Абылай хан атындағы Қазақ халықаралық қатынастар және әлем тілдері университеті

SIWT №1 - The English Language as a chief medium of communication. The

origin of the English language

209 GROUP Nurlan Ainur

123
10.09.2024
1. The History of the English Language as a Discipline

The History of the English language as a discipline involves studying how English has
developed over centuries. It examines changes in vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation
through historical periods. The discipline has evolved as follows:

 Early Explorations: The study of English began in earnest during the Renaissance when
scholars started documenting and analyzing the language's historical forms.
 19th Century: Linguists such as Otto Jespersen and Henry Sweet contributed
foundational work, systematically analyzing Old and Middle English texts and
categorizing language changes.
 Modern Developments: With advancements in linguistic theory, the 20th century
brought more sophisticated methods for analyzing historical language data, including the
use of corpora and statistical models.

2. Connection with the History of England and Related Disciplines

The History of the English language is intertwined with the History of England due to:

 Historical Influence: Major historical events, such as the Norman Conquest (1066) and
the Industrial Revolution, significantly shaped the English language. The language
reflects socio-political changes, including the influence of various ruling classes and
cultural shifts.
 Cultural Context: English evolved as England itself underwent transformations, such as
the transition from a primarily agrarian society to an industrialized nation.

Related Disciplines:

 History: Provides context for the language changes, helping to explain why and how
English evolved.
 Literature: Offers insight into the usage and evolution of language through different
periods.
 Sociolinguistics: Studies how social factors like class and identity influence language
variation and change.
 Anthropology: Explores the cultural and social practices that impact language use and
evolution.

3. Intralinguistic vs. Extralinguistic Factors

 Intralinguistic Factors: Internal to the language system and involve changes within the
language itself. Examples include:
o Phonological Changes: The shift in vowel sounds during the Great Vowel Shift.
o Grammatical Changes: The loss of case endings in English.
 Extralinguistic Factors: External to the language system and involve influences from
outside the language. Examples include:
o Historical Events: The introduction of Norman French vocabulary into English
after the Norman Conquest.
o Social Changes: Migration patterns leading to dialectal variations and new
lexical borrowings.
4. Synchronic vs. Diachronic Study of Language

 Synchronic Linguistics: Focuses on the study of a language at a specific point in time,

analyzing its current structure and use without considering historical development. For
example, examining how Modern English syntax functions today.
 Diachronic Linguistics: Examines how a language changes over time, tracing its
historical development. This includes studying shifts from Old English to Middle English
to Modern English, observing changes in phonology, grammar, and vocabulary.

5. Main Method Applied to the Study of Language Evolution

Comparative Method is the primary method used for studying language evolution. This method
involves:

 Comparing Languages: Analyzing similarities and differences among related languages

to reconstruct features of their common ancestor.
 Reconstructing Proto-Languages: Using comparative analysis to infer the characteristics
of ancient languages from which modern languages descended.

Why It’s Called Comparative: It’s named for its focus on comparing languages to understand
their historical relationships and reconstruct their shared origins.

6. Sources of the History of the English Language

Sources include:

 Written Texts: Historical documents, manuscripts, legal texts, and literary works that
provide evidence of language usage over time.
 Archaeological Finds: Artifacts that provide context for linguistic developments.

Date of the First Extant Written Records: The earliest extant written records in English date
back to the 7th century. Key texts include the Epic of Beowulf and the Laws of Æthelberht.

7. Periods in the History of the English Language

Periods:

 Old English (ca. 450–1150 AD): The earliest form of English, used from the Anglo-
Saxon settlement until the Norman Conquest.
 Middle English (ca. 1150–1500 AD): Marked by significant changes due to the
influence of Norman French and Latin.
 Early Modern English (ca. 1500–1700 AD): Characterized by the Great Vowel Shift
and the standardization of English.
 Modern English (1700–present): The current form of English, continuing to evolve
with ongoing changes in usage and vocabulary.

Henry Sweet’s Characterization: Henry Sweet divided English into these periods based on
significant phonological, grammatical, and lexical changes, noting that each period represents a
distinct phase in the language's evolution, influenced by historical events and social changes.
2) 1. Key Events in the History of the English Language

1. Anglo-Saxon Settlement of Britain (ca. 450 AD)

o The arrival of the Anglo-Saxons marked the beginning of Old English. This migration
from Germanic regions laid the foundation for the English language.

2. Introduction of Christianity (597 AD)

o The mission of St. Augustine of Canterbury brought Latin influences into Old English
through religious texts and ecclesiastical terminology.

3. Danish Viking Invasions (8th–11th centuries)

o Norse incursions resulted in substantial Old Norse influence on Old English, enriching its
vocabulary and contributing to the development of Middle English.

4. The Norman Conquest (1066)

o The Battle of Hastings led to Norman French becoming the language of the elite, while
Old English continued to be spoken by the common people. This bilingualism resulted in
significant lexical borrowing and the emergence of Middle English.

5. Magna Carta Signed (1215)

o Although initially drafted in Latin, the Magna Carta’s subsequent translations into
English symbolized the growing importance of English in legal and administrative
matters.

6. The Great Vowel Shift (15th–16th centuries)

o This series of phonetic changes significantly altered the pronunciation of vowels,
marking the transition from Middle English to Early Modern English.

7. The Publication of the King James Bible (1611)

o The translation of the Bible into English not only standardized the language but also had
a profound impact on English literature and vocabulary.

8. The Act of Settlement (1701)

o This act and subsequent legal changes reflected and influenced language use in formal
and legal contexts, contributing to the development of Modern English.

9. Industrial Revolution (18th–19th centuries)

o Rapid technological and social changes led to the creation of new vocabulary and
expressions, reflecting England's transformation into an industrialized society.

10. The British Empire and Global Expansion (19th–20th centuries)

o The expansion of the British Empire spread English globally, leading to the emergence of
various English dialects and influencing the development of World Englishes.

2. The Term “Anglo-Saxon” and Its Justification

The term “Anglo-Saxon” is often used to describe the early form of English spoken in Britain,
but it is not entirely accurate for several reasons:

 Linguistic Diversity: The Anglo-Saxons were not a homogeneous group; they included various
Germanic tribes such as the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes. The term oversimplifies this diversity.
  Historical Development: The term “Anglo-Saxon” implies a static linguistic identity, while Old
English evolved significantly through external influences, including Norse and Norman French.
 Cultural Complexity: The language and culture of early medieval Britain were shaped by
multiple influences, not just the Anglo-Saxons. The term does not fully account for the
complexity of this linguistic and cultural interplay.

Examples: Old English, while primarily Germanic, absorbed many Latin and Norse elements,
demonstrating the dynamic nature of its development beyond the Anglo-Saxon contribution
alone.

3. Origin of Place-Names

 Britain: Derived from the Latin name Britannia, which was used by the Romans to
describe the island of Great Britain.
 Scotland: From the Latin Scotia, which originally referred to Ireland but later came to
denote the northern part of Britain. It is derived from the Scoti, a Gaelic tribe.
 Great Britain: Refers to the largest island in the British Isles, named to distinguish it
from the smaller island of Brittany in France.
 Bretagne: The French name for Brittany, from the Latin Britannia, reflecting the
region’s historical connection to the Britons.
 England: From Old English Englaland, meaning "land of the Angles." The Angles were
one of the Germanic tribes that settled in Britain.
 Sussex: From Old English Suthsēaxe, meaning "southern Saxons," referring to the Saxon
inhabitants of southern England.
 Essex: From Old English Ēastseaxe, meaning "eastern Saxons," indicating the Saxon
settlers in the eastern part of England.
 Middlesex: From Old English Middlesēaxe, meaning "middle Saxons," referring to the
Saxons living in the central region of what is now Greater London.
 Wessex: From Old English Wessex, meaning "west Saxons," indicating the Saxon settlers
in the southwestern part of England.
 Northumberland: From Old English Norðhymbre, meaning "land of the northern
borderers," referring to the region north of the River Humber.
 Wales: From Old English Wealas, meaning "foreigners" or "strangers," used by the
Anglo-Saxons to describe the Celtic inhabitants of the western part of Britain.
 Cornwall: From Old English Cornwealas, meaning "Cornish strangers," referring to the
Celtic people of Cornwall.