Why English? The Historical Context

Why English? The historical context.

82% speak English at home (2000 census) Due to the cultural diversification the English language had served as a glue, which gave people the chance to communicate with each other and gave them common access to opportunity.

1497: first contact with the English language 1750s: French settlers deported from Nova Scotia (Acadia) and replaced by settlers from New England. Later settlers came directly from England, Scotland and Ireland. In 2001 one third of the nation (31 million) had English as a native or home language Many find it difficult to hear the difference in pronunciation of Canadian and American.

Spreads as early as the 15th century with the slaves to the sugar plantations The policy of the slave-traders was to bring people of different language backgrounds over on their ships, so as to minimize the risk of rebellion on the boats. Therefore, a number of pidgin forms of communication formed. Once they arrived in the Caribbean the pidgin English continued as a means of communication between the black population and the landowners, as well as the black people among themselves. The result is a creole English, which spread from the plantations to coastal towns and islands.