English Language History Quiz

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Questions and Answers

Which languages are considered cognates due to their descent from Proto-Indo-European?

  • Dutch and Japanese
  • German and Chinese
  • English and Italian (correct)
  • English and Arabic

Which of the following languages is NOT part of the Germanic group?

  • Italian (correct)
  • English
  • Swedish
  • Dutch

What is the Nostratic hypothesis proposing?

  • The reconstruction of Proto-Germanic languages
  • An overarching northern Eurasian language family (correct)
  • The extinction of modern languages
  • The categorization of all Indo-European languages

Which method is employed to reconstruct proto-languages when there is no written record?

<p>Comparative reconstruction (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How is the reconstructed form of Proto-Germanic for the word 'foot' denoted?

<p>*fōt- (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the reliability of reconstructions as linguists go further back in time?

<p>It becomes more speculative (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which group of languages includes Gothic, German, and Dutch?

<p>Germanic languages (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What can be inferred from the geographic distribution of Indo-European subfamilies?

<p>They are spread widely across different continents (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is indicated by the hyphen in the reconstructed form of Proto-Germanic words?

<p>There were likely inflectional endings (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why are many languages currently considered to be under threat of extinction?

<p>Due to globalization and reduced speakers (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary language spoken by the people living in England before the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons?

<p>Celtic (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What significant event occurred in AD 410 concerning the Roman Empire's presence in Britain?

<p>The Roman military withdrew its support. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a consequence of the Roman withdrawal from Britain?

<p>The re-establishment of British Celtic language systems (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of culture did Germanic peoples exhibit during their invasions?

<p>Warrior culture (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which language family is the historical ancestor of modern English?

<p>Proto-Germanic (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which group invaded and subjugated Britain in AD 43?

<p>Romans (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which artifact reflects the blending of Celtic and Roman cultures in Britain?

<p>Battersea shield (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the closest historical relative of modern English today?

<p>Old Frisian (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the time frame for the contact between English and Celtic languages?

<p>1600 years (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of document or evidence is lacking concerning the early speakers of Low West Germanic?

<p>Written records (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which characterizes the people present in pre-Roman Britain?

<p>People without any written texts (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What significant transition occurred regarding language after the Roman occupation?

<p>The emergence of Anglo-Saxon dialects (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was an outcome of the Germanic mercenaries being hired by British rulers?

<p>Conquests of British territories (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason there is limited Celtic influence on Old English?

<p>Celtic was considered socially inferior. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following words is believed to be a Celtic loanword in Old English?

<p>All of the above (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the Old English word 'wealas' imply about the Celtic-speaking people?

<p>They were considered foreigners or slaves. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which theory claims that Celtic syntax influenced English but not its lexicon?

<p>The Celtic Hypothesis (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What phenomenon describes Celtic-speaking Britons switching to English while retaining Celtic speech patterns?

<p>Language Shift Phenomenon (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'cognate' refer to?

<p>Words that developed independently from a common root. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did William Jones propose in 1786 regarding Sanskrit, Greek, and Latin?

<p>They have a common ancestor language. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is not supported by archaeological evidence regarding the Anglo-Saxons and Celtic speakers?

<p>The Celtic-speaking population was replaced. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does old English relate to Proto-Germanic?

<p>Old English developed from Proto-Germanic dialectal variations. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What evidence suggests that Celtic speakers did not vanish with the arrival of Anglo-Saxons?

<p>Genetic evidence indicates assimilation. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of language is notably shared between Old English and Frisian?

<p>Common vocabulary roots. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What were the implications of the 'Traditional Theory' regarding Celtic influence on Old English?

<p>Celtic influence was minimal due to cultural superiority. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which example illustrates a cognate relationship?

<p>Brother and Frater (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

English language origins

English evolved from various language families and influences, including Germanic and Celtic.

Pre-English Britain

Before the arrival of English speakers, the British Isles were inhabited by Paleolithic and Neolithic peoples, followed by Celtic speakers.

Celtic languages

Ancestral languages of Welsh, Irish Gaelic, and Scottish Gaelic, spoken by the Britons.

Roman Britain

Britain was a Roman colony for nearly 400 years, significantly impacting the cultural landscape.

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Anglo-Saxon settlement

Germanic peoples, primarily Anglo-Saxons, migrated and settled in Britain during the 5th century.

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Proto-Germanic

The ancestral language from which various Germanic languages, including English, developed.

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West Germanic languages

A branch of the Germanic languages that includes Old English and other languages.

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Old English

The earliest form of the English language, directly descended from Proto-Germanic.

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Language Family Progression

Proto-Germanic branched into East, North, and West Germanic languages. West Germanic eventually yielded Old English.

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English-Celtic Contact

English and Celtic languages have interacted for centuries, influencing each other.

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Germanic Mercenaries

Germanic people hired for military service by potentially unstable British leaders.

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Language Families

Groups of languages that share a common ancestor; English is part of the Indo-European family.

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Language Contact

Interaction of two or more languages, which may result in changes and influences in various aspects.

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Hannon Travel Scholarship

Scholarships for students in English, Home Economics and Nutrition, and Theology in their graduating year.

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Proposal Deadline

December 15th is the deadline for submitting a travel proposal for the Hannon Travel Scholarships.

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Cognate Languages

Languages that share a common ancestor, indicating their historical relationship.

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Proto-Indo-European

The hypothetical ancestor language of many languages, including English, Italian, and German.

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Indo-European Family

A vast language family encompassing numerous languages spoken across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

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Germanic Languages

A branch of the Indo-European family including English, German, Dutch, and Swedish.

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Comparative Reconstruction

A method used by linguists to reconstruct ancient languages by comparing related words across different languages.

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Cognates

Words in different languages that share a common ancestor and often have similar meanings and forms.

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Asterisk in Linguistics

Used to mark reconstructed words, indicating they are not found in written records.

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Linguistic Complexity

The vast diversity of languages and dialects around the world.

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Language Extinction

The disappearance of a language due to factors like assimilation, loss of speakers, or lack of use.

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Celtic Influence on Old English

The extent to which Celtic languages influenced the development of Old English is not well understood and debated.

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Loanwords

Words borrowed from one language into another.

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Placenames (e.g., River Avon)

Names of geographical locations influenced by Celtic languages.

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Personal Names (e.g., Cædmon)

Names of individuals with Celtic origins used alongside English ones.

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High vs. Low Prestige Languages

The social status assigned to a language, with "high" prestige often associated with power and influence.

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Language Shift

The gradual change in the language spoken by a population.

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Onomatopoeia

Words that imitate the sounds they describe.

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William Jones

The scholar who proposed the concept of a common ancestor for various languages.

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Borrowing

The process of adopting words from another language into one's own.

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Language Influence

The impact of one language on another, through borrowing, syntax changes, etc.

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Study Notes

Announcements (11/19/2024)

  • No quiz today
  • Hannon Travel Scholarships available: check the arts and science department's English scholarships channel on Paws. These scholarships are for English, Home Economics, Nutrition, and Theology graduating students. Proposals for dream trips are due December 15th.
  • Quiz 7 on material since Quiz 6, next week.
  • Two more classes after this week, then a final exam review on December 3rd.

English Before Old English

  • English has been an immigrant language throughout its history.
  • Before the 5th century BC, the region was inhabited by Paleolithic and Neolithic peoples (not Indo-European). Little is known about them.
  • Evidence of these early peoples include burial mounds (barrows), often with circles of stones, like those found in the New York Moors and other locations.
  • There were people groups that moved large stones, but their language is unknown because no written records exist.
  • Celtic speakers (Britons) are the next identifiable group, from 5th century BC onwards.
  • Britons are a geographical region term.

Celtic in Britain

  • The Celtic language family includes Welsh, Irish Gaelic, and Scottish Gaelic.
  • Celtic-speaking people left artifacts, including the Battersea shield (350-50 BC).
  • AD 43: The Roman Empire invaded and conquered Britain.
  • Britain was a Roman colony for nearly 400 years.

Anglo-Saxon Settlement

  • The Roman Empire withdrew from Britain in AD 410.
  • This allowed Germanic groups, particularly the Anglo-Saxons, to settle.
  • This settlement happened without complete replacement of the earlier Celtic populations but through mingling and assimilation.

Language Family

  • Proto-Germanic is the ancestor of Germanic languages.
  • Germanic is divided into three branches: East Germanic (Gothic), North Germanic (Old Norse), and West Germanic (Old High German, Old Saxon, Old Low Frankish, Old Frisian, Old English).
  • English is closely related to Frisian, and the most closely related language alive today.
  • The Anglo-Saxons eventually established dominance in England, spreading their language and culture.
  • Celtic peoples did not disappear but were absorbed into the new system.

English and Celtic Contact

  • English and Celtic languages have been in contact for a very long time (1600 years).
  • There are few Celtic words in English (e.g. bannock, crag).
  • Some place names and personal names might have Celtic origins.

Common Source Theory

  • William Jones, a British judge and administrator, notes similarities between Sanskrit, Greek, and Latin.
  • He proposed a proto-language ancestor that all these languages and their descendants spring forth.
  • This proto-language is called Proto-Indo-European.

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