The USA
- 1 Welcome to America
- 2 Living the dream
- 3 A melting pot or a salad bowl?
- 4 The Heartland
- 5 The sound of America
- 6 You can really be someone
- 7 If you’re so smart, why aren’t you rich?
- 8 Over easy and hash browns on the side
- 9 Super-sized or super hungry?
- 10 On the move
The sound of America
© Fagbokforlaget AS
The sound of America
What is the official language of the USA? Most people think it’s English, but actually there is no official language. Although English is the most widely spoken language, it only has official status in 30 of the 50 states. In addition, just about every language in the world is spoken in different parts of the USA.
A regional accent or a dialect is the way people speak in a particular part of a country. In the USA there are clear differences in the way people speak English in the north, south, central and western parts of the country.
There are many examples of different kinds of English in Mini movies. Here you’re going to listen to three American regional accents. What differences can you hear in the way Rob, Tina and Scott speak? You don’t need to understand everything they say. Just listen to how they speak. Listen to all three before you do the exercises.
© Kemter/iStockphotos
© DRB-Images-LLC/iStockphotos
© DRB-Images-LLC/iStockphotos
Digging deeper
Place names in the USA can tell you something about the history of the country. They also reflect the many nationalities that have settled there. Here are four possible categories:
- Names based on Native American names, eg Seattle, Alabama, Miami
- Descriptions of the landscape, eg Lakeview, Willow Creek, Pine Bluffs
- Names from the countries colonists have come from, eg New York, Oslo, New Orleans
- Names expressing hopes for a place, eg Harmony, Sweet Home, Success
Work in groups of four. Look at a map of the USA.
- Each person is to find five examples from one of the categories above. Write down the names and the states they are in. Read your list aloud to the rest of the group. They are to write down the names.
- Can you think of any other categories?