The Sociolinguistic Situation and the Role of English in Canada

Seminar paper from the year 2021 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Linguistics, grade: 2,3, RWTH Aachen University, language: English, abstract: English is the leading language of international discourse, mainstream media and is spoken in. It is the official language of 67 countries total, the most known ones being the US, the United Kingdom, Australia and of course Canada. This term paper will discuss the English spoken in Canada, elucidate its role in the country and inform about the sociolinguistic situation. It will also pay attention to some of the other languages that have been and are currently spoken in Canada, with the main in this focus being on French. Since this term paper does not pursue an actual research question, it will summarize the most important historical events and (socio-)linguistic facts and features. The purpose is to give a general overview over the English spoken in Canada and to create a better understanding of Canadians mentality, the relationships between the different provinces and the linguistic differences it has to its neighbor - the US. To do so, this term paper is apportioned into three major points - the origin and history of English in Canada, the most prominent linguistic features as well as the sociolinguistic situation. The first chapter will provide a general overview over the (re-)discovery of Canada by the French and British, illustrate the historical chronology as well as explain why certain provinces have certain official languages. In the second chapter, this term paper takes a look at the most distinctive linguistic features. What are the similarities to American or British English, what distinguishes US-American and British English from Canadian English and what is exclusive to the English spoken in Canada? The third and final chapter is less theoretical. It will tell the reader more about the life in Canada. It designates the languages that have been and are currently spoken in the country and offers some insight into the Educational System as well as the land of media in Canada.