Question

“It is not only important, but, in a degree necessary, that the people of this country, should have an American Dictionary of the English language; for, although the body of the language is the same as in England, . . . yet some differences must exist. Language is the expression of ideas; and if the people of one country cannot preserve an identity of ideas, they cannot retain an identity of language. . . . But the principal differences between the people of this country and of all others, arise from different forms of government, different laws, institutions and customs. Thus the . . . feudal system of England originated terms which formed . . . a necessary part of the language of that country; but, in the United States, many of these terms are no part of our present language,—and they cannot be, for the things which they express do not exist in this country. . . . The institutions in this country which are new and peculiar, give rise to new terms or to new applications of old terms, unknown to the people of England; which cannot be explained by them and which will not be inserted in their dictionaries, unless copied from ours. . . . No person in this country will be satisfied with the English definitions of the words congress, senate, and assembly, court, [etc.] for although these are words used in England, yet they are applied in this country to express ideas which they do not express in that country.”

Noah Webster, “Preface,” An American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828

The national identity described in the excerpt most strongly reflects the influence of which of the following?


European precedents along with an American national culture

Option A,European precedents along with an American national culture

a

The English feudal system in which lords and landowners dominated vassals and farmers

Option B,The English feudal system in which lords and landowners dominated vassals and farmers

b

Independence movements and revolutions in Europe and Latin America

Option C,Independence movements and revolutions in Europe and Latin America

c

Antislavery activism in the United States and Europe

Option D,Antislavery activism in the United States and Europe

d

Answer 1

A

Webster argues that American English grows out of the same English roots but has unique meanings and terms shaped by different forms of government, laws, institutions, and customs in the United States—i.e., European precedents blended with a distinct American national culture.