caxton had a plan and this plan was to create one specific dialect and that is exactly what he did. This national language and dialect gave them a sense of community and acceptance for each other as well as unity. However, there had to be a form of standardization in order to make sense of the language.

There are four main processes in standardization. These include selection, codification, elaboration, and implementation. Selection was important as it was based on the most powerful or socially influential social and ethnic groups. Many parts of the English language were selected based specifically on social and ethnic groups and how they talked, wrote, and expressed themselves. Codification refers to “the reduction of internal variability in the selected variety, and the establishment of norms of grammatical usage and vocabulary” (Chapter 4). This also includes the establishment of the correct spelling of words. Elaboration refers to the idea that the language can be used in a wide variety of functions. This means specifically the extension of linguistic resources such as grammar structures and specialized vocabulary. Finally, implementation refers to actually using the language and discouraging any use of any other type of language that were not within the official domains. It also referred to making the language available via texts and encouraging citizens to develop a specific loyalty to the language and have pride in it. Without implementation, the whole process of the English language would have been moot.

Finally, having a national language was and still is very important. Having a national language allows a place to be unified and united in particular ways. The national language helped many people communicate with each other, form certain colonies and keep them united by having the same communication style. Chapter 5 states:

Central to the process of expansion was colonization – establishment of colonies made up of English speakers who maintained economic and cultural links with England. The colonies of English speakers also positioned themselves in a relation of power with the inhabitants that lived in the colony prior to the expansion of English.

This is a very important quote as it shows us that colonization was important in the aspect of creating a national language. The national language, however, did tend to separate people in some instances. If people did not speak the language, they were considered outcasts. They had to be taught the right way in which to speak. However, “as colonies expanded and became more established, different areas usually developed a sense of local cultural and linguistic identity” (Chapter 5). This allowed many colonies to come together as one. The cultures began to change to reinforce the identity of the people. The important factor is that these people wanted to unify the nation and the national language was the way in which to accomplish this. In West Africa, the theory was that “English was best suited to unify Africans because it is a composite language” (Chapter 5). This could very well be true. Yet, it is still considered a theory. English is the most widespread language now in many countries and all who come to America are expected to learn it. Another theory in reference to West Africans is that English helps to re-create their identities as specific members of a nation rather than their tribes. This is important because it shows that we, as Americans, try to unite everyone under one specific language where all can be accepted and understood.

In conclusion, though we all started off with different views on the English language, dialects, pronunciation, spelling and vocabulary in the 16^th through the 19^th centuries, we were able to become unified as a nation with a national language in order to communicate and understand each other in many different ways. Though there are still some separate dialects, the nation has been unified by the English language. There is a necessity for a common language throughout a nation as this brings the nation together, keeps it unified and united, and helps the people of that nation communicate with one another on one specific level. The process of selecting, codification, elaboration, and implementation are all important as well as these help form the English language, teach us specific spellings, give us specific definitions and shows us how to use the English language. The implementation of the English language is the most important part. If we do not implement the language, then we do not continue to speak the language and we go back to the old ways. This does not help unify and unite a nation. This only separates us from one another. In order for the nation to continue to have a specific language, it is important to use it, understand it, and continue to help it grow as we continue to help others coming to our country understand the language itself.