While the true direction of the Transpontine Series is to get to the heart of US history, this second book starts off with the 80 or so years of exploration and colonisation that led to the first attempts by the English to gain a foothold in North America.
This is the first book in the Transpontine Series, which explores the language and history of the United States from the 15th-century period of Columbus and the discovery of the New World right through to the US bicentennial in 1976. These books focus primarily on language and the etymology of words that originate from America, set in the context of history and how those words came about.
The earliest words coined in America came either from the languages of the native people living along the eastern seaboard or from new combinations of existing English words. Only later did French and Dutch contribute some new words through the process of colonial interaction. Even more words came into American English from Spanish but all of these influences combined pale in comparison with the sheer volume of words that Americans invented, revived or gave new meaning to on their own. A great many of these have since spread throughout the world and settled as Standard English in their own right. The fact that they were once so-called Americanisms is long forgotten. This series attempts to shine a light on these wonderful words and the often-intriguing circumstances from which they arose
It will look at how the first (very much illegal) English bible sparked a religious protest movement that gave us separatist puritans and pilgrims.
It then dives right in to the founding of James-towne, Virginia and the first uniquely American-English words, including loanwords from local tribes and the formation of new compounds and meanings to describe the environment of North America.
"... researched a lot and he quotes so many sources, drops so many interesting facts, ideas, historical bits and pieces. That was awesome!!"
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The book looks at early colonial settlement by the English right up to the Mayflower, Plymouth settlement and concludes with a launching of more colonies in Jamestown, Plymouth Colony, New England by the Massachusetts Bay Company, New France and New Netherlands.
While the true direction of the Transpontine Series is to get to the heart of US history, this second book starts off with the 80 or so years of exploration and colonisation that led to the first attempts by the English to gain a foothold in North America.
It will look at how the first (very much illegal) English bible sparked a religious protest movement that gave us separatist puritans and pilgrims.
It then dives right in to the founding of James-towne, Virginia and the first uniquely American-English words, including loanwords from local tribes and the formation of new compounds and meanings to describe the environment of North America.
My first book was a book on English grammar and usage, published through Hachette. This was followed up by books combining history and etymology. So far I have published 11 books. History and great stories are the common denominators.
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I live by the motto: "Always be creating". Whether it is 10 words, 10 pages or 10 photos, I try to make sure I have added/created something new by sundown.
