The Origin of English Language

During the 5th Century AD. Angles, Saxons and Jutes crossed the North Sea from what is the present day Denmark and northern Germany.

Four dialects of English developed:

Northumbrian in Northumbria, north of the Humber

Mercian in the Kingdom of Mercia

West Saxon in the Kingdom of Wessex

Kentish in Kent

During the 7th and 8th Century :Northumbria's culture and language dominated Britain

The 9th Century :The Viking invasions brought this domination to an end (along with the destruction of Mercia).

The 10th Century: The West Saxon dialect became the official language of Britain.

Scandinavian languages Runic Christian missionaries Latin

Vocabulary of Old English

Latin Norse Celtic

street, kitchen, kettle, cup, cheese, wine, angel,

bishop, martyr, candle.

sky, egg, cake, skin, leg, window (wind eye), husband, fellow, skill…

Devon, Dover, Kent, Trent, Severn, Avon,

Thames.

Norse 　 English

Anger 愤怒 　　 wrath 愤怒

Nay 不，否 no 不，无

Fro 来来往往 from 来自

Raise 养育，抚养 rear 饲养，抚养

ill 生病 sick 生病

Bask 享受，沉浸在 bathe 洗澡，浸

Skill 技巧 craft 技工

Skin 皮肤 hide 隐藏

Dike 排水沟，渠 ditch 沟，渠

Skirt 裙 shirt 衬衫

Scatter 七零八落 shatter 粉碎

Skip 移动 shift 移动

French English

Close 关闭 shut 关闭

Reply 回复 answer 答案

Odour 气味 smell 气味

Annual 年度 yearly 年年

Demand 需求，要求 ask 请求，要求

Chamber 庭 room 房间

Desire 欲望 wish 希望

Power 能力 might 力量，威力

Ire 愤怒，怒火 wrath / anger 愤怒

Borrowed Words

• Animals:giraffe.tiger

• Clothing:pyjama,turban

• Food:chocolate,orange

• Scientific and Mathematical Terms:geography,species

• Drinks:tea,coffee

• Religious Terms:jesus,Islam

• Sports:golf,billiards

• Vehicles:car,coach

• Music and Art:piano,theatre

• Weapons:pistol,trigger

• Political and Military Terms:commando,parliament

• Astronomical Names:Saturn,Leo

Languages that have contributed words to English

• Latin• Greek• French• German• Arabic• Italian• Malay• Dutch• Portuguese• Spanish

• Hindi(from India)• Farsi(from Iran and

Afghanistan)• Nahuatl(the Aztec

language)• Sanskrit(from ancient

India)• Tupi(from South America)• Ewe(from Africa)