The History of English Language

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGETHE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

STAGES OF DEVELOPMENTSTAGES OF DEVELOPMENT

• Old English ( 500-1066)Old English ( 500-1066)• Middle English (1066-1470)Middle English (1066-1470)• Early Modern English (1470-1650)Early Modern English (1470-1650)• Modern English (1650 - )Modern English (1650 - )

OLD ENGLISH (500-1066)OLD ENGLISH (500-1066)

• A West-Germanic languageA West-Germanic language

• Called Englisc by those who spoke it, Called Englisc by those who spoke it, namely the Angles, Angelcynn or namely the Angles, Angelcynn or Angelfolc.Angelfolc.

• They called their country Englaland.They called their country Englaland.

Old English was split into Old English was split into four different dialects:four different dialects:

• West SaxonWest Saxon• MercianMercian• NorthumbrianNorthumbrian• KentishKentish

The Old English language The Old English language was influenced by other was influenced by other languages:languages:

• Old Norse (the Vikings)Old Norse (the Vikings)– Get, leg, root, sky, sameGet, leg, root, sky, same

• CelticCeltic– Names like ”Avon”, ”Thames”Names like ”Avon”, ”Thames”

CasesCases

Old English had Old English had fivefive cases cases (compared to only four in Old Norse):(compared to only four in Old Norse):• nominativenominative• accusativeaccusative• dativdativ• genitivegenitive• instrumentalinstrumental

Remnants of these cases are to be found only in a few Remnants of these cases are to be found only in a few pronouns in modern English.pronouns in modern English.

BEOWULFBEOWULF• The most famous The most famous

written text in Old written text in Old English is the epic English is the epic poem Beowulf.poem Beowulf.

• It is a mixture of It is a mixture of facts and fiction facts and fiction from the time when from the time when the Anglo-Saxons the Anglo-Saxons began migrating and began migrating and settling in present settling in present day England.day England.

• Is by many Is by many considered to be considered to be England’s national England’s national epic.epic.

OUR FATHEROUR FATHERFæder ure, ðu ðe eart on Fæder ure, ðu ðe eart on heofenum, si ðin nama heofenum, si ðin nama gehalgod; to-becume ðin rice; gehalgod; to-becume ðin rice; geweorþe ðin willa on eorðan geweorþe ðin willa on eorðan swa swa on heofenum. Urne swa swa on heofenum. Urne ge dæghwamlican hlaf syle us ge dæghwamlican hlaf syle us to-deag, and forgyf us ure to-deag, and forgyf us ure gyltas swa swa we forgifaþ gyltas swa swa we forgifaþ urum gyltendum, ane ne urum gyltendum, ane ne gelæde ðu us on costnunge, gelæde ðu us on costnunge, ac alys us of yfle. Amen.ac alys us of yfle. Amen.

http://www.georgetown.edu/faculty/ballc/oe/paternoster-oe.htmlhttp://www.georgetown.edu/faculty/ballc/oe/paternoster-oe.html

Our Father, Who art in heaven, Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth as it Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who as we forgive those who trespass against us.trespass against us.And lead us not into temptation,And lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from evil. Amenbut deliver us from evil. Amen. .

MIDDLE ENGLISH (1066-1470)MIDDLE ENGLISH (1066-1470)

• The spoken language of the majority of The spoken language of the majority of the people.the people.

• Latin was the language of the Church.Latin was the language of the Church.– Angel, mass, pope, priestAngel, mass, pope, priest

• French was the language of courtly life, French was the language of courtly life, literature and documentation.literature and documentation.– Culture, theatre, economy, parliamentCulture, theatre, economy, parliament

GEOFFREY CHAUCER (1343-GEOFFREY CHAUCER (1343-1400)1400)The Canterbury Tales:The Canterbury Tales:• A collection of stories ”A collection of stories ”told” told” by a by a

collection of pilgrims on a collection of pilgrims on a pilgrimage from Southwark to pilgrimage from Southwark to Canterbury to visit the shrine of Canterbury to visit the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket at Saint Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral.Canterbury Cathedral.

• The tales are considered to be The tales are considered to be one of the most influential one of the most influential works in Western literature.works in Western literature.

• The Wife of Bath’s Tale:The Wife of Bath’s Tale: http://classiclit.about.com/librahttp://classiclit.about.com/library/bl-etexts/gchaucer/bl-ry/bl-etexts/gchaucer/bl-gchau-can-bath.htmgchau-can-bath.htm

EARLY MODERN ENGLISH EARLY MODERN ENGLISH (1470-1650)(1470-1650)

• 1470: The printing press was invented; 1470: The printing press was invented; more books were produced and people more books were produced and people had more access to books.had more access to books.

• The language was much like the English The language was much like the English that we know today, but there are some that we know today, but there are some differences in spelling and grammar.differences in spelling and grammar.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (1565-WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (1565-1616)1616)

Here you are to find Here you are to find your own facts about your own facts about ”the Bard”. Use the ”the Bard”. Use the Internet or other Internet or other resources available.resources available.

Shakespeare’s Sonnet no.18Shakespeare’s Sonnet no.18Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s DayShall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?Thou art more lovely and more temperate.Thou art more lovely and more temperate.Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,And summer's lease hath all too short a date.And summer's lease hath all too short a date.Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,And often is his gold complexion dimmed;And often is his gold complexion dimmed;And every fair from fair sometime declines,And every fair from fair sometime declines,By chance, or nature's changing course untrimmed.By chance, or nature's changing course untrimmed.But thy eternal summer shall not fadeBut thy eternal summer shall not fadeNor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st;Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st;Nor shall death brag thou wand'rest in his shade,Nor shall death brag thou wand'rest in his shade,When in eternal lines to time thou grow'st,When in eternal lines to time thou grow'st,    So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,    So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,    So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.    So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.