Discover the History of English

Summary

In this engVid lesson, Gill explores the evolution of the English language, tracing its development from 55 BC to the present day. The video covers the significant influences of Latin, Germanic, French, and Greek on English vocabulary, highlighting how historical events like the Roman invasion, Germanic migration, and the Norman Conquest have shaped the language. Gill also touches on more recent influences, such as exploration, colonialism, and technology, emphasizing that English continues to evolve with global interactions.

Takeaways

• 😀 The English language has evolved significantly over hundreds of years, influenced by various historical events and migrations.
• 🏰 In 55 BC, the Roman invasion of Britain introduced Latin, which has contributed to 29% of English vocabulary.
• 📚 Latin's influence on English is evident in words like 'human', 'animal', 'dental', 'decimal', 'digital', 'factory', 'library', 'manual', 'lunar', 'solar', 'military', and 'science'.
• 🏛️ The Germanic migration in the 5th century brought Old English, contributing to 26% of today's English words, including common terms like 'above', 'again', 'and', 'apple', 'bad', 'good', 'cake', 'eat', 'drink', 'eye', 'feet', 'arm', 'boy', 'girl', 'house', 'hand', and 'bread'.
• 🔄 The 6th century saw the introduction of Christianity, which brought more Latin, Greek, and Hebrew into the English language.
• 🌐 Greek has a smaller but significant influence, accounting for 6% of English words, often found in academic and scientific terms like 'academic', 'android', 'basic', 'cinema', 'climate', 'democracy', 'economy', 'geography', 'history', 'idea', 'politics', and 'technology'.
• 💂 The Viking invasions from the 8th to the 11th century added more Germanic languages, further enriching the English lexicon.
• 🏰 The Norman invasion in 1066 brought French into English, which has contributed to a significant portion of the language, especially in legal and culinary terms.
• 🌍 Post-1066, English continued to evolve with exploration and colonialism, incorporating words from Asia, the Middle East, and the Far East, such as 'balcony', 'bangle', 'bungalow', 'guru', 'kiosk', 'pajamas', 'sandals', and 'shampoo'.
• 🌐 The 20th and 21st centuries have seen further development of English with the influence of technology and the internet, where brand names like 'Hoover' and 'Google' have become verbs.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video by Gill from engVid?

The main focus of the video is the historical development of the English language, exploring how it has evolved over hundreds of years through various historical events and influences.

Why did the English language change after the Roman invasion of Britain in 55 BC?

The English language changed after the Roman invasion because the Romans brought their Latin language with them, which influenced the local language and led to the integration of Latin words into the English language.

What percentage of English words are estimated to have a Latin origin?

Approximately 29% of the words in the English language are estimated to have a Latin origin.

How did the Germanic migration in the 5th century impact the English language?

The Germanic migration led to the introduction of Anglo-Saxon, or Old English, which merged with the existing English to form a significant part of the language, contributing to about 26% of English words today.

What role did the spread of Christianity play in the development of the English language?

The spread of Christianity in the 6th century brought additional Latin, Greek, and Hebrew influences to the English language, as religious texts and scholarly works were translated and adapted.

Which historical event is marked by the year 1066 in the context of the English language?

The year 1066 marks the Norman invasion, which introduced French and further Latin influences into the English language, as the Normans were of French origin.

What is the estimated percentage of Germanic words in the English language today?

Germanic words make up approximately 26% of the English language, reflecting the impact of the Germanic migrations and the Viking invasions.

How did the exploration and colonialism influence the English language in more recent centuries?

Exploration and colonialism introduced new words into English, often related to discovered goods and places, such as 'tobacco' and 'potato' from the Americas, and 'balcony', 'bungalow', and 'shampoo' from Asian and Middle Eastern regions.

What is the significance of the word 'Android' in relation to the Greek language?

The word 'Android' is derived from the Greek word 'androgynos', meaning 'male and female', reflecting the academic and technological influence of Greek on the English language.

How has modern technology, such as the internet, contributed to the ongoing development of the English language?

Modern technology, including the internet, has led to the adoption of new words and the transformation of brand names into verbs, such as 'to Google', indicating the dynamic and ever-evolving nature of the English language.