Language Change

The History of the English Language

 What are we learning today?
 Know the main periods of the development of
the English language
 Understand why the English language
developed as it did.
 Analyse the implications of the development of
the English language
 How can I succeed today?
C – Show knowledge of a linguistic issue.
B – Comment on a linguistic issue.
A – Evaluate and challenge a view on a
linguistic issue.
 Old English
 5th century – Roman troops
withdrew from England and
Angles, Saxons and Jutes
invaded.

 The Celtic tribes were driven

towards the edges of Britain
(Scotland and Wales). Only a
handful of Celtic words remain
in English today and they aren’t
particularly common words
(ass, crag, hog)
 Old English (600-1150AD)
4,500 Anglo-Saxon words survive (only 1% of the
dictionary) but they are key, commonly used words.
They are usually short, direct and forceful. Eg:
 Pronouns – I, you, he, she, it,we
 Nouns – friend, husband, anger, cake, sun
 Adjectives – happy, cold, black, bloody
 Verbs – can, shall, get, give, want, call
 Conjunctions – and, as, but, so, then
 Caedmon’s Hymn
Nu sculon herigean / heofonrices Weard

Meotodes meahte / and his modgeþanc

weorc Wuldor-Fæder / swa he wundra gehwæs

ece Drihten / or onstealde

He ærest sceop / ielda bearnum

heofon to hrofe / halig Scyppend

ða middangeard / moncynnes Weard

ece Drihten / æfter teode

firum foldan / Frea ælmihtig.

 Caedmon’s Hymn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SRmtbu0iXQ

Nu sculon herigean / heofonrices Weard

[Now must we praise / heaven-kingdom's Guardian,]
Meotodes meahte / and his modgeþanc
[the Measurer's might / and his mind-plans,]
weorc Wuldor-Fæder / swa he wundra gehwæs
[the work of the Glory-Father, / when he of wonders of every one,]
ece Drihten / or onstealde
[eternal Lord, / the beginning established.]
He ærest sceop / ielda bearnum
[He first created / for men's sons]
heofon to hrofe / halig Scyppend
[heaven as a roof, / holy Creator;
ða middangeard / moncynnes Weard
[then middle-earth / mankind's Guardian,]
ece Drihten / æfter teode
[eternal Lord / afterwards made --]
 Middle English (1150 – 1450 AD)
The Norman Conquest of 1066 was followed by a long
period of French rule. The mixture of Old English and
French produced Middle English. French words tended to
be more elegant and refined. Eg:
 Government – court, state, citizen
 Relationships – aunt, cousin, madam
 Food – dinner, sauce, sugar
 Fashion – coat, dress, button, bracelet
 Recreation – dance, tennis, entertain, audience
 Canterbury Tales
A yeman hadde he and servantz namo
At that tyme, for hym listeride so,
And he was clad in cote and hood of grene.
A sheef of pecok arwes, bright and kene,
Under his belt he bar ful thriftily
(Wel koude he dresse his takel yemanly;
His arwes drouped noght with fetheres lowe),
And in his hand he baar a myghty bowe.
 Canterbury Tales
A yeman hadde he and servantz namo
He had a yeoman and no other servants
At that tyme, for hym listeride so,
At that time, for he decided so,
And he was clad in cote and hood of grene.
And he was dressed in coat and hood of green.
A sheef of pecok arwes, bright and kene,
A sheaf of peacock arrows, bright and keen,
Under his belt he bar ful thriftily
Under his belt he bore very carefully
(Wel koude he dresse his takel yemanly;
(He could care for his equipment like a good yeoman
His arwes drouped noght with fetheres lowe),
His arrows didn’t drop because their feathers were too low)
And in his hand he baar a myghty bowe.
And in his hand he bore a mighty bow.
 Early Modern English (1450-1700)
 William Caxton introduced printing to England in 1476. This
led to an accepted ‘standard’ English.
From ‘Via rectam ad vitam longam.’ By
Tobias Venner 1620
 Late Modern English (1700-Present)

 The English language became more stable and

standardised with the publication of influential
dictionaries and grammar books in the 18 th
century
 The expansion of the British Empire in the 19 th
century and the emergence of the US as a
superpower in the 20th century have led to
English becoming an international language
with new varieties.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSSTv8-23
58