Unit 2 AOS 1 Language Change Flashcards
Invasions (CRAVN)
Celtics, Romans, Angles/Saxons/Jutes, Vikings, Normans
Old English (449 AD – 1100 AD)
Predominantly German (Angles etc), influenced a lot by Latin after 750 with Christianity, invasion, Vikings added to it with Norse but still very Germanic. Barely recognisable. Eg Boewulf
Middle English (1100 AD – 1500 AD)
French was the official language for much of the period, however, English was still spoken by the commoners. English became official in the late 1300s, popularised by King Edward III and Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. Somewhat recognisable
Early Modern English (1500 – 1800)
The distribution of the printing press by William Caxton in 1476 allowed for Standardisation, codification and refinement of English. Very similar to grammar now
Celtics Invasion/Words
Were settled in Great Britain prior to 449AD. Words: ‘bog’, ‘boycott’, ‘gob’, ‘shamrock’
Romanic Invasion (55 until 410 AD and then in 579)
Church/Medieval Latin introduced in 750 invasions trying to impart the Bible on England. Words: ‘candle’, ‘mass’, ‘minister’, ‘school’
Angle, Saxon, Jute Invasion (450 AD)
Basis for English (Englisc). Germanic, from Holland, Denmark, Germany. Words: sheep, earth, dog, work
Viking Invasions (750-1050 AD)
Introduced Norse, similar in a Germanic sense. Removed heaps of sounds, kicked out 6 letters. Words: get, wrong, berserk, hit, run
Norman Invasion (1066-1400)
Introduced Medieval French, became the common language for rulers and the educated (aristocracy). Introduced new grammar, spelling, affixation. Words: Beef, fashion, castle, war
Robert Lowth
1762 “A Short Introduction to English Grammar”
Samuel Johnson
1755 “A Dictionary of the English Language”
Alfred the Great
Danelaw, separated the Vikings to ensure the survival of English
William Caxton
Printing Press 1476
Shakespeare:
Middle and Early Modern English, 1550-1600
Boewulf:
Old English (1000AD)
