Podcast
Questions and Answers
What three Germanic tribes brought their languages to Britain in the 5th century, influencing the origins of the English language?
What three Germanic tribes brought their languages to Britain in the 5th century, influencing the origins of the English language?
Angles, Saxons, and Jutes
What language influenced English vocabulary and grammar during the Norman Conquest of 1066?
What language influenced English vocabulary and grammar during the Norman Conquest of 1066?
French
How many phonemes (distinct sounds) are found in the English language?
How many phonemes (distinct sounds) are found in the English language?
44
What is the typical word order in English sentences?
What is the typical word order in English sentences?
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What is the name of the standardized variety of English used in formal settings, such as education and government?
What is the name of the standardized variety of English used in formal settings, such as education and government?
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What is the term for the process of learning a language naturally, without formal instruction?
What is the term for the process of learning a language naturally, without formal instruction?
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What is the term for the influence of other languages on English vocabulary and grammar?
What is the term for the influence of other languages on English vocabulary and grammar?
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What is the term for newly coined words or expressions in the English language?
What is the term for newly coined words or expressions in the English language?
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Study Notes
History of English
- Origins: Germanic languages (Angles, Saxons, Jutes) brought to Britain in 5th century
- Influenced by:
- Latin (Roman occupation)
- Old Norse (Viking invasions)
- French (Norman Conquest)
- Other languages (e.g. Greek, Arabic) during colonial period
Language Features
- Alphabetic script: 26 letters of the Latin alphabet, with additional letters (e.g. th, ch) and diacritics (e.g. é, ñ)
- Phonology: 44 phonemes (distinct sounds), with variations in pronunciation across regions and accents
- Grammar: Subject-Verb-Object word order, with many exceptions; tenses (e.g. present, past, future) and aspects (e.g. simple, progressive, perfect)
- Vocabulary: Over 170,000 words in current use, with many borrowed from other languages
Varieties of English
- Regional accents and dialects: e.g. RP (Received Pronunciation), Cockney, Southern American, Australian
- Standard English: formal, standardized variety used in education, government, and media
- Non-standard English: informal, regional, or social varieties (e.g. African American Vernacular English, Singlish)
English Language Skills
- Reading: decoding, comprehension, fluency
- Writing: handwriting, spelling, grammar, composition
- Listening: auditory comprehension, phonological awareness
- Speaking: pronunciation, fluency, vocabulary, discourse
Language Change and Evolution
- Language contact: influence of other languages on English vocabulary and grammar
- Neologisms: new words and expressions (e.g. "selfie", "hashtag")
- Language shift: changes in language use over time (e.g. from formal to informal)
English Language Teaching and Learning
- Language acquisition: natural, informal learning (e.g. children)
- Language instruction: formal, structured teaching (e.g. classrooms)
- Language assessment: evaluation of language proficiency (e.g. tests, exams)
History of English
- Germanic languages, including Angles, Saxons, and Jutes, were introduced to Britain in the 5th century
- Latin, Old Norse, French, and other languages influenced English due to Roman occupation, Viking invasions, Norman Conquest, and colonial periods
Language Features
- English alphabet consists of 26 Latin letters, with additional letters (e.g. th, ch) and diacritics (e.g. é, ñ)
- 44 phonemes (distinct sounds) exist in English, with variations in pronunciation across regions and accents
- English grammar follows a subject-verb-object word order, with many exceptions, and features various tenses (e.g. present, past, future) and aspects (e.g. simple, progressive, perfect)
- English vocabulary comprises over 170,000 words in current use, with many borrowed from other languages
Varieties of English
- Regional accents and dialects include Received Pronunciation (RP), Cockney, Southern American, Australian, and others
- Standard English is a formal, standardized variety used in education, government, and media
- Non-standard English includes informal, regional, or social varieties such as African American Vernacular English, Singlish, and others
English Language Skills
- Reading skills involve decoding, comprehension, and fluency
- Writing skills include handwriting, spelling, grammar, and composition
- Listening skills involve auditory comprehension and phonological awareness
- Speaking skills involve pronunciation, fluency, vocabulary, and discourse
Language Change and Evolution
- Language contact influences English vocabulary and grammar
- Neologisms are new words and expressions, such as "selfie" and "hashtag"
- Language shift occurs when language use changes over time, such as the shift from formal to informal language
English Language Teaching and Learning
- Language acquisition involves natural, informal learning, such as how children learn language
- Language instruction involves formal, structured teaching, often in classrooms
- Language assessment evaluates language proficiency through tests, exams, and other means
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Description
Explore the origins and development of the English language, including its influences and key features such as alphabetic script and phonology.
