Old Dominion University ODU Digital Commons English Faculty Publications English 2013 Contemporary English in the USA Melissa Axelrod Joanne Scheibman Old Dominion University,
[email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/english_fac_pubs Part of the Anthropological Linguistics and Sociolinguistics Commons, Morphology Commons, and the Syntax Commons Repository Citation Axelrod, Melissa and Scheibman, Joanne, "Contemporary English in the USA" (2013). English Faculty Publications. 31. https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/english_fac_pubs/31 Original Publication Citation Axelrod, M., & Scheibman, J. (2013). Contemporary English in the USA. International Journal of Language, Translation and Intercultural Communication, 1, 43-59. doi: 10.12681/ijltic.9 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the English at ODU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in English Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of ODU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. IJLTIC 2012 1 (1), 43-59 Articles | USA Contemporary English in the USA Melissa Axelrod, University of New Mexico Joanne Scheibman, Old Dominion University Abstract ndigenous and immigrant speakers from a variety of linguistic and sociocultural I backgrounds have in diff erent ways contributed to the development of present- day American English, as have the geographical and social dimensions of the country. This paper provides a survey of contemporary usage of American English by describing and illustrating linguistic features documented for social and regional groups in the United States. The focus on variation in pronunciation, grammar, and meaning in American English highlights the diversity of dialects and styles in the U.S. as well as the centrality of sociocultural identities to language use.