History of the English Language

In this unit, we will be asking ourselves…

Do words matter?

How does language shape one’s perceptions?

English Language Origins

From the native Celts to the British colonizers, the English language has changed tremendously throughout its evolution.

English has the largest vocabulary, over a million words English is a member of the Germanic family of languages,

which is a branch of the Indo-European language family.

Germanic was the language of the Elbe River region 3,000 years ago (N.W. Czech Republic and Germany)

Indo-European Language Family

Four Language Movements

• Pre-English (2500 B.C.E—450 C.E• Old-English (450-1066 C.E.)

• Middle-English (1066-1500 C.E.)

• Modern-English (1500 C.E.- Present)• Early Modern-English (1500-1800 C.E.)• Late Modern-English (1800 C.E.-Present)

The Celts (Pre-English)Who?

The Celts were the native inhabitants of Britain and western Europe. The word Celt is a blanket term uses to describe the many tribes that inhabited pre-Roman Europe. They were oppressed by Roman soldiers and considered unsophisticated and backwards people.

When?

Their history on the British Isles dates back to 2500 B.C.E. and were probably responsible for monuments like Stonehenge.

Borrowings from Celtic in the English language

Although they were the native inhabitants, the Celtic influence on the English language is limited due to their low status in society. Celtic words include River and Place Names: Kent, York, London, Dover, Thames, Avon, Trent, and Cornwall

Roman Occupation and Oppression (Pre-English)

Who? The Roman soldiers lead by Julius Ceasar raided the

British Isles and created the Roman colony of Brittania.

When? 55 B.C.E.—Julius Caesar leads the Roman invasion on the

British Isles 43 B.C.E—Britain is completely Romanized 410 C.E—As the Roman Empire was crumbling, the Romans

retreated the British Isles leaving the Celts defenseless against the invading Germanic tribes.

Borrowings from Roman Soldiers

During their occupation, the Roman soldiers contributed many Latin words including:

Food Words: Pepper, Dish, Butter, Cheese

Words for Trade: Trade, Bushel, Pound, Loan, Coin

The Anglo-Saxons (Old-English)

When the Roman Empire falls, the Germanic people invade and inhabit Britain.

Who? The Anglo-Saxons were split into four main

tribes: the Angles, Saxons, Jutes and Frisians. They migrated from what is today northern Germany and Denmark.

When? The Anglo-Saxons occupied Britain in 449 C.E. Old-English 450-1100 C.E.

Borrowings from Anglo-Saxon

The Anglo-Saxon influence on the English language was tremendous.

Around 90% of common words in English come from the Anglo-Saxons:

Angle-Land comes from the Angles

The days of the week come from Anglo-Saxon gods: Tiw, Tuesday; Woden, Wednesday; Thunor, Thursday and Frigga, Friday

Family Words: Son, Daughter

Common Verbs: Drink, Come, Go, Sing, Like, Love

Prepositions: In, On, Into, By, FromThe History of English in 10 minutes chapter 1. Running Time: 1:18 Source:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9Tfbeqyu2U&feature=player_embedded

Listen to Old-English being spoken. Running time: 1:11 Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsUM1qk2y_o

Religious Conversion by the Romans (Old-English cont...)

Who? St. Augustine and his 40 missionaries from Rome

worked to convert the pagan Anglo-Saxons to Christianity.

Introduced the Roman Alphabet, replacing the Anglo-Saxon’s Runes.

About 400 Anglo-Saxon texts survive from this era, including “Cædmon's Hymn,” “Anglo-Saxon Chronicle” And the best known is the long epic poem “Beowulf”

When?

The Roman missionaries arrived in 597 C.E.

Borrowings from the Roman Missionaries

The Roman missionaries contributed many words to Old-English such as:

Religious Words: Altar, Organ, Monk, Alms, Pope, Stole, Hymn, Mass, Martyr

Education Words: School, Master, Verse, Notary, Script

The Viking and Danish Invasion (Old-English cont...)

Who? The Vikings settled in East Anglia and controlled

Northern and Eastern England. They raided churches and villages and burned religious books.

However, they were more than just ransacking barbarians. They were also a people who loved music and celebrated heroism through the telling of epic poems—such as Beowulf.

When?

The Vikings and Danes arrived around 787 C.E.

How Alfred the Great Saved Old-English

The arrival of the Danes and their language, Old Norse, threatened the English language.

Alfred the Great saved England and the English language when he established a peace treaty with the Danes during what is now referred to as the Danelaw period.

If it weren't for Alfred the Great, we might be speaking Danish today!

Hvad så? (What's up?)

Borrowings from the Vikings and DanesThe Danes and the English often traded and intermarried which contributed

to a blending of English and Old Norse and simplified English grammar.

Old Norse contributed words such as:

Pronouns: They, Them, Their

Family Names: The Danes added the suffix –son onto the father’s name to create names such as Harrison or Richardson.

Old Norse often provided direct alternatives or synonyms for Anglo-Saxon words, both of which have been carried on

Watch an excerpt from "The Adventure of English" to find out how Alfred the Great saved the English language.

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oProNfbWKeo Running time: 9:56

Anglo-Saxon Norse

Craft Skill

Wish Want

Sick Ill

Whole Hale

Raise Rear

Wrath Anger

Hide Skin

Norman Conquest (Middle-English)Who? The Normans arrived in Britain from France. Old French which

became the language of power, relegating Old-English language to the lower classes.

Eleanor of Aquitaine introduces the idea of chivalry, courtly love, and thus the growth of Medieval romance stories about King Arthur and the knights of the round table.

1388 Geoffrey Chaucer wrote the Canterbury Tales in Middle-English, the language of the people.

When? 1066 C.E. King Edward of England dies without an heir, and William

the Duke of Normandy, France, claims the throne after the Battle of Hastings.

Middle-English 1066-1500 C.E.

Borrowings from the Normans

It is estimated that around 10,000 French words were contributed to the English language at this time including words such as:

Words for Law and Government: Jail, Attorney, Court, Crime, Judge, Prison, Tax, Verdict, Evidence

Words for Nobility: Count, Countess, Duke, Noble, Royal, Princess, Prince, Peasant

Culture and Fashion Words: Fur, Jewel, Clarinet, Dance, Ruby, Satin, Pendant, Painting, Music

The History of English in 10 minutes chapter 2. Running Time: 1:18

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1B8TwBrCIEY&feature=player_embedded

Early Modern-English

What? Great Vowel Shift: Towards the end of Middle-English, a

sudden and distinct change in pronunciation started, with vowels being pronounced shorter and shorter.

The Renaissance was a time of new inventions, education, travel and cultural exploration. Shakespeare also wrote his plays at this time.

When? 1500 C.E.--Early Modern-English begins with the

Renaissance 1800 C.E.--Ends with Colonial expansion

Shakespeare’s Influence on Language

• How large was his vocabulary?

• What words did Shakespeare invent?

The History of English in 10 minutes chapter 3. Running Time: 1:16

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMkuUADWW2A&feature=relmfu

Religious Influences on Language

What? The King James Bible

When? 1611 C.E. This version of the bible was published under the reign of King James. Not only was it widely distributed, but it was published using words and vocabulary that everyone could understand.

Borrowings from King James Bible

“Powers that be” “Turned the world upside down” “Go the extra mile”

The History of English in 10 minutes chapter 4. Running Time: 1:18

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kN7-EvgKAsk&feature=relmfu

The Influence of Science on Language

What?

The Renaissance of Classical learning, meant that many new words and phrases entered the language as new discoveries were being made.

When? 1500’s—1600’s

Borrowings from Latin and Greek: Science Words: Acid, Gravity, Pendulum

Abdomen, Anatomy, Physician, Gradual, Skeleton, Data

The History of English in 10 minutes chapter 5. Running Time: 1:19

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVDmFVx8O_A&feature=relmfuBorrowings from Latin and Greek

Late Modern-English What? The English Empire Colonial expansion brought new Indian American,

African, and Australian words to the English language. Many of these words were used because there was no existing word in English to describe what the colonizers saw and heard in the new colonies.

When? 1800--1914

Borrowings from the Colonies Nature Words: Moose, Opossum, Zebra, Kangaroo,

Hickory Music Words: Jazz, Jitterbug, Jukebox, DigeridooThe History of English in 10 minutes chapter 6. Running Time: 1:21

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ES3qDORQjAA&feature=relmfu

English Today(1800's to Today)

What? The Industrial Revolution The main difference between Early Modern-English

and Late Modern-English is vocabulary. Late Modern-English has many more words due to the

Industrial Revolution and technology created a need for new words.

Words Borrowed from Technology: train, engine, reservoir, pulley, combustion, piston, hydraulic, condenser, electricity, telephone, telegraph, lithograph, camera

Compound word creations: railway, horsepower, typewriter, cityscape, airplane.

American English http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbvumrknAKs&feature=relmfu

Internet English http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPltpdu9KGM&feature=relmfu