Download A Brief History of the English Language

What is your favorite English word?
Why?
 What do you know about the history
of the English language?
 What are some interesting features
of the English language?
 Why is it difficult for adults to learn
the English language?
ALL JOURNALS MUST BE ½ PAGE
IN LENGTH (1/3 for college-ruled)
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By Mr. Chambers & Mr. Chauvin
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The Celts were a civilization that spanned
much of Western Europe throughout antiquity.
They still exist today in regions of Ireland,
Spain, France, and Wales.
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The Celts’ religion was run by Druids, they
believed in Animism (non-human things have
spirits such as animals, plants, rocks…etc.),
human sacrifice, and reincarnation.
We get very few words from them.
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The Romans came in 55 B.C. and, led by Julius
Caesar, the highly organized Roman legions
annihilated the Celts and conquered most of the
Britons (the name of the Celtic tribe in Britain).
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As the Roman Empire slowly disintegrated they
left Briton after 500 years, leaving behind their
modernizations of baths, aqueducts, roads,
bridges…etc. but not much in the way of language.
The Celts did not get much of a break, only a few
decades later (449 AD) the Anglo-Saxons invaded.
The Anglo-Saxons brought the Anglisc (or
Anglish) language with them, where we get
our modern word for English.
 This is a Germanic language and is the basis for
what we speak today, though much of our
vocabulary comes from different sources such
as French and Norse.
 The Anglo-Saxons
were German tribes,
you might view modern
English people as
German descendants!
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Brought Christianity to England
in 597 AD.
Changed forever the culture and
religion of the region.
Christianity brought Latin and
Greek roots to the English
language.
Many of the Latin words we use
come from this transformation,
NOT from the Roman
occupation.
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Discuss how foreign non-British
influences have affected our
language and culture.
Include influences we’ve discussed
so far (Celtic, Roman, German) as
well as ones we will discuss today
(Norse, French) and any others you
can think of (Chinese, Russian,
Egyptian…etc.).
From 800-1050 A.D. the Vikings invaded and
brought the Norse language.
 Alfred the Great saved the English language by
defeating Viking attacks and establishing English
libraries.
 Many Norse words still exist in everyday use:
husband, anger, hell, skill, berserk, trust, weak…etc.
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William the Conqueror brought the French
language with him when he invaded England
in 1066 A.D. in what was called the Norman
Conquest.
It became the official language, and English
became the language of the lower classes.
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The Legacy of the French: Over 10,000 English
words are French in origin. That’s more
vocabulary from French than Old and Middle
English combined!
During French rule, the French words became
polite and English words became “vulgar”.
Examples: guts vs. intestines, sweat vs. perspire
The French took English wives, which
contributed to the downfall of the French
language.
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English makes a comeback and sticks around
for good this time after English victories over
the French during the 100 Years War.
English long bowmen defeated French feudal
knights in battles which inspired English
nationalism and independence.
The Bubonic Plague (Black Death) ended the
feudal system.
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French + Latin = 58%
German/Norse = 26%
Greek = 6%
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Before 55 BC – Celts in Briton, almost no influence
55 BC – 410 AD – Roman rule, very little influence
449 AD – Anglo-Saxons become permanent settlers
of the island, give us our Germanic structure and a
significant contribution to our vocabulary
597 AD – St. Augustine and Christianity bring Latin
and Greek into our vocabulary
800–1050 AD – Viking invasions bring many Norse
words into everyday use
1066 AD – William the Conqueror and the Normans
bring French to England, which eventually fades but
leaves behind much of our vocabulary
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basket (Celtic)
doe (Celtic)
god = good (Old English)
oft = often (Old English)
color (Latin)
focus (Latin)
anger (Norse)
trust (Norse)
deux = deuce (French)
energie = energy (French)
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cross
(Celtic)
fidelity
(Latin)
solitude
(French)
bog
(Celtic)
democracy
(French)
free
(Old English)
technique
(French)
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make
(Old English)
awe
(Norse)
justice
(French)
ugly
(Norse)
anniversary
(Latin)
vanity
(Latin)
acorn
(Old English)
deluxe
(French)
word
(Old English)
vocabulary
(French)
What are the benefits and
drawbacks of our language
having so many origins, so
much variation, and so much
diversity?
 Also, what are the benefits and
drawbacks of having a language
that evolves so rapidly over
time?
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