earticle

영어

The major purpose of this paper is to examine various features of the current American English. The importance of English is being recognized by most of the nations in the world as an international language. In this sense, it is significant for us to study and investigate how American English reflects the American tradition and the American history. American English can be characterized by its uniformity, preservation of archaic words. Ever since Captain John Smith landed at Jamestown, Virginia in 1607 and the Pilgrim Fathers at Massachusetts in 1620, the English of the United States has become different from that of England, and the former was called American English, and the latter British English. There are also differential varieties in spelling, vocabulary, pronunciation and grammar, between them and today's American English has gained extreme popularity around the world. American English is divided into four regional varieties: the North, the Coastal South, the Mid-land, and the West. There are some minor differences in pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary between the regional varieties, but they are quite homogeneous, considering the size of the land, compared with the regional varieties. And also Black English has grown out of a mixture of the white people's English used in the South and the African languages of the plantation slaves. As the United States plays more important roles in media, popular culture, the academic world, and in world affairs diplomatical, and military, American English has become the most important international language. In conclusion, this paper suggests that we should have a knowledge of history of the target language, American English, for a better education and understanding of their language and culture.