History of English Language Quiz

Study Notes

Aims of the study:
- Understand the linguistic history of English to explain present-day features
- Develop a wider philological perspective
Tasks of the study:
- Understand the difficulties of reading and spelling English
- Explore the evolution of English vocabulary
- Examine the development of English grammar
- Gain a theoretical understanding of linguistic change

Synchronic: Examines language at a specific point in time.
Diachronic: Studies language development over time.
The distinction is fluid; history is often used to explain current English, and language evolution is examined through synchronic snapshots, like Shakespeare's or Chaucer's eras.

Pre-Germanic Britain:
- Pre-Celtic inhabitants: Hunters, gatherers, and agricultural communities
- Celtic tribes: Arrived around 1,000 B.C.E., forming a tribal society with clan structures.
- Celtic influence: Dominant languages in Britain until Germanic invasions, impacting the development of English.
Romanization:
- Roman conquest: Begun in 43 C.E. by Emperor Claudius, lasted until 410 C.E.
- Roman influence: Brought Latin as a dominant language for elite and administration, blending with Celtic languages to create Romano-British culture.
- Aftermath: Withdrawal of Roman legions led to Germanic invasions and a shift towards a fragmentated society.
The interplay of Celtic roots and Roman influence set the stage for the emergence of Old English.

Linguistic periodization:
- Full endings (Old English)
- Reduced endings (Middle English)
- Lost endings (Modern English) - Proposed by Henry Sweet
Extralinguistic periodization:
- Old English period (Anglo-Saxon): 5th to 11th century
- Middle English period: 11th to 15th century

Rise of Christianity in England (7th century) led to the spread of Latin as a language of learning and writing.
Monasteries became educational centers, preserving and producing texts.
Old English scribes adapted the Latin alphabet, introducing new symbols and modifications to letter shapes.
Early manuscripts:
- King Æthelberht's law code (589-616 AD)
- Bede's Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum (fragments of Old English poetry).
- Over 400 manuscripts from the Anglo-Saxon period survive, offering insights into literature and language.

Anglo-Saxon Settlement (mid-5th century):
- Tribes including Angles, Saxons, Jutes, and Frisians migrated to Britain
- Their languages converged, eventually evolving into Old English.
Old English Dialects:
- Northumbrian (northern England)
- Mercian (central England)
- Kentish (southeastern England)
- West Saxon (southern England; became the standard literary dialect)
The richness of Old English literature stems from these dialectal variations, with some poems composed in one dialect but transcribed into another.
King Alfred (871–899): Promoted literacy and education by translating Latin works into Old English, promoting West Saxon as a literary dialect.

Welsh, Irish, Breton, Scottish Gaelic, Cornish, Manx
These languages survived despite the influence of English and other Germanic languages.

Latin origins: "Britannia" was used by the Romans to refer to the British Isles.
Greek influence: "Pretannia" (Πρεταννία), likely adopted from a native Celtic term meaning "the painted ones" or "the tattooed folk."
Evolution in the Middle Ages: "Britannia" evolved into "Britain," reflecting linguistic changes and the rise of English.

"Great" was added to distinguish the larger island from the smaller ones, particularly from Brittany ("Little Britain").
"Great Britain" emphasizes the main island's size and prominence.

Old English: "Engla land" (Land of the Angles), reflecting the Germanic tribes that settled in the area.
Medieval period: "Engla land" transformed into "Engeland".
Norman Conquest: Introduced French-speaking rulers, leading to the use of "Engleterre" in French.
This history showcases the linguistic evolution of England's name, influenced by various cultural interactions.