Book Report: The American Language by H. L. Mencken
In the book The American Language, author H. L. Mencken acknowledges the fact that language evolves over time and by the development of an American version of English, it was clear that Americans had come up with their distinct language that could identify them. The author realized that Americanism could be defined by different factors chief among them a language that was Americanized. He goes ahead and highlights the variations of English that Americans came up with that were different from mainstream acceptable English. That reflected the dynamism of language and a lot of creativity that made the American English more colorful. In the book, English and American English are so different in a number of ways, and that contributes to its sophisticated nature that is acceptable in as far as understanding American diversity is concerned. The English may not have given consent and agreed to the differences shown by American slang and dialect but American English in a way defined America as an independent entity in as far as language was concerned.
There are major differences in the American English and British English but clearly, it all boils down to their usage. If the people accepted it and are comfortable with it, then American English is serving the purpose of any language as a mode of communication, regardless of the distinction from the real English. The differences are minor and should be ignored and at the same time accepted because it is a compromise dialect of English that takes up the common material and properties of the language. The speech used in the context of American English may not be superior but it has a way of connecting all Americans and identifying America’s all inclusivity characteristic. Besides that, America had to distinguish itself from England and what better way than to break away and form a language that was considered American.
Many factors contribute to the formation of the American language. Much of its diversity is shown through the inclusivity and diversity of America. America has been home to people of all races and creeds. But also one thing that stands out most about this American language is the fact that there are words that are used in the language that are similar to those used in other English dialects but whose meaning is different from theirs. Many of the words used in the American language are also borrowed from other European languages more so French, Germany, Negroes and Spanish.
In fact, worth noting is the fact that in as much as there is a language that defines America as a whole, different regions and states have varieties of the language that define them. Meanings of words changed and also some words were formed to replace the already existing ones. The author gives a variety of ways through which different variations of words came up, thus explaining how words changed meaning and how others became archaic and distinct. The reformation of the language traces back to the colonial era when colonists and the local’s language was merged to bring out a different language. This language was to be developed later to become what it is today. The author acknowledged the fact that it has taken time to have an American language that helps define the nation and its people. It reflects its diversity and the dialect is distinctively American.
Work Cited
Mencken, Henry, L. The American Language: A Preliminary Inquiry into the Development of English in the United States. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1921. Print
