a very brief history of the english language. old english middle english early modern late modern...
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A Very Brief A Very Brief History of the History of the
English LanguageEnglish Language
O
ld English
Old English
Middle English
Middle English
Early M
odern
Early M
odern
Late
Late
Modern
Modern
450
450
11501150
15001500
1800
1800
B
eowulf
Beowulf Canterb
ury Tales
Macbeth
Canterb
ury Tales
Macbeth
Heart of D
arkness
Heart of D
arkness
The English Continuum…
The CeltsThe Celts3000 BC3000 BC
Various tribes with Various tribes with common common language, religion, and customslanguage, religion, and customs
Lacked writing systemLacked writing system, but found , but found ways to express themselves…ways to express themselves…
55 B.C. Roman Invasion55 B.C. Roman Invasion
Influence?
•Language: Greek and Roman (1st Latin influence)
•Religion: Christianity
•Roman withdrawal in 410 AD left them vulnerable to attack
The Germanic InvasionThe Germanic Invasion 410-1066410-1066 AnglesAngles (Denmark), (Denmark), SaxonsSaxons (N. (N.
Germany), and Germany), and JutesJutes (?) (?)
Centuries of ethnic cleansing/ Centuries of ethnic cleansing/
intermarryingintermarrying Germanic language-Germanic language-Beginning of Beginning of Old Old
EnglishEnglish Latin influence (2Latin influence (2ndnd)): : Anglo Saxons Anglo Saxons
convert to Christianityconvert to Christianity
Map of Anglo-Saxon England
The Norman InvasionThe Norman Invasion 10661066
William the Conqueror (Duke of William the Conqueror (Duke of Normandy)Normandy)
Institutes feudalism Institutes feudalism
Anglo-Norman (Dialect of Old French)Anglo-Norman (Dialect of Old French) Polite society speaks French Polite society speaks French for 300 years!for 300 years! (3(3rdrd Latin Influence) Latin Influence)
English as the Native English as the Native Tongue:Tongue:
1204 AD: King John loses Normandy to 1204 AD: King John loses Normandy to FranceFrance
England England chief concern for nobility chief concern for nobility
Adopted modified English as native Adopted modified English as native tonguetongue
The Black DeathThe Black Death 1349-50: One third of population died1349-50: One third of population died
Laboring and Merchant Laboring and Merchant economic economic and social importanceand social importance
Rise of English! Rise of English! (compared to Anglo-(compared to Anglo-Norman)Norman)
Middle EnglishMiddle English
Combination of Old English and Combination of Old English and FrenchFrench
Incorporate Middle English into YOUR Incorporate Middle English into YOUR vocabulary!vocabulary!
Anon: right awayAnon: right away No force: [I] don't careNo force: [I] don't care Gramercy: many thanksGramercy: many thanks
The Statute of PleadingThe Statute of Pleading
13621362
English English language of language of courts and parliamentcourts and parliament
Nobility = Commoners Nobility = Commoners (linguistically)(linguistically)
The Renaissance and The Renaissance and Early Early Modern EnglishModern English
1500-18001500-1800
Middle English Middle English Modern English: Modern English: Revival of classical study (4Revival of classical study (4thth Latin influence) Latin influence) The Great Vowel ShiftThe Great Vowel Shift (1400) (1400)
crime: criminalcrime: criminalplease: pleasantplease: pleasantgrateful: gratitudegrateful: gratitudeabound: abundantabound: abundantgoose: goslinggoose: gosling
Printing Press Printing Press (1476 in England)(1476 in England)
Late-Modern EnglishLate-Modern English 1800-Present1800-Present Expanded vocabularyExpanded vocabulary::
Industrial and Scientific RevolutionIndustrial and Scientific Revolution EX: Oxygen, protein, nuclear, vaccine (Classical)EX: Oxygen, protein, nuclear, vaccine (Classical)
British EmpireBritish Empire EX: Shampoo, pajamas, juggernaut (Hindi and EX: Shampoo, pajamas, juggernaut (Hindi and
other Indian languages)other Indian languages) Military InfluenceMilitary Influence
EX: Blockbuster, camouflage, radar, nosediveEX: Blockbuster, camouflage, radar, nosedive Technological Revolution Technological Revolution
American EnglishAmerican English Colonization Colonization 16001600
Pronunciations and usages “froze”Pronunciations and usages “froze” EX: Autumn EX: Autumn Fall Fall EX: Rubbish EX: Rubbish Trash Trash
Native American influenceNative American influence EX: Mississippi, raccoon, barbecue, and EX: Mississippi, raccoon, barbecue, and
tomato tomato Native American Native American
Spanish InfluenceSpanish Influence EX: Mustang, canyon, ranch, stampedeEX: Mustang, canyon, ranch, stampede
Old English (c. 1000) :Fæder ure þu þe eart on heofonum
si þin nama gehalgod tobecume þin rice gewurþe þin willa on eorðan swa swa on heofonum
urne gedæghwamlican hlaf syle us to dæg and forgyf us ure gyltas swa swa we forgyfað urum gyltendum and ne gelæd þu us on costnunge ac alys us of yfele soþlice.
Middle English (Wyclif, 1384):
Oure fadir þat art in heuenes halwid be þi name; þi reume or kyngdom come to be. Be þi wille don in herþe as it is doun in
heuene. yeue to us today oure eche dayes bred.
And foryeue to us oure dettis þat is oure synnys as we foryeuen to oure dettouris þat is to men þat han synned in us.
And lede us not into temptacion but delyuere us from euyl.
Early Modern English (King James Version, 1611) :Our father which art in heauen, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen. Giue us this day our daily bread.
And forgiue us our debts as we forgiue our debters. And lead us not into temptation, but deliuer us from euill. Amen.