The History of the The History of the English LanguageEnglish Language
““a brief overview”a brief overview”
The History The History
To ask yourselves:To ask yourselves: Where did English come from?Where did English come from? What are its origins and its What are its origins and its
timeline of development?timeline of development? What kind of language is it?What kind of language is it?
Family of LanguagesFamily of Languages
INDO-EUROPEAN FAMILY OF
LANGUAGES
Latin: Italian, French, Spanish
Germanic: German,Swedish, Icelandic,
Dutch, English!
Indo-Iranian: Farsi,Hindi, Sanskrit
Others: Slavic, Baltic,Celtic, Greek
The History The History
Real storyReal story of English begins around of English begins around 500 A.D.500 A.D. when when West Germanic invaders began coming into Britain West Germanic invaders began coming into Britain from southern Denmark and western present-day from southern Denmark and western present-day Netherlands.Netherlands.
These people were the Anglos, Saxons, Jutes and These people were the Anglos, Saxons, Jutes and Frisians and they spoke Anglo-Saxon or Old English Frisians and they spoke Anglo-Saxon or Old English (similar to modern Frisian spoken by 400,000 people (similar to modern Frisian spoken by 400,000 people today).today).
The HistoryThe History
The original inhabitants of Britain, The original inhabitants of Britain, the Celts, as a result of invasions, the Celts, as a result of invasions, were pushed into the western and were pushed into the western and northern areas of the island of northern areas of the island of Britain and into Ireland, modern Britain and into Ireland, modern France where they became France where they became today’s Irish, Welsh, Scots and all today’s Irish, Welsh, Scots and all speak a similar form of Gaelic. speak a similar form of Gaelic.
The VikingsThe Vikings
Beginning around 850 A.D. West Beginning around 850 A.D. West Germanic invaders brought with them Germanic invaders brought with them their North Germanic influence. their North Germanic influence.
Today, Old English is used in our Today, Old English is used in our vocabulary and is descended from OE, vocabulary and is descended from OE, it is some of the most important that it is some of the most important that we use: “the, water, book, him, her, we use: “the, water, book, him, her, these and those” are all descended these and those” are all descended from OE.from OE.
Norman ConquestNorman Conquest
1066 A.D.1066 A.D. a pivotal moment for the a pivotal moment for the language with the Norman Conquestlanguage with the Norman Conquest
Anglo-Saxons of England were Anglo-Saxons of England were conquered by the French-speaking conquered by the French-speaking William, Duke of Normandy.William, Duke of Normandy.
Old EnglishOld English Middle English Middle English Foreign aristocracy speak French Foreign aristocracy speak French
while lower class speak their native while lower class speak their native English English
Norman ConquestNorman Conquest
French InfluenceFrench Influence
Latin-based vocabulary began to mix Latin-based vocabulary began to mix with Englishwith English
2 words with one meaning: beef, pork 2 words with one meaning: beef, pork and veal from the French speaking lord and veal from the French speaking lord and English speaking commoner used and English speaking commoner used cow, pig, and calfcow, pig, and calf
Indict, jury, verdict, crime replaced Indict, jury, verdict, crime replaced firen and uncle replaced eam. (French firen and uncle replaced eam. (French replaced)replaced)
Gentleman (French joined English)Gentleman (French joined English)
French InfluenceFrench Influence
Vocabulary: what resulted in a Vocabulary: what resulted in a double set of English and Latin-double set of English and Latin-based French words like “doom” based French words like “doom” and “judgement”, “get” and and “judgement”, “get” and “obtain.”“obtain.”
Flexibility, richnessFlexibility, richness Use interchangeably…Use interchangeably…
The 1300sThe 1300s
Black Plague +Black Plague + Intermarriage +Intermarriage + Growth of laboring and merchant classes Growth of laboring and merchant classes
++== division and distinction between French division and distinction between French
and English endedand English ended Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales (noble and Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales (noble and
commoner) commoner) Middle English from 1100-1500Middle English from 1100-1500
Early Modern EnglishEarly Modern English
1500-1800 linked to Renaissance, 1500-1800 linked to Renaissance, William Shakespeare…William Shakespeare…
Revival of scholarship brought Revival of scholarship brought into language many Greek and into language many Greek and classical Latin words classical Latin words
Age of Exploration and DiscoveryAge of Exploration and Discovery
Late Modern EnglishLate Modern English
1800 to present has been 1800 to present has been characterized by 2 historical characterized by 2 historical events:events:
1) the rise of technology1) the rise of technology 2) the growth of the British 2) the growth of the British
Empire and its eventual Empire and its eventual overshadowing of American overshadowing of American influence in the worldinfluence in the world
