The American Language | Themes
National Pride
Mencken carries the theme of American independence from England throughout the book. Besides breaking away from the British government, economy, and culture, early Americans soon broke away from the British English language. Just as Americans created a new way of life and self-government, they created new ways of expressing themselves. In some cases, they even took British words and revived or redefined them to make them American. Early American settlers took great pride in differentiating their English from that of England. They took great offense at being...
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- The American Language: Introduction
- The American Language: Summary
- The American Language: H. L. Mencken Biography
- The American Language: Characters
- The American Language: Themes
- The American Language: Style
- The American Language: Historical Context
- The American Language: Critical Overview
- The American Language: Essays and Criticism
- The American Language: Compare and Contrast
- The American Language: Topics for Further Study
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