Embark on a captivating journey through time and trace the fascinating evolution of the English language, from its ancient Indo-European roots to its current status as a global lingua franca. Explore the profound impact of Germanic tribes, Viking invasions, and the Norman Conquest on shaping Old English and Middle English, witnessing the birth of a language transformed by cultural exchange and historical upheaval. Uncover the pivotal role of figures like Chaucer and Shakespeare in molding Modern English, while delving into the transformative effects of the Great Vowel Shift and the advent of the printing press. This linguistic odyssey illuminates the dynamic forces that have propelled English through the ages, revealing how Renaissance scholarship, the Industrial Revolution, and the rise of the British Empire contributed to its ever-expanding vocabulary and global reach. Discover how the language absorbed words from diverse cultures, from the Indian subcontinent to the Americas, adapting and evolving to reflect the changing world. Unravel the story behind the standardization of English, the influence of dialects, and the emergence of American English as a distinct variant. Gain insight into the impact of military slang and the pervasive influence of American and Australian media on contemporary usage. From its humble origins to its dominance in science, technology, and the internet, witness the remarkable journey of English as it continues to adapt, innovate, and connect people across borders, solidifying its position as a truly international language, constantly enriched by new words and evolving expressions, a testament to its enduring vitality and global significance. This book is a must-read for language enthusiasts, history buffs, and anyone curious about the forces that have shaped the way we communicate today, offering a comprehensive and engaging exploration of one of the world's most dynamic and influential languages. Follow the captivating narrative of how English secured its place as the language of global communication and the lasting effects of its international influence that continues to shape our modern world.
The history of the English language
1.Indo-European and Germanic influences
English belongs to the Indo-European family of languages. The influence of the original IndoEuropean language can be seen today, even though no written record of it exists. For example, the word for father is Vater in German, pater in Latin and pitr in Sanskrit. These words are all cognates, similar words in different languages that share the same roots.
English is part of the Germanic group of languages. About 3000 years ago this group began as a common language. Tribes who invaded from the east, from what is Germany now, spoke different dialects of the ‘Germanic’ language, from which modern German developed. Because of this English and German are often similar.
During the second century BC this Common Germanic language split into three distinct subgroups: East Germanic, which was spoken by peoples who migrated back to southeastern Europe. The only written East Germanic language that survives is Gothic. The second group, North Germanic, evolved into the modern Scandinavian languages of Swedish, Danish, Norwegian and Icelandic. And the last group is West Germanic. It’s the ancestor of modern German, Dutch, Flemish, Frisian and English.
2. Old English (500-1100 AD)
Old English was spoken and written in England during the early Middle Ages, from the fifth century through the eleventh.
In the fifth and sixth centuries AD the Angles, Saxons and Jutes began to populate the British Isles. These tribes fought with the original inhabitants of the island, the Britons, and pushed them back to the north and west, what is Scotland and Wales today. The new territory of the Angles, Saxons and Jutes can be called the land of the Anglo-Saxons, or for short, “Angle- land”- England. They spoke a mutually understandable language, which was similar to modern Frisian -the language of northeastern region of the Netherlands- that is called Old English. Old English had three major dialects: Northumbria was spoken in the north of England, Mercian in the Midlands and West Saxon in the south and west.
The original Celtic-speaking inhabitants were pushed out of what is now England into Scotland, Wales, Cornwall and Ireland by these invaders. These Celtic languages still survive today as ‘Welsh’ in Wales, ‘Gaelic’ in Scotland and Ireland, ‘Breton’ in France and ‘Manx’ in the isle of Man.
The Vikings also influenced English at this time. Norse invasions, which began around 850, brought many North Germanic words into the language. Most of the modern English words have foreign, not Old English roots. For example words like be, water and strong derive from Old English roots. But Old English had a number of letters, which no longer appear in the Late Modern English language. It is a foreign tongue for us.
3. Middle English (1100-1500)
Between 1100 and 1500 English suffered its most meaningful changes.
The man who invaded and conquered England and the Anglo-Saxons in 1066 AD was William the Conqueror, the Duke of Normandy. The Normans brought with them the old French language known as Anglo-Norman. This language became the language of the Royal Court and the ruling and business class. Latin had been only a minor influence on the English language. Some French words replaced Old English words, for example: crime replaced firen. King John lost the province of Normandy to the King of France in 1024 AD.
The mixture of the two languages Old English and French came to be known as Middle English. This language was very different in different parts of the country. Modern Englishspeaking people can read Middle English. In 1362 the Statue of Pleading was adopted. This made English the language of the courts and it began to be used in Parliament.
The changes during this period gave place to the 5 variants of English that are still spoken in Great Britain: Northern, East Midland, West Midland, Kentish and Southern.
Middle English was the language of the poet Geoffrey Chaucer (about 1340-1400). He was known as the greatest English poet before Shakespeare. Chaucer wrote many tales and novellas. His most famous work is ‘Canterbury Tales’.
4. Modern English (1500-present)
Modern English began in the year 1500 until today. We’ve devided it into two parts: Early Modern English and Late-Modern English.
Early Modern English (1500-1800)
With the Renaissance came the next wave of innovation in English. It was the time of great advance of learning and culture. Many classical Latin and Greek words were brought into the language by the revival of classical scholarship. Many of these borrowings survive to this day.
Shakespeare’s character Hofernes in Loves Labor Lost is a satire of a very enthusiastic schoolmaster who is too fond of Latinism. Shakespeare (1564- 1616) was the individual, who had the most influence on the English language. Because of his in sight into human nature and his gift for using words, Shakespeare has become the most famous playwright of all time. It must have helped him to have such a new rich language in his hands. He coined some 2000 words, and many catch phrases are from Shakespeare. For example: “One fell swoop”,“vanish into thin air”, “flesh and blood”, “If music be the food of love, play on and give me excess” (12 th Night), “Of one who loved not wisely too well” (Othello) are all Shakespeare’s. Shakespeare gave many phrases and sayings, which English speaker still use every day to the language. But often they do not realise that these words came from Shakespeare’s plays or poems. He defined the English language like no other.
The first of the two other major factors, which influenced the language and served to separate Middle and Modern English, was the Great Vowel Shift. This change in pronunciation began around 1400.
Chaucer’s pronunciation would have been completely unintelligible to the modern ear; Shakespeare would be accented, but understandable.
The advent of the printing press was the last major factor. In 1476 William Caxton brought the printing press to England. At last the printing press brought standardisation to English. The dialect of London became the standard. The first English dictionary was published in 1604. The printing of a book -the ‘Authorised’ or ‘King James’ translation of the Bible in 1611- has had an even greater effect on society and culture than Shakespeare. Anyone who could read had access to the Bible in his or her own language and in words, which were easy to understand. Many phrases and quotations from it have become part of the English language. People often use them, but they don’t know that they come from the Bible. For example: “go a second mile”, “he love of money is the root of all evil”.
Late-Modern English (1800-present)
Pronunciation, grammar and spelling in Early Modern English and Late-Modern English are largely the same. The only differences are the vocabulary and that Late-Modern English has many more words. These words are the result of two historical factors: 1. The Industrial Revolution and the rise of the technological society, 2. The British Empire.
English adopted many foreign words and made them its own. English relied heavily on Latin and Greek. Some words, for example protein and nuclear, didn’t exist in classical languages, but were created from Latin and Greek roots.
The rise of the British Empire and the growth of global trade served to introduce words into English. The languages of the Indian subcontinent, for example Hindi, provided many words. Nearly every language of the world has contributed to the development of English. The creation and spread of American English was the most significant linguistic consequence of the British Empire.
The military influence during the second half of the 20 th century has been great because of the two world wars. Before the Great War military slang existed, but rarely influenced Standard English. During the mid-20 th century military slang entered the language like never before.
English has continued to change since the time of Shakespeare. British settlers moved across the world. They went to the USA, Australia, New Zealand; India, Asia and Africa and in each place, the language changed and developed, and took in words from other local languages. Words like ‘kangaroo’ and ‘boomerang’ are native Australian Aborigine words.
All these different types of English have mixed with the increase in communication, travel, radio and television. Because of American and Australian TV programmes many parts of Australian and American English are used in Britain today. Words from many other languages, for example French, German, Spanish, Arabic and Nepali, have been borrowed. So English continues to change and develop with hundreds of new words arriving every year. It has truly become the world’s international language.
Frequently asked questions
What language family does English belong to?
English belongs to the Indo-European family of languages, specifically the Germanic group.
What are cognates, and what examples are given in the text?
Cognates are similar words in different languages that share the same roots. Examples provided include "father" (English), "Vater" (German), "pater" (Latin), and "pitr" (Sanskrit).
What are the three subgroups of Common Germanic?
The three subgroups are East Germanic (e.g., Gothic), North Germanic (e.g., Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Icelandic), and West Germanic (e.g., German, Dutch, Flemish, Frisian, English).
What time period does Old English cover?
Old English was spoken and written from the fifth century through the eleventh century AD (approximately 500-1100 AD).
Who were the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes, and what is their significance?
These were tribes who migrated to Britain and whose language influenced the development of English. Their territory became known as "Angle-land" (England).
What are the major dialects of Old English?
The major dialects were Northumbria, Mercian, and West Saxon.
How did the Vikings influence the English language?
Norse invasions brought many North Germanic words into the language.
What time period does Middle English cover?
Middle English was spoken and written between 1100 and 1500 AD.
What was the influence of William the Conqueror and the Normans on English?
The Normans brought Anglo-Norman (Old French) to England, which became the language of the Royal Court and the ruling class, significantly influencing the English language.
What is the Statute of Pleading, and why is it important?
The Statute of Pleading, adopted in 1362, made English the language of the courts, increasing its official usage.
Who was Geoffrey Chaucer, and what is his most famous work?
Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1340-1400) was a famous Middle English poet. His most famous work is 'Canterbury Tales'.
What are the two periods within Modern English?
The two periods are Early Modern English (1500-1800) and Late-Modern English (1800-present).
What was the Renaissance's influence on Early Modern English?
The Renaissance brought a wave of Latin and Greek words into the English language.
How did Shakespeare influence the English language?
Shakespeare had a significant impact on the English language, coining approximately 2000 words and many catchphrases that are still used today.
What was the Great Vowel Shift?
The Great Vowel Shift was a change in pronunciation that began around 1400, distinguishing Middle English from later forms.
How did the printing press influence the English language?
The printing press, introduced by William Caxton in 1476, helped to standardize English, with the dialect of London becoming the standard.
What was the significance of the King James Bible (1611)?
The King James Bible had a significant impact on society and culture, making the Bible accessible to a wider audience and introducing many phrases and quotations into the English language.
What factors contributed to the vocabulary growth in Late-Modern English?
The Industrial Revolution, the rise of the technological society, and the British Empire contributed to the vocabulary growth.
How did the British Empire influence the English language?
The British Empire led to the adoption of many foreign words into English from various languages, including those of the Indian subcontinent.
How did military slang influence English in the 20th century?
During the mid-20th century, military slang entered the language to a greater extent than before.
What is American English, and how did it develop?
American English developed as a result of British settlers migrating to the USA and the language evolving in a new environment.
How has communication and travel influenced the English language?
Increased communication, travel, radio, and television have led to a mixing of different types of English and the borrowing of words from many other languages.
Why has English become an international language?
English has become an international language because it is the language of science, air traffic control, computers, and the internet and has spread throughout the world.
- Quote paper
- Jana Kolbusa (Author), 2000, The history of the English language, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/99607
