American English and American Culture (英语论文).doc

American English and American Culture Language and culture can never be separated,language could not exist if it separates with culture.The Britain people and American people both use the language of English.However,American English is a variety of British English,Americans have their own traits and customs to use words and expressions.American English provide us with a interesting reflection of American culture.Actually,we can feel something about American culture,since American English reflects American culture,including their view of value,their character traits,and so on. 1.American English melt a lot of loanwords America is called“a melting pot”since twentieth century,it means the nations are melted into a new race of men.In the field of language，it can be said that American English is a linguistic melting pot.It has probably adopted and loaned more foreign words than British English.For one thing,new physical conditions in a new nation call for new words.For another thing,Americans were in contact with foreign language more than Britain during the period of colonization and whole immigration. The migration of English to North America resulted in the adoption of many loanwords from the various Indian language of the continent,for example:persimmon(美洲柿)，“tamarack”(美洲落叶松)，“raccoon”(浣熊)，“muskrat”(麝鼠). Besides the various of Indian influences,American English reflects the non-English cultures.In the westward expansion of their territory,the English-speaking colonists came into contact with French,the Dutch and Spanish.The loan words are:voyageur(靠水路运送货物和人的船夫)，“portage”(搬运工)，“pumpkin”(南瓜)，“bayou”(长沼)—these are French words.alfalfa(苜蓿)，“taco”（一种墨西哥肉米饼），“enchilada”(以辣椒调味的一种墨西哥菜)—these are Spanish words.coleslaw(拌上调味汁的冷拌菜)，“waffle”(华夫饼干)，“boss”(老板)—these are Dutch words. The German is also influence American English,such as:hamburger(汉堡包)，“noodle”(面条)，“hood-lum”(强盗)，“ecology”(生态学)，“semester”（学期）,sauerkraut(泡菜)，and many other German words.In addition,as wild