LANGUAGE CHANGE OVER TIME EXPLAINED! | ENGLISH LANGUAGE A LEVEL REVISION | NARRATOR: BARBARA NJAU

Summary

This video explores the evolution of the English language from its Celtic roots to modern times. It covers the impact of Roman invasion, Anglo-Saxon influences, Norman conquest, and the Renaissance on the language's development. Key events like the Great Vowel Shift and the invention of the printing press are highlighted. The video also discusses the contributions of historical figures like Shakespeare and the influence of the King James Bible. It touches on the debate between prescriptivists and descriptivists regarding language change and concludes with the ongoing impact of technology and globalization on English.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ The early English language was influenced by Celtic tribes and Latin after the Roman invasion in 55 BC.
• 📜 Old English emerged between 450 AD and 1066, primarily influenced by Anglo-Saxons from North Germany.
• 🏰 Middle English (1066-1485) saw significant lexical expansion after the Norman Conquest, with French becoming the language of government.
• 👑 In 1362, English was established as the official language of the UK for law and state business, replacing French and Latin.
• 📚 The Great Vowel Shift (1300-1500) marked a radical change in pronunciation, distinguishing Middle English from Modern English.
• 🎭 The Tudor period (1485-1603) experienced a revival of classic scholarship, influencing English vocabulary with Greek and Latin imports.
• 🌐 The 17th century brought Puritan and scientific influences, simplifying English and standardizing spelling through dictionaries like Samuel Johnson's.
• 🌐 The 18th century's Age of Reason furthered the standardization of English, with dictionaries becoming the authority on correct spelling.
• 🌎 The 19th and 20th centuries witnessed English's global spread, influenced by Americanization, technology, and the British Empire.
• 🔠 Language change occurs through various mechanisms like borrowing, blending, and semantic shifts, reflecting cultural and societal evolution.

Q & A

What was the primary language influence on English before the Roman invasion in 55 BC?

Before the Roman invasion, the primary language influence on what would become English was Celtic, with languages related to what we now identify as modern Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, and Irish.

How did the Romans impact the English language after their invasion in 55 BC?

The Romans introduced Latin, which left a mark on the English language. Latin was officially introduced after the invasion and influenced the lexicon and place names.

What significant linguistic change occurred during the period from 450 AD to 1066 AD?

During this period, the Anglos and Saxons arrived from North Germany, leading to the emergence of Old English. The writing system transitioned from runes to a form influenced by Latin-speaking monks who used the Roman alphabet with new letters.

Why did the spelling of 'Queen' change from 'cwe en' to 'qu een' during the Middle English period?

The spelling change was due to French scribes introducing new spelling patterns after the Norman Conquest in 1066, which replaced the Old English 'cw' with the French-derived 'qu'.

What major event in the 14th century had a significant impact on the English language?

The Black Death from 1347 to 1352, which killed a large portion of the population, including many educated monks who knew Latin. This contributed to the gradual loss of Latin's influence on the English language.

How did the Great Vowel Shift affect the pronunciation of English words?

The Great Vowel Shift, occurring during the 15th to 17th centuries, was a radical change in pronunciation where long vowel sounds began to be made higher and further forward in the mouth, while short vowel sounds remained largely unchanged.

What was the role of the Renaissance in the evolution of the English language during the Tudor period?

The Renaissance led to a revival of classic scholarship and a desire for more expressive language, resulting in an influx of vocabulary from Greek and Latin, as well as the expansion of the lexicon through travel and discovery.

How did the printing press contribute to the standardization of English?

The printing press, introduced by Caxton in 1475, enabled some standardization of spelling to begin, although there was no widespread standard form of spelling or punctuation. It provided the technical means to guarantee the standardization of spelling over time.

What factors influenced the English language during the 17th century?

In the 17th century, influences on English included Puritanism and Catholicism, science, and the King James Version of the Bible, which had a significant impact on vocabulary and grammar.

Who was Robert Cawdrey and why is he significant in the history of the English language?

Robert Cawdrey was an English school teacher who published the first English dictionary, 'A Table Alphabeticall,' in 1604. It contained 2,543 'hard words,' particularly those borrowed from Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and French, marking an important step in the standardization of English.

How did the 18th century, known as the Age of Reason, affect the English language?

The Age of Reason brought a desire to standardize spelling and grammar, with Samuel Johnson producing the 'Dictionary of the English Language' in 1755, which became the preeminent English dictionary until the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary.