Lexical Press Publication – The History of the English Language on the Isthmus of Panama

Lexical PressThis TESOL publication begins with the history of English language in Panama, which stems from privateers, and dates back over 500 years. In 1572, Sir Francis Drake and his men, including the famous John Oxenham who five years later became the first English speaking person to navigate the Pacific Ocean anywhere in the Americas, were communicating in English on Panamanian soil.

Another English privateer, William Parker, and his men also operated on the isthmus; in 1601 they captured the Spanish colonial town of Porto Bello on Panama’s Atlantic coast. The next famous English privateer to set foot on Panamanian territory was Henry Morgan who after years of living along the Atlantic coast, crossed the Isthmus and stole the riches from Panama City in the year 1671.

Download this publication free: The History of English in Panama, by Winston Malcolm

Contents of Publication:

  • The Privateers as the first set of English speakers on the Isthmus
  • The first significant group of English speakers from the United States and the English Caribbean islands to reach the Isthmus
  • The Constructions of the Panama Canal as a stimulus for the use of English on the Isthmus
  • Growth of English Speaking Communities and Political Conflicts due to Language
  • World War II and the increased US presence to protect the Panama Canal
  • The Impact of the United States Military on the English Speaking
  • People of Caribbean Descent
  • Dialects of Panamanian English
  • A Social Revolution and its Political Impact on groups of Language Users
  • United States Soldiers Depart and Panamanian Fears About Extended English Use Disappears
  • The current crisis in the Teaching of English on the Isthmus
  • Questions
  • Assignments
  • Guide for Evaluating Answers to the Questions
  • Additional Information for Evaluating Answers to the Assignments
  • Recommended Readings