Overview
The lecture traces the history and major influences on the English language, from its Indo-European roots to present-day varieties and ongoing evolution.
Indo-European and Germanic Origins
- The Indo-European language family spans from northern India to western Europe and includes English.
- English belongs to the Germanic branch, related to German, Dutch, and Swedish.
- After Roman withdrawal, Germanic tribes settled England, replacing Celtic and Romano-British cultures.
Anglo-Saxon Period and Old English
- Anglo-Saxons formed a distinct cultural identity in England.
- Old English was their language, largely unintelligible to modern speakers.
- Many common, simple English words (e.g., "water," "child," "the") originate from Old English.
Viking Invasions and Old Norse Influence
- From the 8th century, Vikings from Norway and Denmark invaded England.
- Old Norse introduced vocabulary like "sky," "bag," "law," and "they" into English.
Norman Conquest and Middle English
- In 1066, Normans conquered England and spoke Old French.
- French became the language of the elite; Old English remained with the common people.
- Over time, languages merged, creating Middle English with about 10,000 French-origin words.
- French-derived words often appear in law, religion, and science, and result in many English synonyms.
The Great Vowel Shift and Early Modern English
- In the 15th century, the Great Vowel Shift changed English pronunciation significantly.
- Vowel sounds shortened or became diphthongs, and some consonants became silent.
- Spelling did not change with pronunciation, making English spelling difficult.
- Early Modern English is exemplified by Shakespeare's works.
British Empire, Industrial Revolution, and Modern English
- English spread globally with the British Empire and acquired new words from colonies and technology.
- Accents diverged, with American English preserving older pronunciations.
- American pop culture has spread English influence worldwide.
Ongoing Change in English
- English continues to evolve, with new words and changing grammar.
- Future English may become as different from today's as Chaucer's English is to us.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Indo-European — large language family including English, most European, and some Asian languages.
- Old English — earliest form of English, spoken by Anglo-Saxons, largely incomprehensible today.
- Old Norse — language of Viking invaders, contributed vocabulary to English.
- Middle English — language resulting from blending Old English and Norman French.
- Great Vowel Shift — major pronunciation change in English during the 15th century.
- Diphthong — a complex vowel sound formed by combining two vowels in a single syllable.
- Synonym — different words with similar meanings.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review key periods of English language evolution for upcoming quiz.
- Read excerpts from Beowulf, Chaucer, and Shakespeare to compare Old, Middle, and Early Modern English.