English Goes to the New World

Abstract

At the end of the nineteenth century, on being asked to name the single greatest fact in modern political history, the German statesman Otto von Bismarck answered: ‘The inherent and permanent fact that North America speaks English.’

North America will be peopled with a hundred millions of men, all speaking the same language ... the people of one quarter of the world, will be able to associate and converse together like children of the same family.

Noah Webster, An Essay on the Necessity, Advantages and Practicality of Re forming the Mode of Spelling (1789)

‘Ever’body says words different,’ said Ivy. ‘Arkansas folks says ‘em different, and Oklahoma folks says ’em different. And we seen a lady from Massachusetts, an’ she said ‘em differentest of all. Couldn’ hardly make out what she was savin’.’

John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath