Evolution of English on the Isle of Britain

Evolution of English on the Isle of Britain

Pre-55 BC

43–410

5th C

6th C

8th C

Celtic language

The Romans

Germanic tribes

Saint Augustine

The Vikings

+ info

+ info

+ info

+ info

+ info

16th C

18th C

21st C

Living Languages of the United Kingdom

The English Language Today

The Normans

Industrial Revolution

Technology & Globalization

+ info

+ info

+ info

+ info

+ info

I'm amazed by everything that has had to happen to be able to have this global language today when I read the entire history of how it has developed. I'm not just referring to the changes and modifications in the language, but to all those towns, cities, and, in general, groups of people who migrated to different places and the entire history behind that, the decisions that were made, and how they affected what we know today as the English language.

Translations, D. (2023, August 11). The evolution of the different languages of the United Kingdom. Day Translations Blog. https://www.daytranslations.com/blog/languages-united-kingdom/

The Vikings

• English language became the language of choice by King Alfred to develop a feeling of national identity
• Old Norse words: sky, egg, anger

Latin Language

• They introduced Latin (through administration, military, and trade)
• They were instrumental in building roads and bridges and creating cities and country estates
• Around 200 Latin words adopted (wall, belt, candle, wine)

Christian Missionaries

• Very large Latin vocabulary in the form of the Bible and other religious texts
• New words derived from Latin were formed (rose, tower, spider, spade, fork, monk, school, mass and altar)
• Formation of four major dialects: Kentish (southeast), West Saxon (west and south), Mercian (midlands) and Northumbrian (north)

Anglo-Saxon dialects

• They introduced the Anglo-Saxon dialects from the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes
• They were from northern Germany (Denmark)
• The basis of Old English were the Anglo-Saxon dialects (400 texts that have survived)
• Words: be, sleep, night, sing, food, strong, house, water, and earth.

Celtic language

• Britain’s inhabitants spoke a Celtic language
• They crossed the English Channel
• Not many Celtic words were left in the present-day English vocabulary
• Original Celtic places: Kent, Dover, and London.

Living Languages of the United Kingdom

• The United Kingdom is composed of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales
• English is spoken widely throughout the United Kingdom
• Welsh is the official language in WalesIt is spoken in various parts of England
• Scots is used primarily in the Northern Isles, Caithness, and Scottish Lowlands in Scotland

Industrial Revolution

• 18th–19th Century
• Science & technology words (engine, electricity)

The English Language Today

• Are a part of the common Indo-European language family
• It comprises about 455 languages and dialects
• English is the most predominant languages in the United Kingdom
• In Wales, the official languages are Welsh and English
• Scots Gaelic and English are the official languages spoken in Scotland

Technology & Globalization

• Internet slang & American influence
• Words: selfie, Google as a verb

The Normans

• They had a unique heritage, being descendants of Viking conquerors, while their culture was a mix of Roman Gauls and Salian Franks}
• They used Norman French as their language
• French was the language of English society’s powerful people, the top political officials, aristocrats, and royalty
• Establishment of the Cambridge and Oxford universities