A Super Quick History of the English Language


1
A Super Quick History of the English Language

• The Latin Greek and French influenced
  Germanic Language

2
The Beginning The Greeks

• Alexander the Great expanded the Greek Empire
  until it covered most of the known world
• Greek became the lingua franca of the
  Mediterranean region

3
PreRoman England
Up until the 1st century AD Celtic languages
were spoken in the British Isles no Greek
yet
4
The Romans

• The Roman Empire grew to power as the Greek
  Empire declined
• Since Greek was an established language in the
  region both Greek and Latin were spoken in the
  Empire
• Greek learning and government influenced Roman
  life

5
The Romans

• In 43 AD the Romans invaded England
• The Romans continued moving north and conquering
  more of the island over the next 40 years.

6
The Romans

• The Roman Empire at its height in 117 AD

7
The Romans

• The influence of Latin at this time can bee seen
  in place names ending in chester [Manchester]
  and caster [Lancaster]
• Derivatives of the Latin castra a military camp.

8
The AngloSaxons

• In the fifth and sixth centuries warriorfarmers
  from northwestern Europe invaded England

9
The AngloSaxons

• These invaders brought their Germanic languages
  with them

10
Latin Again

• In the 6th century the AngloSaxons were
  converted to Christianity.
• The Roman Catholic church brought Latin back as
  the language of the church

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Old English
12
The Normans

• When Edward King of England died without an
  heir William the Conqueror from Normandy
  France related by marriage to Edward invaded
  England in 1066 AD
• Battle of Hastings

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What language did the Normans speak?

• In the 5th century the Roman Empire declined.
• The Latin spoken in the Empire degraded into
  local dialects the Romance Languages
• The Normans spoke a variety of Old French

Modern Romance Languages
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The Normans

• The AngloSaxon ruling class was removed and
  French became the language of the government
  law and the church.
• They brought Latin back through the Old French
  into the evolving English language
• Modern English has twice as many words derived
  from French or Latin than it does from German

15
Middle English
16
The formality of French

• Because of the Frenchspeaking monarchy many
  English words derived from French have a more
  formal connotation.

17
Evolving Language

• After about 150 years French lost favor and
  English albeit a much different English from its
  Germanic roots began to be spoken more in formal
  settings.

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The Renaissance

• The Renaissance brought a renewed interest in
  classical learning especially Latin and Greek
• Many scientific words are derived from Latin and
  Greek
• Also Greek influenced Latin so many Greek
  roots arrived in English through Latin

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Summary

• 60 of English words have Latin roots
• Many specialized words usually
  scientific/medical have Greek or Latin roots
• Learning common Latin and Greek roots may help
  especially with words you have to guess
• A Selection of Latin Roots and Greek Roots
  Combining Forms Words and Prefixes
• Common Prefixes Suffixes and Roots for the GRE
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_and_Latin_roots
  _in_English
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Latin_words_w
  ith_English_derivatives
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Greek_words_w
  ith_English_derivatives
• Online Etymology Dictionary
• Vocabulary Quizzes of Words from Greek and Latin
  Roots

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• Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day.
  Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a life
  time. Chinese proverb

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Word Study

• circumambulate

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Word Study

• circumambulate
• v

circum around [Latin] circumference
circumnavigate circumcise
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Word Study

• circumambulate
• v

circum around [Latin] circumference
circumnavigate circumcise
ambulare to walk [Latin] ambulatory ambulance
[walking hospital]
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Word Study

• circumambulate
• walk around something often with ritual meaning
• In Islam circumambulation is performed around
  the Kaaba in Mecca in a counterclockwise
  direction.

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Word Study

• circumspect

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Word Study

• circumspect
• v

circum around [Latin] circumference
circumnavigate circumcise
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Word Study

• circumspect
• v

circum around [Latin] circumference
circumnavigate circumcise
specto to observe [Latin] spectacles spectacle
[something seen] spectator
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Word Study

• circumspect
• aware of all circumstances heedful of potential
  consequences cautious
• Being aware of the danger of upsetting her
  audience she was somewhat circumspect in her
  comments.

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• http//quizlet.com/set/8672/