Universidad del Este

Gladys Pérez, Ed.D

ENGL 310

History of the English Language

Language

Systematic communication by vocal symbols

Definitions

• “a system of arbitrary conventionalized vocal, written, or gestural symbols that enable members of a given community to communicate intelligibly with one another.

Composite Definition

Language is systematic.Language is a set of arbitrary symbols.Those symbols are primarily vocal, but

may also be visual.The symbols have conventionalized

meanings to which they refer.

Composite Definition

Language is used for communication.Language operates in a speech community or

culture.Language is essentially human, although

possibly not limited to humans.Language is acquired by all people in much the

same way.

Language and Speech

Speech – patterned verbal behavior

Language – set of rules for generating speech

Dialect – variant of language common in large-scale diverse societies Regional dialect – associated with a geographically

isolated speech community Social dialect – spoken by a socially isolated

community

Pidgin

Simplified hybrid language fulfills the communication needs of peoples

who have no language in common and a need to interact for commercial and other reasons.

Combines the vocabulary and grammar of different languages.

94 pidgin languages have developed.

Creole

Pidgin language that becomes the mother tongue of a population

Haiti – French –African pidginPapua New GuineaPacific Island of VanuatuSierra Leone

Pidgin

English

Georgia and South CarolinaPidgin English = Gullah

Diglossia

People switch back and forth between dialects depending on : Social setting Person being spoken to

Written Language

StagesPictographicLogographic (Ideographic)SyllabicAlphabetic

Pictographic

Pictographic

Logograph

Old EnglishA. D. 410- invasions of the Germanic Tribes

Angles, Jutes, and Saxons the, is, on, we, in

A.D. 600 – Latin began to influence Old Englishpsalm, angel, talent, temple

Eighth Century – Viking invasion Viking culture and vocabulary Danish vocabulary

Ninth Century –language of the intellectualsA. D. 1066 Written English disappeared for

approximately 200 years

The Lord’s Prayer

Matthew 6.9 (WSCp, 11th c.)Fæder ure þu þe eart on heofonum; Si þin nama gehalgod to becume þin rice gewurþe ðin willa on eorðan swa swa on heofonum. urne gedæghwamlican hlaf syle us todæg and forgyf us ure gyltas swa swa we forgyfað urum gyltendum and ne gelæd þu us on costnunge ac alys us of yfele soþlice.

(Corpus Christi College MS 140, ed. Liuzza (1994))

Lord's Prayer I (Exeter Book,10th c.)

1 [....]g fæder, þu þe on heofonum eardast,

2 geweorðad wuldres dreame. Sy þinum weorcum halgad

3 noma niþþa bearnum; þu eart nergend wera.

4 Cyme þin rice wide, ond þin rædfæst willa

5 aræred under rodores hrofe, eac þon on rumre foldan.

6 Syle us to dæge domfæstne blæd,

7 hlaf userne, helpend wera,

8 þone singalan, soðfæst meotod.

9 Ne læt usic costunga cnyssan to swiðe,

10 ac þu us freodom gief, folca waldend,

11 from yfla gewham, a to widan feore.

(The Exeter Book, ed. Krapp and Dobbie 1936)

Lord’s Prayer

The Lord’s Prayerhttp://youtu.be/a3m_QtWbaVc

Beowulf (8th-11th Century)

Beowulf and the Anglo Saxons http://youtu.be/R3hjjaUQiVA http://youtu.be/4L7VTH8ii_8

Middle English

Battle of Hastings in 1066 Norman French – language spoken by the

rulers French vocabulary added to English

14th Century – Chaucer The Canterbury Tales

Surnames emerged “Son of” someone – Johnson, Thomson Where someone lived – Rivers, Brooks Occupation – Butcher, Hunter, Miller, Mason Continental names – French, Fleming, Holland

Increased demand for books – rise of “scriveners”

1476 - first printing press in London

Renaissance – rediscovery of the legacy of classic Greece and Rome

verdit verdict dicere

dette debt debitum

doute doubt dubitare

bankrout bankrupt ruptus

Geoffrey Chaucer (1332-1400)

Canterbury taleshttp://youtu.be/QE0MtENfOMU

Modern English

Early Modern – 1500 – 1700 Shakespeare (1564 – 1616)Shakespeare’s Sonnet 29 http://youtu.be/wjxnnv0V77o

Late Modern – 1700 – Present Science1745 - 1755, Samuel Johnson, Dictionary

of the English Language

Early Modern English (1500-1700)

The Geneva Bible (1602) Our Father which art in heauen, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdome come. Thy will be done euen in earth, as

it is in heauen. Giue vs this day our daily bread. And forgiue vs our debts, as we also forgiue our debters. And lead vs not into tentation, but deliuer vs from euill:

for thine is the kingdome, and the power, and the glory for euer. Amen.

(1607 printing, ed. Sheppard (1989))

The King James Bible (1611)

Our father which art in heauen, hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdome come. Thy will be done, in earth, as it is in heauen.

Giue vs this day our daily bread. And forgiue vs our debts, as we forgiue our debters. And lead vs not into temptation, but deliuer vs from

euill: For thine is the kingdome, and the power, and the glory, for euer, Amen.

Late Modern English (1700-)

Book of Common Prayer (1928) Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy

Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

The New Testament in Modern English (1963)

Our Heavenly Father, may your name be honored;

May your kingdom come, and your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day the bread we need, Forgive us what we owe to you, as we have

also forgiven those who owe anything to us. Keep us clear of temptation, and save us from

evil.

American English

Native American words adopted Hickory, hominy, totem, moccasin, igloo

Noah Webster (1828) Dictionary of American English Spelling changes (honour-honor)

Spanish – strong influence Immigration

American English

American English Accents http://dialectblog.com/northamerican-accents/

Arthur the Rat