Read the text and choose the correct answer to each question.
Today, British and American English differ in several ways. Surprisingly, one teacher helped make some of these differences stronger.
After the United States became independent, Noah Webster wanted the country to have its own form of English. At 25, he used his own money to publish a spelling book for American students. It became known as the “Blue-Back Speller” and was one of the most successful schoolbooks in American history.
Webster thought English spelling was too difficult. Why write “colour” when the “u” was silent? Why write “centre” when people said the ending like “er”? He promoted shorter forms such as “color”, “center” and “traveled”. He also removed the final “k” from words such as “musick” and “publick”. Today, “music” and “public” are used in both Britain and America.
Many languages had shaped English long before Webster. Its earliest form came from Germanic languages. Viking settlers from Scandinavia spoke Old Norse. They lived and did business with English speakers, so they introduced words such as “window”, “husband”, “egg” and “skull”.
After the Norman conquest in 1066, England’s new rulers spoke Norman French. English borrowed French words linked to government, law, art and food. The older English names for farm animals remained, including “cow” and “pig”, but French words were used for their meat: “beef” and “pork”. People therefore raised a “cow” but ate “beef” from it.
In North America, English met more languages. Settlers used Native American names for animals they had not seen before, including “moose”, “skunk” and “chipmunk”. Dutch settlers from the Netherlands started a colony called New Netherland around New York. Their language gave American English words such as “cookie” and “boss”. Groups of Spanish-speaking people lived in areas that later became the American Southwest. English speakers moved into these areas and borrowed words such as “ranch”, “patio” and “mustang”.
British and American English grew from the same mixed language, while different cultures continued to shape them.
After the United States became independent, Noah Webster wanted the country to have its own form of English. At 25, he used his own money to publish a spelling book for American students. It became known as the “Blue-Back Speller” and was one of the most successful schoolbooks in American history.
Webster thought English spelling was too difficult. Why write “colour” when the “u” was silent? Why write “centre” when people said the ending like “er”? He promoted shorter forms such as “color”, “center” and “traveled”. He also removed the final “k” from words such as “musick” and “publick”. Today, “music” and “public” are used in both Britain and America.
Many languages had shaped English long before Webster. Its earliest form came from Germanic languages. Viking settlers from Scandinavia spoke Old Norse. They lived and did business with English speakers, so they introduced words such as “window”, “husband”, “egg” and “skull”.
After the Norman conquest in 1066, England’s new rulers spoke Norman French. English borrowed French words linked to government, law, art and food. The older English names for farm animals remained, including “cow” and “pig”, but French words were used for their meat: “beef” and “pork”. People therefore raised a “cow” but ate “beef” from it.
In North America, English met more languages. Settlers used Native American names for animals they had not seen before, including “moose”, “skunk” and “chipmunk”. Dutch settlers from the Netherlands started a colony called New Netherland around New York. Their language gave American English words such as “cookie” and “boss”. Groups of Spanish-speaking people lived in areas that later became the American Southwest. English speakers moved into these areas and borrowed words such as “ranch”, “patio” and “mustang”.
British and American English grew from the same mixed language, while different cultures continued to shape them.
1. What can be concluded about the “Blue-Back Speller”?
2. How did Old Norse words enter English?
3. What do “cow” and “beef” show about English?
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