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This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. What religious affiliation, commonly held in both countries, has had a larger influence on names in America than in England?
2. In what century did England replace the "i-sound" with the "oi-sound" in words such as "boy"?
3. According to Chapter 8.4, what is the first impulse behind American imitation of English orthography?
4. Mencken reports hearing of a German named "Knoche," who to avoid being called "Nokky," changed his name to what?
5. Who does Mencken state are the true makers of grammar in Chapter 9.1?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
The primary conflict voiced by Mencken in The American Language is that which exists between the spirit of linguistic conservationism and a spirit of linguistic innovation. Analyze this conflict as it is presented throughout the book and report insightfully on the strengths and weaknesses of each spirit. How is each spirit superior to the other? How is it inferior? Is there a valid argument to be made in favor absolutely of one or the other? What arguments may be presented in support of each? What are the arguments that may be presented against each? Is there a plausible compromise that may be made between the two?
Essay Topic 2
Through what Mencken claims concerning the nature of slang, in Chapter 11, it could be construed as a microcosm of The American Language as a whole. Write an essay investigating this claim. What are the chief characteristics of any linguistic development? What are the chief characteristics of the development of slang? How are they alike? How are they different? What processes do they undergo? What is significant and mutually relevant in these processes?
Essay Topic 3
A major part of the analysis of linguistic development provided by Mencken in The American Language is the relationship between language and the territory in which it changes. Construct a well-formed analytical essay that investigates this connection. What are the reasons behind it? What are the consequences of this connection in England and in America? How can territorial linguistic development be seen in the various regions of America? What is the common ground between change and territory upon which this connection is founded?
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This section contains 383 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) |
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