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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. In addition to people names, what else has had a similar naming process in both England and America?

2. Which two languages have found some purpose in international communications?

3. What did North American immigrants do with their native languages?

4. British pronunciation and vocabulary is generally viewed to have high ________________ in North America.

5. Why can translations between countries be considered difficult?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain the role of immigrants to North America on the evolution of the English language.

2. In addition to English, what other languages have been proposed as international languages?

3. What is the author's final position on the future of the English language?

4. Why are English speakers becoming a minority of single-language users globally?

5. How does the author explain the development of British and American surnames?

6. What happens to the use of swear words as society becomes more cognizant of propriety?

7. What is the basis for the argument of making English an international language?

8. What is the author's opinion on who actually controls the English language?

9. What were some of the transitions of the English language as it migrated to North America?

10. Explain the almost futile attempts to produce current English language dictionaries.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What was the impact of American immigrants to the English language? Take into account surnames, place names, and words assimilated into the American lexicography.

Essay Topic 2

Explain the influence of Native American, French and Spanish words on the English language as it moved to North America. Give ten examples of these influences from your own family, town, state, etc.

Essay Topic 3

Regions of America become well known for their speech and language quirks. For example, the people in Baltimore, Maryland, are famous for slurring their speech. Name at least three other examples of geographically distinct language stylings.

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