Hand out fot the lesson on Varieties of English

1. Instituto de Estudios Superiores Belén
PROFESORADO EN INGLÉS
Historia de la Lengua Inglesa
1
VARIETIES OF ENGLISH
SET IV: MODERN ENGLISH (1500 - PRESENT DAY) AND AFTER
In the same way as our Spanish language is not the same in Spain or in Mexico or
here in Argentina, English also differs from one place or country to another.
PROCEDENCE
Look at these pictures. Do you know the name of these famous English-speaking
people? Where are they from?

2. Instituto de Estudios Superiores Belén
PROFESORADO EN INGLÉS
Historia de la Lengua Inglesa
2
Although all the three people in the pictures (the Queen, Kylie Minogue, and Usain
Bolt) , they speak it very differently. Why? Because
they use a variety of English. So, we can say that people
(AmE), those in Australia
).
Virtually all countries
where English is spoken have
their own variety. Varieties of
English are the different kinds
of English spoken around the
world whether a first or second
language. That is to say that
there are differences in
pronunciation, grammar,
vocabulary and so on, b y j “ .” Sometimes these are very closely related
but other times they can be very different. Nevertheless the variations, most English
speakers can understand each other, but there can be occasional problems.
In addition, each main variety of English has sub-varieties or regional variations. For
example, within the British English variety we have: Cockney, Essex English, Geordie and
so on, not to mention Scottish English, Welsh English and Irish English.
There are also socio-economic varieties of English. The Queen speaks Received
Pronunciation which is very different from the Black English spoken in America, for
example. For more information on the varieties of English, you can read the PDF file titled:
“Set IV – D1 All kinds of English”
WHAT VARIETY TO TEACH?
With such a huge variety of English, you as a future teacher may want to know which
one is more proper to teach. Around the world, different countries prefer their teachers to
teach some specific variety of English. Often the reason for this is historical and political. As
a rough guide, you should know that , , Africa and
the Middle East, while ,
.

3. Instituto de Estudios Superiores Belén
PROFESORADO EN INGLÉS
Historia de la Lengua Inglesa
3
Now, which variety of English will you use in classroom and teach to your pupils?
Think about this question and answer it at the forum in the campus.
ENGLISH IN AMERICA
Of all the varieties of English, the most spread and used one is AmE. Can you think
about the reasons why this happens?
Now look at the following paragraph and then read it out aloud:
Here is the same text read aloud first by a British English speaker and then an
American English speaker. Listen as many times as you need and note differences in
pronunciation that you observe, focusing on the underlined words.
“I WAS READING IN A MAGAZINE THE OTHER DAY ABOUT HOW COMMON OBESITY
IS NOW. SOME NEW RESEARCH HAS FOUND THAT OVER FORTY PERCENT OF THE
POPULATION IS OVERWEIGHT. MOST PEOPLE IN THE SURVEY SAID THEY’D
RATHER DRIVE THAN WALK, AND THAT IT'S BETTER TO SPEND LEISURE TIME AT
HOME THAN OUTSIDE. THAT'S UNDERSTANDABLE IN THE WINTER, I GUESS, BUT
SURELY EVERYONE CAN BUILD SOME EXERCISE INTO THEIR DAILY SCHEDULE?”

4. Instituto de Estudios Superiores Belén
PROFESORADO EN INGLÉS
Historia de la Lengua Inglesa
4
Now, let us read the text “Set IV – D2 English in America” and answer these
questions:
1. What did G.B Shaw say in 1942? What did he mean by saying that?
2. What happened in 1607?
3. What happened between 1619 and 1865?
4. What happened in America during the 17th
, 18th
, 19th
and 20th
centuries?
5. What did the first English settlers do?
6. What are the main difference between AmE and BrE explained by the text?
7. Did AmE borrow words from newcomers? Why?
8. What role did African-American play?
9. W w N W b F ’ b ?
10.How does American English influence the world?
ACTIVITIES
A. Remember to take part of the Forum in the Campus providing your
answer for: “which variety of English will you use in classroom and
teach to your pupils?”
B. Complete the answers to the Questionnaire about “English in
America”
IMAGE SOURCE
1. “Queen Elizabeth II”: 12/10/2012 16:39 from
http://www.kitesurf22.com/kitesurf/shapeur7_files/10%20copie.jpg.
2. “Kylie Minogue”: 12/10/2012 16:39 from http://www.fond-
ecran.net/fonds/kylieminogue_015.jpg.
3. “Usain Bolt”: 12/10/2012 16:46, from
http://www.eldiariodecarlospaz.com/foto_noti/bolt.jpg
4. “English Speaking Countries”: 12/10/2012 17:28 from
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/Anglosphere_map.png.
5. “American English”: Accessed 12/10/2012 17:58 from
https://lh3.ggpht.com/T_owmaMocaJMRnLEmz8xohGtsHtYJZXoeRIpMqBFhVKGZygeXrgRZ7T
duhbnVP_AuksI=s129

5. Instituto de Estudios Superiores Belén
PROFESORADO EN INGLÉS
Historia de la Lengua Inglesa
5
SOURCES
 HEWINGS, Martin: English Pronunciation in Use - Advance. 2th
Edition, Cambridge
University Press, England - 2005. pp. 8 – 11
 VINEY, Brigit: The History of the English Language. Oxford Bookworms Factfiles,
Oxford University Press, England - 2003. pp. 39 – 51