French Influence on American English Lexis E-Book

Miriam Weinmann

• Herausgeber: GRIN Verlag
• Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2007

Beschreibung

Seminar paper from the year 2007 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Linguistics, grade: 1,3, University of Trier (Fachbereich II: Anglistik), course: Historical Semantics, language: English, abstract: This work will shed some light on how the French language has made its way onto the North American continent. Furthermore it will present examples which illustrate the influence French had on American and Canadian English lexis. In addition, the special language situation in Canada, especially in Quebec, will be illuminated in the last section.

Leseprobe

Table of Content

1. Introduction

2. Historical Background.

3. French Influence on American English.

3.1 Proper Names.

3.2 American English Lexis.

3.3 Americanisation and changes in meaning

3.4 American Phrases.

4. French Influence specially on Canadian English.

5. Conclusion.

List of Works Consulted

Page 1

Page 3

1. Introduction

Travelling across the United States, you will encounter place name signs which carry such appealing names like Beaumont (in Texas), Louisville (in Kentucky), Baton Rouge (in Louisiana), Terre Haute (in Indiana), Belle Fontaine (in Alabama), etc. To some people these names might not seem exotic, either because they do not have any knowledge of French or because these names have an American pronunciation. But others might notice that these place names are actually French and - unless they have a good knowledge of America’s history - wonder how come. Apart from this, about 13 million U.S. residents are of French descent, about 1.7 million speak French at home, and further 400.000 speak a French creole language, according to a U.S. census in the year 2000 (Wikipedia: French American). French is the second-most spoken language in Louisiana, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont (Wikipedia: French in the United States).

Leaving the United States and travelling further North to Canada, you will notice that public institutions, traffic signs, packages of food, etc. carry both English as well as French names. The reason for that is that Canada is an officially bilingual country (Algeo 423). Moreover, in the province of Quebec French even is the only official language (Algeo 438). From these - and many other - hints, it is just plausible to conclude that there must have been a connection between France and North America somehow.