The origins of English: A short introduction to Old English

Dr Thijs Porck

12 Jun 202007:17

Summary

TLDRThis video delves into the origins of English, highlighting Old English's distinct features compared to modern English, such as different symbols, vocabulary, and sentence structure. It traces the language's roots back to Germanic tribes like the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes who migrated to Britain around 450 AD. Despite Old English's last native speaker dying over 900 years ago, its influence is still evident in today's language and popular culture, with words like 'home' and 'stone' having Old English origins. The video also notes how Old English inspires modern fantasy literature and is featured in TV series like 'Merlin' and 'Vikings'.

Takeaways

🏛️ Old English, also known as Anglo-Saxon, is the earliest form of the English language spoken over a thousand years ago.
🎭 Contrary to common misconception, Old English is not associated with William Shakespeare, whose works were written much later.
🔤 Old English features different symbols, words, pronunciation, and sentence structure compared to Modern English.
🌐 The language shares similarities with Frisian, Dutch, German, and Danish due to its Germanic roots.
🛳️ Old English originated from Germanic tribes, primarily the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes, who migrated to Britain around the year 450.
🏰 The legendary figures Hengist and Horsa are associated with the migration, though their story is likely a myth.
📜 Old English produced a significant body of literature, including medical texts, magical spells, and epic poetry like Beowulf.
🎞️ Old English continues to influence modern culture, particularly in fantasy literature and film adaptations.
🌐 Core vocabulary in present-day English, such as 'home', 'stone', and 'wood', has its roots in Old English.
🎭 Modern media, like the Harry Potter series, incorporates Old English words and names, keeping the language alive in popular culture.

Q & A

What is the origin of the English language discussed in the video?
-The video discusses that Old English, the earliest stage of the English language, originated from Germanic people who came from areas now known as the Low Countries, northern Germany, and Southern Denmark.
Why is the association between Old English and William Shakespeare incorrect?
-The association is incorrect because Old English is a thousand years older than Shakespeare, who lived from 1564 to 1616, and his famous quotes would have sounded completely different if they had been written in Old English.
What are some of the unique features of Old English that distinguish it from Modern English?
-Old English has different symbols like the ash and the thorn, different words, different pronunciation, different sentence structure, and grammatical gender and case.
What are the names of the three tribes that brought the English language to Britain?
-The three tribes that brought the English language to Britain were the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes, collectively often referred to as the Anglo-Saxons.
What is the significance of the fortress in Leiden, Netherlands, in the context of Old English?
-According to medieval legends, the fortress in Leiden was a back-up plan for Hengist and Horsa, who led the Anglo-Saxons to Britain. However, much of this story is considered myth, and the fortress is not definitively connected to the Anglo-Saxons.
What is the oldest surviving poem in Old English, and what is it about?
-The oldest surviving poem in Old English is 'Beowulf,' an epic poem that tells the tale of the hero Beowulf fighting monsters and a dragon.
How has Old English influenced modern popular culture?
-Old English has influenced modern popular culture, particularly in fantasy literature, where many modern authors have been inspired by medieval language and literature, including names and dialogues in works like 'Harry Potter' and TV series such as 'Merlin' and 'Vikings'.
What evidence is there of Old English in the language we use today?
-Many common words we use today, such as 'home,' 'stone,' 'it,' 'is,' 'today,' 'word,' 'wood,' 'there,' 'what,' 'will,' 'if,' 'and,' and 'up,' derive from Old English, indicating that much of the core vocabulary of present-day English is over a thousand years old.
How does the video suggest that Old English is still very much alive?
-The video suggests that Old English is still very much alive through its influence on modern vocabulary, popular culture, and the fact that it has inspired authors and creators in their works.
What is the significance of the phrase 'All is well that ends well' in the context of the video?
-The phrase 'All is well that ends well' is a quote from Shakespeare, which the video uses to illustrate how Shakespeare's language would have sounded if he had spoken Old English, highlighting the difference between Old English and the English of his time.

Outlines

00:00

📜 Origins of English Language

This video segment delves into the origins of the English language, specifically Old English, which dates back over a thousand years. It clarifies a common misconception by explaining that Old English predates William Shakespeare by a millennium, and thus his works would not have been written in this ancient form. The segment provides a glimpse into the phonetics and orthography of Old English, highlighting its distinct symbols like 'ash' and 'thorn,' and different vocabulary and sentence structure compared to modern English. The historical context is further enriched by discussing the Germanic tribes of Angles, Saxons, and Jutes, who are believed to have brought the language to Britain around the 5th century. The narrative also touches upon the legendary figures Hengist and Horsa, and the possible mythological aspects of their story, including their supposed connection to the medieval fortress in Leiden, Netherlands.

05:01

📚 Old English in Modern Culture

The second paragraph explores the enduring presence of Old English in contemporary culture, despite the last native speaker having died over 900 years ago. It emphasizes how many common English words have their roots in Old English, such as 'home,' 'stone,' 'wood,' and 'will.' The segment also discusses the influence of Old English on modern fantasy literature, with references to authors like J.R.R. Tolkien and J.K. Rowling, who have incorporated Old English elements into their works. Examples include the use of Old English words in the 'Harry Potter' series and the inspiration drawn from medieval language for character names and dialogue in TV series like 'Merlin' and 'Vikings.' The video concludes with a nod to Shakespeare's adage, 'All is well that ends well,' reimagined in an Old English context to illustrate the language's continued relevance.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Old English

Old English, also known as Anglo-Saxon, is an early form of the English language spoken between the 5th and 12th centuries. It is the ancestor of modern English and significantly differs in vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. In the video, Old English is highlighted as the earliest stage of the English language, with examples provided to illustrate its distinct characteristics, such as the use of different symbols and words compared to modern English.

💡William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare is a renowned English playwright and poet, often mistakenly associated with Old English due to his use of archaic language in his works. The video clarifies that Shakespeare lived from 1564 to 1616, which is approximately a thousand years after Old English was spoken. His famous quotes, such as 'to be or not to be,' are in Early Modern English, not Old English.

💡Germanic languages

Germanic languages are a branch of the Indo-European language family, including English, Dutch, German, and the Scandinavian languages. The video explains that Old English shares many features with other Germanic languages because it was brought to Britain by Germanic people from areas where these languages are now spoken.

💡Angles, Saxons, and Jutes

These were three Germanic tribes that migrated to Britain around the 5th century and are collectively known as the Anglo-Saxons. They played a significant role in the development of Old English. The video mentions that, according to medieval legends, these tribes were led by Hengist and Horsa and settled in the area now known as England.

💡Leiden

Leiden is a city in the Netherlands, historically associated with the Anglo-Saxon migration to Britain. The video discusses a medieval legend that suggests the Anglo-Saxons set out from a fortification in Leiden, although this is likely a myth and not based on historical fact.

💡Beowulf

Beowulf is an Old English epic poem, considered one of the most important works of Old English literature. The video mentions Beowulf as an example of the rich textual heritage of Old English, which includes medical recipes, magical spells, and epic poetry.

💡Vocabulary

The video emphasizes that many common words in modern English have their roots in Old English, such as 'home,' 'stone,' 'wood,' 'earth,' 'what,' 'will,' 'if,' 'and,' and 'up.' This highlights the enduring influence of Old English on the language we use today.

💡Popular culture

The video discusses how Old English has influenced modern popular culture, particularly in fantasy literature. Authors like J.R.R. Tolkien, J.K. Rowling, and George R.R. Martin have been inspired by medieval language and literature, incorporating Old English elements into their works.

💡Wheezing cough

In the context of the video, 'Wheezing cough' is an example of a term from Old English used in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. The video uses this term to illustrate how Old English words can be found in modern storytelling, contributing to the atmosphere and authenticity of fantasy settings.

💡Medieval legends

Medieval legends are stories from the Middle Ages that often blend history and myth. The video refers to medieval legends about the origins of the Anglo-Saxons and their migration to Britain, highlighting how these stories have shaped our understanding of Old English and its history.

Highlights

Old English, also known as Anglo-Saxon, is the earliest form of the English language spoken over a thousand years ago.

Old English is often mistakenly associated with William Shakespeare, who lived a thousand years after Old English was spoken.

Old English features different symbols, words, pronunciation, and sentence structure compared to Modern English.

Old English has grammatical gender and case, which are also found in other Germanic languages.

The English language was brought to Britain by Germanic people from the Low Countries, northern Germany, and southern Denmark around the year 450.

The Angles, Saxons, and Jutes, collectively known as the Anglo-Saxons, are believed to have led the migration to Britain.

The story of Hengist and Horsa, who led the Anglo-Saxons to Britain, is largely a myth.

Old English produced a significant number of texts, including medical recipes, magical spells, and epic poetry like Beowulf.

Beowulf, an Old English epic poem, has been adapted into movies over ten times, showing its enduring influence.

Old English is still present in the core vocabulary of present-day English, with words like 'home', 'stone', and 'wood'.

Modern fantasy literature, including works by J.K. Rowling and George R.R. Martin, has been inspired by Old English.

Old English words can be heard in modern TV series set in the Middle Ages, such as BBC's Merlin and History Channel's Vikings.

Despite the language's differences, Old English is very much alive and continues to influence modern English and popular culture.

Shakespeare's famous quote 'All is well that ends well' would have sounded different in Old English.