The History of the English Language

The History of the English LanguageEnglish IV – 2009-2010

Mr. Vogel

Objectives For Unit To recognize that speakers of the same

language may find difficulty in communication because of dialects and branches of a language

To recognize that language changes over time

To apply and analyze 7 basic reasons language changes by surveying the history of England related to the English Language

Language Changes Due To:Language Changes Due To:

A lack of Written RecordsA lack of Written Records IsolationIsolation MigrationMigration Contact with othersContact with others Political InfluencePolitical Influence Linguistic InfluenceLinguistic Influence WarWar

Language TheoriesLanguage Theories

Monogenesis: All languages derived Monogenesis: All languages derived from one languagefrom one language

Polygenesis: Language is derived Polygenesis: Language is derived from a combination of many from a combination of many languages. languages.

Which is more likely?. . . . . .Which is more likely?. . . . . .

DialectsDialects

Dialect is the manner or way in which Dialect is the manner or way in which a person speaks. This includes a person speaks. This includes regional accents, socio-economic regional accents, socio-economic status, educational level, age of a status, educational level, age of a person, and shape of a person’s person, and shape of a person’s mouth. mouth.

Regional DialectRegional Dialect A person’s speech may be the result of A person’s speech may be the result of

influences within that person’s region. influences within that person’s region.

Dialect can also be affected by:Socio-economic factors: money made and neighborhoods in which a person lives.

Age: How old a person is may determine how they speak.

Shape of mouth: A person’s speech may also be affected by teeth, tongue and shape of mouth.

Dialect PyramidDialect PyramidDialect PyramidDialect Pyramid

Bottom is Most General; Top is Bottom is Most General; Top is SpecificSpecific

ENGLISH

AMERICAN ENGLISH

SOUTHERN ENGLISH

OKLAHOMAN ENGLISH

MOORE ENGLISH

IDEOLECT

THE HISTORY The Celts – First known inhabitants of the island. It is

believed that they did conquer a previous tribe. The dominant language was:_______________.

Julius Caeser (55 B.C. and 54 B.C.) Rome launched an

attack against the Celts; the Romans lost. The following summer Caesar was slightly more effective.

He established himself in the Southeast corner of the Island

Caesar’s Overthrow Attempt

Caesar and his troops encountered bad weather and stubborn Celtic Warriors.

The Celts tried counter attacks but were beaten and surrendered.

Caesar withdrew anyways because of problems he needed to attend to back in Rome.

The Island was left untouched for 97 years. What language influence was left because of

Caesar’s attempts?_____________________

The Shore Where Caesar Probably Landed in 54 B.C.

Cladius (46A.D.) The Emperor of Rome He sent 40,000 troops

to conquer the island. Within three years he

was successful and took control.

What major language influence was there?

Which of the 7 reasons of language change caused this?

BODICEA (61 A.D.)

Bodicea’s Uprising Bodicea was a Celtic Woman considered to be

“Britons first Heroine.” Her sons and husband were slaughtered by the

Romans. She complained; Roman rulers publicly flogged

her and made her watch as her daughters were raped.

She led an uprising with the help of her daughters.

They slaughtered 70,000 Romans. The uprising was stopped; Bodicea refused

Roman rule, and eventually, she and her daughters poisoned themselves.

Agricola was a Roman Governor who wanted to advance the Roman empire.

He sent his son Tacitus to record “in writing” all major battles.

These writings are the only written records from the Island while under Roman rule.

Gaius Cornelius Tacitus

King Hadrian (122)King Hadrian (122) This King of the Island ruled while war-like tribes called

the Picts (from Scotland) kept attacking. He tired of the attacks and built a giant wall called

Hadrian’s Wall as a defense.

-75 miles long

-8 feet thick

-12-15 feet high

-Separates

England from

Scotland

Roman camps along the wall gave townnames that still exist the suffixes of “-caster,” “-castra,” “-cester,” and “-chester.” Such as: Winchester, and Colchester.

407 A.D. 407 A.D.

For the next 300 years, the Romans ruled For the next 300 years, the Romans ruled relatively peacefully. The last of the Romans left relatively peacefully. The last of the Romans left the island by 407 to return to Rome which was the island by 407 to return to Rome which was struggling with social, political problems as well as struggling with social, political problems as well as war. war.

The existing Celts were left defenseless.The existing Celts were left defenseless. Roman influence provided: highways, houses, Roman influence provided: highways, houses,

baths, temples, and theatres, and of course the baths, temples, and theatres, and of course the major influence of Latin on the language. major influence of Latin on the language.

Lower class still spoke mostly CelticLower class still spoke mostly Celtic

The Beginnings of Old The Beginnings of Old EnglishEnglish

Old English Text from Old English Text from BeowulfBeowulf

Hwæt! We Gardena         in geardagum, Hwæt! We Gardena         in geardagum, þeodcyninga,        þeodcyninga,         þrym gefrunon, þrym gefrunon, hu ða æþelingas         ellen fremedon. hu ða æþelingas         ellen fremedon. Oft Scyld Scefing         sceaþena þreatum, Oft Scyld Scefing         sceaþena þreatum,

5 5 monegum mægþum,         meodosetla ofteah, monegum mægþum,         meodosetla ofteah,

egsode eorlas.         Syððan ærest wearð egsode eorlas.         Syððan ærest wearð feasceaft funden,         he þæs frofre gebad, feasceaft funden,         he þæs frofre gebad, weox under wolcnum,         weorðmyndum þah, weox under wolcnum,         weorðmyndum þah, oðþæt him æghwylc         þara ymbsittendra oðþæt him æghwylc         þara ymbsittendra

10 10 ofer hronrade         hyran scolde, ofer hronrade         hyran scolde,

gomban gyldan.         þæt wæs god cyning! gomban gyldan.         þæt wæs god cyning!

The Germanic TribesThe Germanic Tribes

During this time, tribes from Germany migrated to the island. Because the Romans had been gone, they were able to settle semi-peacefully. These tribes brought a significant German influence to the language.

So. . .what from the “7 reasons” caused this German language influence?_________________

The Jutes (449) This tribe agreed to team up with Vortigern, a British Prince,

to fend of the continuing attacks from the Picts of Scotland in exchange for an island called Thanet.

After the defeat of the Picts, the Jutes decided they liked Vortigern’s land also, so they took it. They stripped the Celts of their citizenship.

The Celts were pushed into Cornwall, Wales, and the Scottish Isles.

The Jutes settled in the Southeast. The language of the island now included: German/Anglo-

Saxon; only 12 Celtic words were kept.

The Saxons (449) and The Angles (547)The Saxons (449) and The Angles (547) The Saxons established itself in Sussex and

Wessex The Angles established itself North of Humber. The Frisians, a smaller tribe, occupied the coast

from Weser to the Rhine. Unlike the Romans, these tribes banished the

Celts. Language was prominently ________________.

The Germanic Tribe Locations

CHRISTIANITY (597)CHRISTIANITY (597) Pope Gregory sent St. Augustine to the island to convert

the pagan Germanic tribes. St. Augustine found that Queen Bertha was already a

Christian. She was married to marry King Aethelberht and allowed to continue her worship.

The King eventually was converted by St. Augustine. Within 7 years the kingdom was converted. Within 100 years the entire kingdom was converted. Now, the language was German (Old English) with a Latin

Influence from Christianity.

KING OFFA (700’S)

Anglo Saxon King who built a dike to separate “England” from Wales. This “isolation” further separated the Celtic language from Old English.

King Alfred the Great: 874-900

Alfred ruled a peaceful kingdom by making compromises with the Danes, so they would not attack. During this time of peace, literature flourished and language became more set and established as a Germanic, West Saxon Dialect.

King Aethelred the Unready(979)

Aethelred became King. The Danes attacked.

Because he was a weak ruler, his attempt to levy taxes for protection was unsuccessful. The tribes-people refused to help. Much land was taken.

The Danes (King Canute – 1016) By 1016 the Danes had

taken so much land that Canute, a Danish King, ruled. At this time there was a great assimilation of two languages: Old Norse and Old English.

The Danes withdrew from the Island in 1066 opening up the door for the Norman Invasion.

King Edward the Confessor (1042) This Anglo-Saxon King was left

in charge after the Danish withdrawal.

He was weak, also, and his lands became divided.

William, Duke of Normandy, was aware of the divisiveness and rumored a takeover.

King Edward died childless in 1066 and left the throne to an even weaker ruler, King Harold the Wimp.

Language: Old English (German but influenced greatly by Latin and Old Norse.)

The Battle of Hastings (1066) Harold the Wimp took over as Norwegians

attacked from the North. Harold compiled an army and defeated them, but

his army was depleted. William, Duke of Normandy, launched an attack in

the South. Harold marched his weakened army to the South.

His army became weaker because many troops abandoned him on the march.

With a small army, Harold positioned himself high upon a hill and attacked the enemy that was below in a valley.

William faked a retreat, so Harold’s men followed the Normans to finish them off.

William’s men turned on them and slaughtered them.

William the Conquerer became the new ruler of the island.

Language: French, upper class; but lower class (majority) still spoke Old English.

THE TRANSFORMATION TO MIDDLE ENGLISH

1: Whan that aprill with his shoures soote 2: The droghte of march hath perced to the

roote, 3: And bathed every veyne in swich licour 4: Of which vertu engendred is the flour;

5: Whan zephirus eek with his sweete breeth 6: Inspired hath in every holt and heeth 7: Tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne

8: Hath in the ram his halve cours yronne, 9: And smale foweles maken melodye,

10: That slepen al the nyght with open ye 11: (so priketh hem nature in hir corages);

12: Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages,

13: And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes,

14: To ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes; 15: And specially from every shires ende

16: Of engelond to caunterbury they wende,

Prologue to Chaucer’s

Canterbury Tales

King John and Queen Isabel (1204) King John met Queen Isabel in France and they fell in love. They were secretly married; she was taken back to England

as Queen. Her father was angry because she was set to marry a guy

from France. Her father allowed her to marry but did not give any of his

assets that John had the rights to. John was stripped of his title, Duke of Normandy. This

caused greater conflict. This diviseveness spirited the return to the usage of

“English” in England. Language: Middle English: Old English with French

influence.

King Henry III (1216) John died in 1216 leaving

his son Henry in charge. Henry was snobbish,

unintelligent, and cliquish (due to his upbringing in France).

Political positions were filled with unqualified Frenchmen.

English Society was livid. They protested by only

speaking English and using he battle-cry: “England for the English.”

Important Years 1272: Most of the people spoke Middle English. 1350: English was the only language spoken with

French being taught as a second language. From this time on, all literary works were considered English Literature.

1386: French was no longer taught in schools. Articles were written in defense of English to re-establish it. Vocabulary changed. Native words were lost. Old English Prefixes were lost. A third Latin Influence occurred.

Language is Middle English.

The Renaissance This signaled the

beginning of the Modern English period. Printing Press was invented. Education became popular. Communication increased. Social Consciousness

increased. Preference of English over

Latin or French. Desire for a standard

Language. Unsettled Grammar

convention Language is considered Pre-

Modern.

William Caxton (1476) Invented the Printing Press. With quick printing, all classes had the opportunity to

become literate. Uniformity was encouraged.

1500-1600 Approximately 12,000 words were added to the

language. Shakespeare contributed greatly to this.

*blood-stained

*bare-faced

*compromise

*champion

*gossip

*unreal

*addiction

THE ROYAL SOCIETY (1662)

Met to “standardize” the English Language Reduced the language to rules Refined the language The group met 4 times and had limited change

on the language. They did however advocate the idea enough

for others to follow through standard literature seen in classic writings.

Jonathan Swift (1712)

Wrote the “Proposal of 1712” This was a proposal to

correct, improve, and learn the English “tongue.”

Swift believe there to be three problems with the English Language. Too many abbreviated words Too many contractions Too much slang.

Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary (1755) Father of the Modern Dictionary. 50,000 words with philosophies of the

words, parts of speech, syllables and stresses for pronunciation, and definitions.

Dictionaries up to this point only had vague definitions such as: Bear: a beast Deer: a beast

Robert Lowth (1762) Wrote A Short Introduction to English

Grammar. (it wasn’t short.) He attempted to show how English should

be used by providing an example of bad grammar from literature, usually Shakespeare or Milton, then by giving a Latin phrase used correctly.

This shoved English into a Latinate form instead of a Germanic one.

DIALECT STUDIES (1800’S) Creation of the first cheap newspaper

occurred in 1816. Creation of the first cheap postal service in

1840. These two advances caused language to:

_______________________________

The 20th Century: The Underlying Mental Reality behind Language Karl Broca’s Aphasia Noam Chomsky’s Theory of Innatenes:

Language emerges before it is needed. It is not the result of a conscious decision. It is not triggered by external events.

Chomsky