In the 1950s, it was observed that the British middle class often employed intricate language in an effort to appear more sophisticated. In contrast, the genuine upper class favored the simpler vernacular of the working class, opting for terms like “scent” rather than “perfume.” A 1940 study examining the linguistic disparities between the American upper… Read More »
In the majority of English-speaking countries across the globe, the letter “Z” is pronounced as “zed.” However, the United States stands out as the sole exception, opting for the pronunciation “zee.” This divergence can be traced back to the late 17th century, when American lexicographer Noah Webster decided to simplify certain aspects of the English… Read More »
Tangier Island, located 12 miles off the coast of Virginia, has maintained its isolation to such an extent that its inhabitants still speak a dialect similar to the one used by the island’s original colonists in the 1700s. This distinct dialect features a significant example of the Big Vowel Shift, with the word “house” pronounced… Read More »
In 1918, Iowa Governor William F. Harding signed a proclamation banning all languages other than English for public conversation, education, speeches, or church services. Some churches had to close and people were fined for speaking German on the phone. The post In 1918, Iowa Governor William F. Harding… appeared first on Crazy Facts. Source
The way Americans speak pre-dates the way English speak. This is because “rhotic speech” spoken in America originally came from England, later the wealthy in order to be different adopted a soft “r”, “win-tuh” instead of “win-terr”. It was “posh” to sound like that so everyone else copied them. The post The way Americans speak… Read More »