Language Evolution: A History of Change
Sound Change: Prothesis
One other type of sound change worth noting, though not found in English, occurs in the development of other languages. It involves the addition of a sound to the beginning of a word and is called prothesis. It is a common feature in the evolution of some forms from Latin to Spanish, as in these examples:
- schola → escuela (“school”)
- spiritus → espı́ritu (“spirit”)
Spanish speakers learning English as a second language sometimes use a prothetic vowel, making words like strange
Catalan Chronicles: Epic Tales and Royal History
It is common for nations to have an epic, the story of their heroic deeds and glories. Though the Soviets enjoyed iconic heroes, real or imaginary, especially from the time they acquired a sense of national community, these contributed to reinforcing the same stories. Texts are not preserved in epic verse in Catalan songs of feat, which does not mean they did not exist but were lost, as evidenced by the fact that occasionally some fragments appear known as quatre grans cròniques.
The Great Catalan
Read MoreJournalism, Society, and Morality in 18th-Century England
The Rise of Journalism
18th Century: Origin of Modern-Day Journalism
Richard Steele and Joseph Addison were forerunners of modern newspapers and magazines.
Most novelists of the era started their careers as journalists.
The rise of journalism reflected a greater interest in contemporary reality.
The genre of periodical essays anticipated the editorials of our modern-day newspapers.
Consequences:
- Increasing interest in reading
- Establishment of circulating libraries
- Main new readers: prosperous middle classes
- Booksellers
Alice Munro: Life and “How I Met My Husband”
Alice Munro
Alice Munro grew up in Wingham, Ontario, and attended the University of Western Ontario. She has published thirteen collections of stories and a novel. During her distinguished career, she has been the recipient of many awards, including two Giller Prizes, the National Book Critics Circle Award, and the Man Booker International Prize. In 2013, she was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. Her stories have appeared in The New Yorker, Atlantic Monthly, Harper’s Magazine, The Paris Review,
Read MoreAmerican Literature: Revolution to Early Republic
The Birth of a Nation
The most memorable writing in the 18th century was done by the Founding Fathers, the men who led the Revolution of 1775-1783 and who wrote the Constitution of 1789. Their most typical product was the political pamphlet. They shared the Enlightenment belief that human intelligence could understand both nature and man. They wanted to create a happy society based on justice and freedom.
Benjamin Franklin
The writings of Benjamin Franklin show the Enlightenment spirit in America at
Read MorePidgins, Creoles, and the Evolution of English
What is Maritime English?
Royal Navy and merchant ships travelled the oceans. The officers were English, but the crews were multiracial. Maritime English, or ship’s jargon, was a form of pidgin English. Linguistic descendants of maritime English share similar characteristics in the Caribbean, West Africa, Papua New Guinea, Melanesia, and Hawaii.
What is a Pidgin? How Do Pidgins Normally Begin?
A pidgin is a grammatically simplified means of communication that develops between two or more groups that
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