A Brief History of the English Language

Lesson Overview

• Why Does English Change?
• 1. Old English (450 - 1150 AD): The First Stage
• 2. Middle English (1150 - 1500 AD): The Norman Influence
• 3. Early Modern English (1500 - 1700 AD): Printing, Shakespeare, and the Bible
• 4. Modern English (1700 - Present)

The English language is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world today, but it has not always been the way we know it now. English has evolved over thousands of years, borrowing words, changing sounds, and developing new rules along the way. 

Understanding the history of the English language helps us appreciate why certain words are spelled the way they are, why grammar rules can be tricky, and how different cultures have influenced the way we speak.

Why Does English Change?

English has not always looked or sounded the way it does today. Over centuries, it has absorbed words from different cultures, undergone major spelling and grammar changes, and evolved with technology. Understanding the history of English will help explain why we have silent letters, different spellings, and thousands of borrowed words.

1. Old English (450 - 1150 AD): The First Stage

Where Did English Come From?

• English originates from Germanic tribes (Angles, Saxons, and Jutes) who invaded England in the 5th century.
• Before they arrived, Britain was home to Celtic-speaking people, whose languages had little influence on Old English.
• The invading tribes brought their Germanic dialects, which formed the base of Old English.

Characteristics of Old English

• It had four main dialects: Kentish, Mercian, Northumbrian, and West Saxon.
• Old English had very different spelling and pronunciation compared to today's English.
• It had a complex grammar system, similar to modern German, where words changed form based on their role in a sentence (nouns had different endings for subject, object, and possession).
• Many words from Latin were introduced by Christian missionaries, especially related to religion and learning.
• Later, Vikings introduced Norse words into English, especially for everyday objects and actions.

Influence of the Vikings (800s - 1000s AD)

• The Vikings, who came from Scandinavia, raided England and later settled there.
• Their Old Norse language influenced Old English, adding words related to war, the sea, and everyday life.
• Norse words often simplified English grammar, making it more like modern English.

Example of Viking Words in English:

• Everyday objects: knife, sky, window, egg
• Actions: call, die, take, give
• Personality traits: happy, awkward, ill, weak

 Mini Quiz:

• Which of the following words might be of Viking descent?
  • Answer: "Skate" and "Crabby" (from Old Norse)

2. Middle English (1150 - 1500 AD): The Norman Influence

What Happened in 1066?

• The Norman Conquest: In 1066, William the Conqueror from Normandy (modern France) invaded England and became king.
• The Normans brought French as the language of the royal court, government, and law.
• Common people still spoke Old English, but over time, the two languages blended, forming Middle English.

How French Changed English

• English absorbed thousands of French words, especially in law, government, and food.
• Spelling became simpler, and many complex word endings were dropped.
• Grammar became less complicated, making English more like the language we speak today.

Why Do We Have Two Words for the Same Thing?

• Farm animals (English) vs. Cooked meat (French):
  • Cow → Beef (from French boeuf)
  • Pig → Pork (from French porc)
  • Sheep → Mutton (from French mouton)

Example from Middle English

Whan that Aprill with his shoures soote… (The Canterbury Tales)
Translation: When April with its sweet showers…

Mini Quiz:

• William the Conqueror was of what nobility?
  • Answer: Norman

• Which event marked the beginning of the Middle English period?
  • Answer: The Norman Conquest of 1066

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3. Early Modern English (1500 - 1700 AD): Printing, Shakespeare, and the Bible

Why Was the Printing Press Important?

• William Caxton introduced England's first printing press in 1476.
• Books became widely available, leading to standardized spelling and grammar.

Shakespeare's Influence on English

• Shakespeare coined over 20,000 words!
• Examples: Swagger, Eyeball, Lonely, Bedroom
• He introduced phrases like "Break the ice" and "All's well that ends well."

The King James Bible (1611)

• Commissioned by King James I, this translation made the Bible accessible in English.
• It introduced well-known phrases like "By the skin of one's teeth."

Mini Quiz:

• What did William Caxton contribute to language?
  • Answer: He made England's first printer.

• How did King James I contribute to the language?
  • Answer: He published the King James Bible.

4. Modern English (1700 - Present)

How Did English Spread?

• British colonization took English to India, Africa, Australia, and America.
• American culture influenced English through TV, movies, and the internet.

Noah Webster's Spelling Changes

• He created the first American spelling book to simplify spelling.
• Examples of his changes:
    Colour → Color
  Theatre → Theater
  Defence → Defense

 Mini Quiz:

• What did Noah Webster publish?
  • Answer: The first American spelling book.

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