A Short History of the English Language

A Short History A Short History of the English of the English

LanguageLanguage

Early England Created by Early England Created by Three InvasionsThree Invasions

1. Roman Occupation 55 B.C.-410 A.D.

2. Anglo-Saxon and Viking Invasions 410 – 1066 A.D.

3. The Norman Invasion (The Battle of Hastings) in 1066 A.D.

LATINLATIN

GERMAN(IC)GERMAN(IC)

FRENCHFRENCH

Pre-Historical / Pre-Pre-Historical / Pre-RomanRoman

Stonehenge

English is a Melting Pot of English is a Melting Pot of LanguagesLanguages

Celtic Latin German French

Pre-Historical / Pre-Pre-Historical / Pre-RomanRoman

The island we know as England was The island we know as England was occupied by a race of people called the occupied by a race of people called the Celts. One of the tribes was called Celts. One of the tribes was called Brythons or Britons (where we get the Brythons or Britons (where we get the term Britain)term Britain)

The Celts were The Celts were PagansPagans and their and their religion was know as “animism” a Latin religion was know as “animism” a Latin word for “spirit.” Celts saw spirits word for “spirit.” Celts saw spirits everywhereeverywhere

Druids were their priests; their role was Druids were their priests; their role was to go between the gods and the peopleto go between the gods and the people

Roman OccupationRoman Occupation

Hadrian’s Wall

The Most Important Results The Most Important Results of the Roman Occupationof the Roman Occupation

LatinLatin heavily influenced the English heavily influenced the English languagelanguage

Relative Relative Peace Peace ChristianityChristianity begins to take hold in begins to take hold in

England (but does not fully displace England (but does not fully displace Paganism for several hundred years)Paganism for several hundred years)

The Anglo-Saxon PeriodThe Anglo-Saxon Period410-787410-787

Viking Invasions 787-Viking Invasions 787-10661066

VikingsVikings The Vikings were sea-faring (explorers, The Vikings were sea-faring (explorers,

traders, and warriors) Scandinavians traders, and warriors) Scandinavians during the 8during the 8thth through 11 through 11thth centuries. centuries.

Vikings were also called “Northmen” Vikings were also called “Northmen” which is related to yet another culture which is related to yet another culture (this one French) which made conquest of (this one French) which made conquest of England—the Normans, and William the England—the Normans, and William the Conqueror in 1066.Conqueror in 1066.

Viking raids began around 787, the Anglo-Viking raids began around 787, the Anglo-Saxons were different culturally from the Saxons were different culturally from the Viking invaders.Viking invaders.

Important Results of the Important Results of the Viking InvasionsViking Invasions

The English language is “born”

Old English is mainly Germanic in grammar (syntax and morphology) and lexicon (words) the core of our modern English is vastly influenced by this early linguistic

Many different dialects of Old-English.

Norman InvasionNorman Invasion

In 1066 at the Battle of Hastings, the Normans (powerful Northern Frenchmen) defeated the English and started a centuries-long conquest of England

Two Most Important Effects Two Most Important Effects of the Norman Invasion:of the Norman Invasion:

FrenchFrench becomes official becomes official language of politics and power language of politics and power and exerts enormous influence and exerts enormous influence on Old Englishon Old English

England begins England begins unifyingunifying under under a French political system, much a French political system, much of which is still with us (even in of which is still with us (even in the U.S.) todaythe U.S.) today

Examples of Language from Examples of Language from Each Period Each Period

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.

Austen(from P&P)

1800-present

Modern English

“Sir, I loue you more than words can weild ye matter” (EMnE) =“Sir, I love you more than word can wield the matter” (MnE)

Shakespeare (from KL)

1485-1800

Early Modern English

“Whan that Aprille with his shoures soote . . . ” (ME) =“When that April with its sweet showers . . .” (MnE)

Chaucer(from CT)

1066-1485

Middle English

“Gaæþ a wyrd swa hio scel” (OE)=“Fate goes ever as it must” (MnE)

Beowulf (from Beowulf!)

400-1066

Old English

OE=Old English ME=Middle English EMnE=Early Modern English MnE=Modern English