LINGUIST List 21.3329 Wed Aug 18 2010 Qs: Resource Search: History of American English Editor for this issue: Danielle St. Jean <daniellelinguistlist.org> We'd like to remind readers that the responses to queries are usually best posted to the individual asking the question. That individual is then strongly encouraged to post a summary to the list. This policy was instituted to help control the huge volume of mail on LINGUIST; so we would appreciate your cooperating with it whenever it seems appropriate. In addition to posting a summary, we'd like to remind people that it is usually a good idea to personally thank those individuals who have taken the trouble to respond to the query. To post to LINGUIST, use our convenient web form at http://linguistlist.org/LL/posttolinguist.cfm. Directory         1.    Ashley Williams, Resource Search: History of American English Message 1: Resource Search: History of American English Date: 17-Aug-2010 From: Ashley Williams <amw9zvirginia.edu> Subject: Resource Search: History of American English E-mail this message to a friend I'm looking for brief readings (article/chapter length) on the history of American English for my undergrads in my American Studies course, Language in the US. When we've covered this before, we typically read the two chapters from Finegan & Rickford's edited volume, "Language in the USA" (one by Richard Bailey, "American English: Its origins & history", the other by Edward Finegan, "American English & its distinctiveness"), which work well as introductory material. Sometimes I've supplemented this with excerpts from Bill Bryson's book "Made in America", but this doesn't exactly inspire discussion. I've had luck with Finegan's mention of the controversy surrounding the "translations" of Harry Potter into American English - is there anything else out there that also covers this? I guess I'm looking for further supplementary material that isn't too lengthy and that undergrads might find interesting. Perhaps journal articles or book chapters on some particularly American usage (historical or otherwise)? Something comparing an aspect of American usage vs. British or other usage? An interesting, discussion-worthy diatribe against American English? Anything else useful? Any suggestions? Thanks so much for your help. Linguistic Field(s): Historical Linguistics                             Ling & Literature                             Sociolinguistics Read more issues|LINGUIST home page|Top of issue Page Updated: 18-Aug-2010       About LINGUIST    |   Contact Us       While the LINGUIST List makes every effort to ensure the linguistic relevance of sites listed on its pages, it cannot vouch for their contents.