Introduction and Sources

• Podcast hosts: Josh, Chuck, Jerry
• Sources: englishclub.com, theconversation.com, Professor Ad Putter (University of Bristol literature professor)
• Topic: Brief history of English language development

Old English Period (450-1100 CE)

• Origins after Roman departure from Britain
  • Romans spoke Latin, Brits spoke Celtic
  • Roman Empire crumbling, left Britain vulnerable to invasion
• Germanic tribal invasion
  • Three tribes: Angles, Saxons, Jutes
  • From northern Germany/Denmark area
  • Spoke North Sea Germanic
  • Celtic speakers pushed to Ireland, Scotland, Wales (north/west)
• Anglo-Saxon language development
  • "Anglo-Saxon" from Angles + Saxons tribes
  • Language called Old English or Anglo-Saxon
  • Used in Early Middle Ages
  • Unrecognizable as modern English except few words (his, he)
  • Word "he" possibly old as humanity itself
• First English speakers (legendary)
  • Leaders: Hingis and Hersa
  • Asked to help protect country
  • Brought Old English to Britain

Middle English Period (1100-1500 CE)

• Norman Conquest (1066)
  • William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy (France)
  • Brought French to England
  • Created linguistic class division:
    • Royal court/upper classes: spoke French
    • Lower classes: continued Old English
• Language evolution
  • French words added to Old English = Middle English
  • Example: "sausage" from French
  • Chaucer's Canterbury Tales written in Middle English
  • More decipherable than Old English

Great Vowel Shift

• Occurred during latter part of Middle English
• Shortened vowel sounds significantly
• Happened quickly but linguists baffled why
• Example: "shape" became "sheep"
• Contributed to major English language changes

Early Modern English (1500-1700)

• Standardization factors
  • Printing press introduction
  • Need for standardization for readers
  • Books became cheaper, more available
  • London dialect became standard (printing industry center)
  • Basis for first English dictionary
• Difference from late modern: fewer words initially

Late Modern English (1700-present)

• Vocabulary expansion reasons
  • World/technology evolution required more words
  • British Empire global influence
  • Absorbed words from conquered territories
  • Example: "bandana" from India
• Word adoption process
  • Foreign words absorbed into English
  • Became permanent vocabulary additions

First English Poet

• Cadmon (c-a-e-d-m-o-n)
  • First known English poet
  • Illiterate person who received "gift of poetry from God"
  • Story recorded by historian monk Bede (b-e-d-e)
  • Wrote in Old English (unrecognizable today)
• Poem example translation: "Now we must praise the guardian of the Heavenly Kingdom, the ruler's might and his plan"
• Old English text: "new as in in you new schoolon hirian his and his much major Punk"
  • "majbank" = plan in Old English
  • Words "and his" recognizable across ~2000 years