Verified Document

History Of English Language Bias Thesis

The Old French language became the official language of business and court in the now Norman controlled England (Soon Magazine). Parents who wanted their children to amount to anything would have them schooled in this language, while English was reserved for the commoners. In this case, one can understand the first pronounced case of language bias in the English language. Although many of today's descriptive grammar linguists would hold that neither language was superior to the other, the social climate of the culture certainly held that the use of French was more correct than the use of English, which must have been seen as a dialect like today's Appalachian dialect. The result of this language bias was an altered English, Middle English, which emerged around 1200, when the French and English kingdoms were again sovereign entities (Soon Magazine). Thus, language bias caused the English language to change, which is a positive property of language. Indeed, languages that no longer change are the stuff of history, dead languages ("A History of the English Language" 2-3).

During the European Renaissance, English continued to change, motivated by two different sources. The first was Shakespeare, whose plays and poetry added many phrases and words to the English language (Soon Magazine). In addition to these plays, the King James Bible, the first Bible that was authorized to be printed in the English language, emerged (Soon Magazine). These sources not only served to advance the English language, bringing it to a near modern state, but they also introduced common people to language, and the importance of spoken and written words. Stories have long been told of Shakespeare's Globe Theater, where peasants and royalty alike had the opportunity to view plays, despite the fact that the upper class had comfortable seats while the peasants crowded...

In addition, an Interest in knowing the Bible's teachings for themselves motivated many to take up the task of language for reading, questioning, and comprehending their faiths. Despite the fact that language bias had improved from the Norman era, and was beginning to include those of other classes, then, an emphasis on speaking correctly was still perpetrated in the upper class. The best example of this Bishop Robert Lowth's 1762 a Short Introduction to English Grammar with Critical Notes. In this publication, "Lowth prescribed new rules for English, many of them influenced by his own personal taste. Before the publication...practically everyone -- upper-class, middle-class, and lower-class -- said I don't have none," etc. (Fromkin, Rodman, and Hyams 14). Indeed, Lowth's publication pointed to the fact that middle-class parents wanted their children to speak what was considered "the dialect of the upper-class" (Fromkin, Rodman, and Hyams 14).
Today, bias in the English language is much like it was during the Norman invasion and Renaissance. Speakers of different dialects like the Southern dialect or African-American Vernacular English are often told by teachers that they are using grammar incorrectly. Furthermore, these variations on English are often regarded as lower-class, as Bill Cosby made famous in his numerous lectures and publications urging African-Americans to speak more "correctly," which many of them viewed as contrary to their culture. Thus, According to "A History of the English Language," English has spawned across the world for several linguistic reasons, and English may soon become the official language of much of the world. While this may serve to further unite cultures that suffered from communication barriers in the past, it may also continue the cycle of language bias that made itself known in the evolution of the English language.

Works Cited

History of the English Language" (Your Text).

Fromkin, Victoria, Rodman, Robert, and Hyams, Nina. An Introduction to Language.

Boston: Thomas Wadsowrth, 2007.

Soon Magazine. "History of the English Language." Soon Online Magazine. 25 April 2007. 22 January 2009. http://www.soon.org.uk/page18.htm

Sources used in this document:
Works Cited

History of the English Language" (Your Text).

Fromkin, Victoria, Rodman, Robert, and Hyams, Nina. An Introduction to Language.

Boston: Thomas Wadsowrth, 2007.

Soon Magazine. "History of the English Language." Soon Online Magazine. 25 April 2007. 22 January 2009. http://www.soon.org.uk/page18.htm
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Racism in the English Language
Words: 1276 Length: 4 Document Type: Term Paper

In conclusion, it becomes clear from reading this enlightening essay that the English language is peppered with racial stereotypes and slurs, even in words and phrases that seem quite harmless. The question remains. Is this intentional? Were many English words and phrases created with subtle references to black as "bad" and white as "good" intentionally, or are they simply a result of a long-term repressed and unconscious thoughts and feelings

Exploring Difficulties in English Language Communication Skills Among...
Words: 5228 Length: 15 Document Type: Literature Review

Iraqi Students The literature review provides an abundance of material related to the educational and cultural aspects of Australian society and how those aspects play into the educating process regarding immigrants and especially high school students from Iraq who immigrate to Australia in search of education and a better way of life. The review focuses not only on the generality of those concepts but on specific aspects as well. Some of

Language's Role in Sustaining Inequality Between the
Words: 3164 Length: 9 Document Type: Term Paper

Language's Role In Sustaining Inequality Between The Sexes Although it is disputed whether language causes sexism or sexism causes certain language, language does play a part in sexism (Wikipedia). Given that the development of society has gone hand in hand with the development of language, it is unlikely that the causation will ever be determined. However, whether language causes sexism or sexism causes certain language, it is clear that language plays

Language Political or Historically Based
Words: 1090 Length: 3 Document Type: Essay

Note that inflated English has been more characteristic of the centuries preceding Orwell and of Orwell's own time than on the latter part of the 20th century. There has been a shift in linguistics. As linguists and historians of language have noted, the Western model of language follows the monological approach. The monological approach has roots reaching back to Aristotle who saw communication as one of rhetoric, namely persuasion,

Language and Literacy
Words: 3722 Length: 14 Document Type: Term Paper

Language and Literacy Jeanne S. Chall was born in Poland on January 1, 1921. She moved to New York at a tender age of seven with her family. Jeanne S. Chall was one of the chief educators and researchers in the field of literacy during the past century. The Harvard Reading/Literacy Lab has recently been renamed in accolade of Dr. Chall. What follows is an account of Dr. Chall's life and work.

History of Rhetoric and Rhetorical
Words: 5731 Length: 15 Document Type: Term Paper

While these are some of the more famous elements of rhetorical theory, they do not require extensive discussion here for two reasons. Firstly, they are fairly well-known. Secondly, and more importantly, they actually do not provide much insight into the uses of rhetoric, because Aristotle implicitly inserts an ethics into his discussion of rhetoric that precludes it from having as robust an application to the real world as would

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now