American English Take-Home Exam (0)

American English

Take-home exam

1) Discuss the significance of American English in the English-speaking world.
English is one the most widely used languages in the world and globally acknowledged as the lingua franca. It is also the dominant business language . For these facts already, English has a great importance in the today ’s world.
As the United States of America is one of the leading countries of the world, American English has a certain authority as well. It is now an inescapable fact that America, through its worldwide influence and massive entertainment industry is the mighty power -house that drives the English language. Although British English is considered to be more sophisticated and prestigious than American English, the latter is clearly more featured in television , music, video games and internet , naturally appealing more to English learners than British English. Also, in international communication American English is usually the preferred choice as it is acceptable and easily understandable in any context from Japan to Peru.
While British English, especially the Received Pronunciation , is generally viewed as some kind of a “gold standard” in education and is usually focused on in textbooks and dictionaries, it should be remembered that American English has about 10 times more speakers than the RP and thus the significance of it in the today’s world should not be underestimated.
2) Submarine sandwich is ‘a large sandwich consisting of a long roll split lengthwise and filled with layers of meat , cheese , tomatoes, lettuce and condiments’ (www.ahdictionary.com). How did it get its name?
It is difficult to say when the term submarine sandwich was first used for these types of large sandwiches. Although it is quite obvious that the sandwich got its name because of its long shape that resembles submarines, there are several myths around the origin of the term.
The first theory is that at the beginning of World War II a sandwich was specifically created in a restaurant in Scollay Square in Boston to appeal to the mean serving at Charlestown Navy Yard. Because it resembled a submarine for its shape, people began to call them “submarine sandwiches”.
According to another version , the sandwich was created during World War II by an Italian shopkeeper named Benedetto Capaldo in New London, CT. When the navy servicemen from the submarine base in the town of Groton across the river began ordering 500 sandwiches a day, the sandwich became irrevocably associated with submarines.
The third popular theory claims that the term comes from Dominic Conti, an Italian who immigrated to New York in the early 1900s. His granddaughter Angela Zuccar has stated that her grandfather started a grocery store , called Dominic Conti's Grocery Store, on Mill Street in Paterson, New Jersey , selling the traditional Italian sandwiches there . He had brought the recipe from Italy . According to Zuccar, her grandfather first used the term when she was 16 years old at the time, when he went to see the first experimental 14- foot submarine called Holland I, and said: “It looks like the sandwich I sell at my store.”
As is known , there are a number of regional words for this type of sandwich. What are they, and where are they used?
There are quite a few other terms for the “submarine sandwich”, including:
Heros – used in New York
Grinder – used in New England
Po' Boy and Poor boy – used in St. Louis and Louisiana
Rocket – used in various areas
Gatsby – used in Cape Town, South Africa
Cosmo (Cosmopolitan) – used in North Central Pennsylvania near Williamsport
Zepplin or Zep – used in eastern Pennsylvania
Italian Sandwich or simply Italians – used in Maine
Hoagie – used in Philadelphia
Torpedo – used in New York and New Jersey
Barb Mills – used in North Central Pennsylvania
Blimpie – used in Hoboken, New Jersey
Cheesesteak – used in Philadelphia
Filled Roll / Salad Roll – used in New Zealand
Sous- marin – used in Quebec ( Canada )
Spuckie – used in Boston, Massachusetts
Tunnel – used in various New England areas
Wedge – used in Yonkers, New York and other parts of Westchester County
3) Discuss the meaning and origin of the following words and phrases :
Among other sources use the evidence of the Corpus of Historical American English ( http://corpus.byu.edu/coha/ )
department store – The term was first brought to use in the 19th century . In 1877, George and Edward Butler founded a small wholesale mail- order company in Boston, which later became known as the Butler Bros. Their innovation of the “ Five Cent Counter” started the epidemic of department stores all over the country .
From the French department, which meant “group of people” and “departure”, English has borrowed the sense of “separate division ”. Meanwhile, store originally meant “supplies or provisions for a household, camp , etc” and was related to warfare. The word as “a place where goods are kept for sale” was first recorded in 1721 in American English.
Eskimo pie - Eskimo Pie was America's first chocolate covered ice cream bar and it was invented by Christian Kent Nelson in his home laboratory in 1920. Nelson got his inspiration for the invention of Eskimo Pie when a boy in his confectionery store could not decide whether to buy ice cream or a chocolate bar. In 1921, Nelson secured an agreement with local chocolate producer Russell C. Stover to mass-produce them under the new trademarked name Eskimo Pie. The name was suggested by Stover’s wife. The word Eskimo comes from 1580s, probably from an Algonquian word, such as Abenaki askimo and Ojibwa ashkimeq, traditionally said to mean literally “eaters of raw meat”.
filibuster – Today, the term filibuster refers to act of delay action in Congress or another law- making group by making very long speeches. However , the term filibutor “pirate” was first used in 1580s and was probably derived from the Dutch vrijbuiter “freebooter”, which in turn was used for the pirates in the West Indies in Spanish (filibuster) and French (flibustier) forms. Americans had loaned the word from Dutch in 1560s and it became “freebooter” in American English, meaning “plunderer, robber, pirate.” In its legislative sense, filibuster was first used by Albert G. Brown in 1853, referring to Abraham Watkins Venable's speech against filibustering (“pirating”) intervention in Cuba.
gerrymandering – In the modern sense of the word, gerrymandering refers to when politicians change the size and borders of an area before an election, so that one person , group, or party has an unfair advantage . The origin of the term, however, dates back to 1812 , when it was first used in the Boston newspaper Boston Gazette. Elbridge Gerry, governor of Massachussets, was lampooned when his party redistricted the state in a blatant bid to preserve an Antifederalist majority . One Essex County district had resembled a salamander , and Boston Gazette dubbed it Gerrymander, combining Gerry with salamander.
guacamole – The origin of guacamole dates back to the times of the Aztecs. The word comes from the ancient Nahuatl (a dialect of ancient Aztec) phrase ahuaca-mulli, roughly translating into “avocado sauce ” or “avocado mixture”, which Aztecs believed could be used as an aphrodisiac. Avocados were a New World food that became quite popular with the Spaniards, lending the term from the Aztecs. The Spanish conquistadors transliterated it as agucate, adding the Mexican world mole “sauce” to the end. It is said the Spaniards liked their avocados three ways , with salt, with sugar or both .
martini (cocktail) - There are several popular theories about the origin of the name of martini cocktail. According to the first, the name comes from Martini & Rossi, an Italian firm that has been exporting vermouths to the U.S from the 19th century. Supposedly, the name of the firm was in existence then. Second theory claims that martini is simply a dryer version of an older cocktail called the martinez which was created in Martinez, California by professor Jerry Thomas , when a gold miner visited his San Francisco bar and asked for a unique drink . In another version of the story, it was local bartender Julio Richelieu in Martinez in 1870 who was asked to make a new drink by a gold miner. Regardless of the orgin, the drink refers to a cocktail made with gin and vermouth, and garnished with an olive or a lemon twist.
Maven – In the modern American English, maven means someone who knows a lot about a particular subject. The term comes from Yiddish meyvn and from Hebrew mebhin, literally translating into "one who understands." The term (spelled as mayvin) was first recorded in English in 1950, and became popular in the United States in the 1960s thanks to the series of commercials created by Martin Solow for Vita Herring, featuring "The Beloved Herring Maven."
maverick – The modern definition of maverick (“an unusual person who has different ideas and ways of behaving from other people, and is often very successful”) differs somewhat from the original meaning of “calf or yearling found without an owner 's brand", derived in 1867 from Samuel A. Maverick, Texas cattle owner who was known for not branding his calves. The sense of "individualist, unconventional person" was first recorded 1886.
OK – The orgin of the super popular Americansim OK is widely disputed. There is a theory that OK was first used by Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States. According to another theory, the term came from the election slogan by the O.K. Club , boosters of Martin Van Buren's 1840 re-election bid, referencing to his nickname Old Kinderhook. Third theory is that OK was spelled out as okeh in 1919 by Woodrow Wilson , supposedly representing Chocotaw okeh “it is so”. However, the earliest known usage of OK is from 1839. One explanation is that was the survivor of a slang fad in Boston and New York where abbreviations of common phrases were deliberately misspelled (O.K. – “oll correct ”). Second explanation is from the French expression “au quai” (“to the quay”) which was used when merchandise was finally ready to ship and could be interpreted as “everything is fine”.
Tex-Mex – The term was first used in the English language as a nickname for the Texas Mexican Railway, built in 1875 in southern Texas. In the 1800s, the names of railroads were oftentimes abbreviated in newspapers and Texas Mexican Railway was abbreviated as Tex. Mex. In 1914, the term was also used for “Texan of Mexican background”, replacing the earlier term Texican (1863). Later, during the Spanish missions in Texas, the Spanish and Mexican cuisines blended in Texas and, over time, became known as Tex-Mex. Today, the term refers not only to the cuisine but sometimes also to the music of Mexican-American people.
y’all –The term came to use by 1879 as the U.S. dialect abbreviation of you all (“see you”), used as a plural second-person pronoun . It is commonly believed to have originated in the Southern United States, in association with African-American Vernacular English. However the term probably goes back to the Scots - Irish phrase “ye aw,” when Scots-Irish immigrants had settled in th U.S in the late 18th century.
you bet – The term in the meaning of "be assured"came into use by 1857. An American phrase bet your bottom dollar was first cited in the La Crosse Independent Republican, September 1856. According to one theory, the phrase was commonly used in reference to the notorious gambling habits of the time. Other variants include you betcha, you bet your sweet ass and you bet your sweet bippy. The last of these was popularized in the 1960's by the comedy television show Rowand and Martin's Laugh In and uses bippy as a euphemism for ass.
4) Discuss at some length the differences in the railroad terminology between British and American English
There is a quite a big difference in the railroad terminology between British and American English. For instance , the word railroad itself is used more prominently in American English. The earlier practice of rail road instead of railroad, was dismissed over time, even though several roads still maintain it in their names (e.g. Long Island Rail Road). Railway is mostly used for urban and interurban electric railways (e.g. San Francisco Municipal Railway). In British English, the preferred term is railway. In the early days of the railways, railroad (rail road or rail-road) was often used, until railway became preferred in 1850s.
Other differences in terminology:
In British English, single ticket is used instead of the American one-way ticket. In the American context, single would mean “only one”. Also, round trip ticket is used in the U.S., while return ticket in the UK.
In American English, train schedule is referred to with the word schedule, while in British English timetable is employed instead. In British English schedule is a plan that lists all the work that you have to do and when you must do each thing , while timetable is a list showing the fixed times at which events will happen: a bus/train timetable. In Am. Eng, schedule is used in both instances.
Trams can be found only in the Brit . Eng. In Am. Eng, the correct word is either streetcar or trolley.
Carriage is the UK term for passenger carrying vehicle . Also known as a coach. In the US is referred to as a car. Cripple is a defective vehicle or train in the UK Known in the US as a Bad Order.
The British equivalent to the American pilot is cowcatcher, while British driver is engineer in American.
US term for train staff member whose duties vary with different administrations but who is primarily responsible for train and passenger safety is conductor. Conductors are often also involved with ticket inspection and is common also in the UK (earlier term was guard).
5) What made the following places famous ?
Aspen , CO – Aspen, Colorado is a popular tourist destination in America, known for being expensive and being visited by the rich and famous. Aspen is a renowned Colorado ski town surrounded by many impressive local mountains.
The term Aspenization derives from Aspen and means: “to turn an area, especially but not necessarily a municipality, into an expensive tourist attraction.” Aspenization is accompanied by rising real estate prices, more restaurants, and sometimes by higher taxes, making the area unaffordable or unlivable for workers or native residents.
Basin Street (New Orleans ) – Basin Street (Rue Bassin in French) is a street in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was, at one time, one of the finest residential streets in New Orleans, but became a notorious red light district around 1870. Basin Street is made famous by the song “Basin Street Blues ”, written by Spencer Williams and often performed by Dixieland jazz bands. The song became popular when it was recorded by Louis Armstrong in 1928. The title refers to the red-light district of Storyville and Basin Street.
Beale Street ( Memphis ) – Beale Street in Downtown Memphis, Tennessee is known for its importance in the history of the blues. The blues clubs and restaurants in the Beale Street are popular tourist attractions in Memphis. In the early 1900’s W. C. Handy made his mark on the city by creating hit songs like “Blues on Beale Street” and “Mr. Crump”. Influenced by Handy, many other blues and jazz legends like Louis Armstrong and B.B. King all performed on Beale. A new musical style was created: Memphis Blues.
Bloomington, IN – Bloomington is a city in Monroe County, Indiana . It is known as the "Gateway to Scenic Southern Indiana". In more recent time Bloomington has been designated as a "Tree City USA". Bloomington is also known for being passionate about cuisine. There are two culinary Americanisms that originate in Bloomington: pan cream (“thick cream skinned from the top of fresh milk”) and sour cream (“smooth, mild, artificially soured cream, called butter cream in the Midwest”).
the Strip (Las Vegas ) - The Las Vegas Strip is a 4.2-mile stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard South that is considered a very beautiful scenic route at night as many large hotels, casinos, and resorts are located on the Strip. A popular phrase on/off the strip or simply off-strip is used to describe destinations that are located beyond the strip (does not necessarily mean that they are sketchy or less attractive).
6) A resident of New York is called a ‘New Yorker’. How are residents of the following places called? Continue the list with five more names.
Las Vegas – ‘Las Vegan ’ or simply ‘Vegan’ (pronounced as vay-gan, not vee-gan)
Michigan – ‘Michigander’, ‘Michiganian’, ‘Michiganer‘, ‘Michiganite’, ‘Michigine’, ‘Yooper’
Chicago – ‘Chicagoan’
Indiana – ‘Indianian’, ‘Indianan’, ‘Hoosier’
San Francisco – ‘San Franciscan’
Oklahoma – ‘Oklahoman’, ‘Okie’, ‘Sooner’
Pittsburgh – ‘Pittsburgher’
Virginia – ‘Virginian’
Oregon – ‘Oregonian’
Iowa – ‘Iowan’, ‘Hawkeye’
Tennessee – ‘Tennessean’, ‘Volunteer’, ‘Big Bender’, ‘Buttenut’
7) Discuss the differences between bourbon and Tennessee whiskey.
First of all, all Bourbons are Whiskey but not all Whiskeys are Bourbons. Bourbon refers to a spirit that is distilled from a fermented mash of at least 51% corn and is then stored in new charred oak containers for at least two years. The term Whiskey refers to a spirit that is distilled from some sort of fermented grain mash, is then stored in oak containers, and is bottled at no less than 80 proof. The peoplee who produce this spirit, such as Jack Daniels, don’t want their whiskey labeled as Bourbon, claiming that they are the only type of whiskey which puts the spirit through a charcoal filtering process . Also, Bourbon can only be labelled as Bourbon if it was made in the United States, while Whiskey can only be labelled Tennessee Whiskey if it’s made in Tennessee.
8) Discuss the underlined words and phrases from the perspective of African American English ( Roots by Alex Haley, 1976, p 394)
One night Kunta set slave row to roaring about a house slave he’d been told of who had reached safety up North just a jump ahead of his hotly pursuing massa , who quickly summoned a policeman. “You know you my nigger !” the massa screamed wildly at his slave, who simply looked blank and kept explaining, “He’p me Gawd, I ain’t never sot eyes on dat white man! – convincing a gathered crowd, along with the policeman who ordered the furious white man to quiet down and move on or he’d have to arrest him for disturbing the peace .
During the 17th and 18th century when slavery existed in the United States, house slaves were slaves who worked and often lived in the house of the slave-owner. They usually lived more comfortably than field slaves. A pejorative term house Negro/house Nigger was sometimes used in reference to the black slaves instead. The term comes from Malcolm X’s speech "Message to the Grass Roots" (1963).
Massa refers to the colloquial black English pronunciation of master, used by black slaves when addressing the masters of the house they worked in.
The earlier version of nigger was neger (in Scottish and northern England dialect), coming from French nègre and from Spanish negro. The term carried contempt and rejection towards the blacks from the earliest usage, but it could sometimes be used without deliberate insult . Today, the term is considered extremely insensitive and pejorative, and is discouraged from use. In slang, some black Americans continue to use the word nigger, often spelled as nigga/niggah.
In African American Vernacular English (AAVE), ain’t is used where Standard English would use am not, isn't, aren't, haven't and hasn't. Sometimes, it is also used instead of don't, doesn't, or didn't (e.g. I ain't know that), to mark contrast. Very commonly used negative form among black slaves.
Dat is another word commonly used in AAVE. Originally it represented the pronunciation of that in West Indian , Irish, or U.S. black speech, from 1680s onwards. In AAVE, the voiced sound in the, they and that is regularly pronounced as d, so that they are commonly pronounced as de, dey and dat.