Kritsberg R. Divergence and Convergence of Regional Variants of the English language

The thesis deals with the problems of differentiation and integration processes embracing regional variants of English - British, American, Australian, viewed through identifying lexical, partly phraseological, morphological as well as syntactical distinctive elements of the above variants from synchronic and diachronic perspectives. Divergence processes in American and British English involve the differences of content and form, covering the bulk of English vocabulary. The use of some British dialectic and archaic lexical items in Standard American and Australian English reflects both differentiation and integration trends. The English language system is far from being balanced, and is marked by the interface of the variants on all language levels. American English greatly influences the two other variants, while Australian English is affected by both British and American English. The formation of American literary standard had been completed by the end of the 19th c. Exoglossic situation in American English is marked for its multi-polar character, being bipolar in Australian English.