A Super Quick History of the English Language

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A Super Quick History of the English Language

• The Latin-, Greek-, and French- influenced
  Germanic Language

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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
Pre-Roman 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.

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The Romans

• The Roman Empire at its height in 117 AD

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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 Anglo-Saxons

• In the fifth and sixth centuries, warrior-farmers
  from northwestern Europe invaded England

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The Anglo-Saxons

• These invaders brought their Germanic languages
  with them

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Latin Again

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

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Old English
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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 Anglo-Saxon 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)

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Middle English
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The formality of French

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

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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 counter-clockwise
  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/