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Questions and Answers
What was the primary language spoken by the native population of England before the Germanic tribes invaded?
What is the origin of the name 'England'?
What event led to Latin influences on Old English?
What is a characteristic of Old English?
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What is a feature of Middle English?
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Who is credited with introducing many new words and phrases to the English language?
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What publication helped standardize Modern English?
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Which language had a significant influence on English vocabulary and spelling?
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What was the primary language spoken by the Germanic tribes that invaded England?
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Which of the following events introduced Norse influence on the English language?
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What was the approximate number of words in the vocabulary of Old English?
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What was the result of the Norman Conquest of 1066 on the English language?
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What was the contribution of William Shakespeare to the development of Modern English?
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What was the significance of the translation of the Bible into English?
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What was the impact of the Great Vowel Shift on the English language?
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Which languages have had a significant influence on the English language?
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Study Notes
Periods in Development
Old English (1st – 11th centuries AD)
- The Language of the Anglo-Saxons: Germanic tribes (Angles, Saxons, and Jutes) invaded England, displacing the native Celtic-speaking population. Their language, Old English, emerged as a distinct dialect.
- The origin of the name English and England: The name "English" comes from the Angles, while "England" is derived from "Angle-land".
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Landmarks in the History of English:
- 5th century: Germanic tribes invade England.
- 7th century: Christianity introduced, leading to Latin influences on Old English.
- 9th century: Viking invasions introduce Scandinavian elements.
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Characteristics of Old English:
- Highly inflected language with complex grammar.
- Limited vocabulary, with many Latin borrowings.
- Written in the Anglo-Saxon alphabet (Futhorc).
Middle English (11th – 16th Centuries AD)
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Features of Middle English:
- Emerged from Norman Conquest of England (1066), introducing French influences.
- Simplification of Old English grammar.
- Increased use of loanwords from French, Latin, and other languages.
- Written in the Latin alphabet.
Factors responsible for the Development of Modern English from Middle English
- William Shakespeare (1564-1616): Introduced many new words and phrases, contributing to the development of Early Modern English.
- The Bible: Translation of the Bible into English (King James Version, 1611) helped standardize Modern English.
- The Great Vowel Shift: A significant sound change in English pronunciation, occurring between the 14th and 16th centuries.
- The Dictionary: Publication of dictionaries, such as Samuel Johnson's (1755), helped codify Modern English spelling and vocabulary.
Specific Influences on the English Language
- Latin: Introduced during the Roman occupation and later through Christianity.
- French: Brought by the Normans, influencing vocabulary and spelling.
- Scandinavian languages: Resulting from Viking invasions.
- Other languages: Borrowings from languages such as Greek, Italian, and numerous other languages during the British Empire's colonial period.
Old English (1st – 11th centuries AD)
- Germanic tribes (Angles, Saxons, and Jutes) invaded England, displacing the native Celtic-speaking population.
- The language of the Anglo-Saxons, Old English, emerged as a distinct dialect.
- The name "English" comes from the Angles, while "England" is derived from "Angle-land".
- 5th century: Germanic tribes invaded England.
- 7th century: Christianity introduced, leading to Latin influences on Old English.
- 9th century: Viking invasions introduced Scandinavian elements.
- Old English was a highly inflected language with complex grammar.
- Old English had limited vocabulary, with many Latin borrowings.
- Written in the Anglo-Saxon alphabet (Futhorc).
Middle English (11th – 16th Centuries AD)
- Emerged from Norman Conquest of England (1066), introducing French influences.
- Simplification of Old English grammar.
- Increased use of loanwords from French, Latin, and other languages.
- Written in the Latin alphabet.
Factors responsible for the Development of Modern English from Middle English
- William Shakespeare introduced many new words and phrases, contributing to the development of Early Modern English.
- The translation of the Bible into English (King James Version, 1611) helped standardize Modern English.
- The Great Vowel Shift occurred between the 14th and 16th centuries.
- Publication of dictionaries, such as Samuel Johnson's (1755), helped codify Modern English spelling and vocabulary.
Specific Influences on the English Language
- Latin was introduced during the Roman occupation and later through Christianity.
- French was brought by the Normans, influencing vocabulary and spelling.
- Scandinavian languages influenced English through Viking invasions.
- Other languages, such as Greek, Italian, and numerous others, influenced English during the British Empire's colonial period.
Periods in Development of English
Old English (1st – 11th centuries AD)
- Germanic tribes (Angles, Saxons, and Jutes) invaded England, displacing the native Celtic-speaking population.
- The name English and England originated from the name of the Angles, one of the Germanic tribes.
- Key events in Old English history:
- 5th century: Germanic tribes settled in England.
- 7th century: Conversion to Christianity introduced Latin influence.
- 9th century: Viking invasions introduced Norse influence.
- Characteristics of Old English:
- Germanic vocabulary and grammar.
- Highly inflected with complex grammar.
- Limited vocabulary (approx. 20,000 words).
Middle English (11th – 16th Centuries AD)
- Features of Middle English:
- Norman Conquest of 1066 introduced French influence.
- Vocabulary expanded to approx. 50,000 words.
- Grammar simplified, with reduced inflection.
Factors responsible for the Development of Modern English from Middle English
- William Shakespeare's contributions to standardization of English through his plays and poems (1564-1616).
- The translation of the Bible into English (1382) helped to establish a standard English vocabulary.
- The Great Vowel Shift: a significant change in English pronunciation between the 14th and 16th centuries, with a lasting impact on the language.
- The first English dictionary, compiled by Samuel Johnson (1755), helped to standardize English spelling and vocabulary.
Specific Influences on the English Language
- Latin and Greek influences:
- Introduced during the Roman occupation and through Christianity.
- Influenced vocabulary and grammar.
- French and Norman influences:
- Introduced through the Norman Conquest.
- Influenced vocabulary and grammar.
- Other language influences:
- Norse, introduced through Viking invasions.
- Dutch, and numerous other languages introduced through trade, colonization, and immigration.
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Description
Explore the origins of the English language, from the Germanic tribes to the development of Old English. Learn about the Anglo-Saxons, the origin of the name 'English', and landmarks in the history of English.
