OLD, MIDDLE,

AND MODERN ENGLISH

The history of the English language really started with the arrival of three Germanic tribes, the Angles, the Saxons, and the Jutes who invaded Britain during the 5th century AD.

THE HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE IS DIVIDED INTO 3 MAIN PARTS:

What was written during this time period?

1. Old English (449-1100 AD)

Part of Beowulf, a poem written in Old English.

2. Middle English (1100-1500 AD)

What was written during this time period?

The Canterbury Tales

An example of Middle English by Chaucer.

3. Modern English (1500-present day)

Shakespeare

Who wrote during this time period?

Hamlet's famous "To be, or not to be" lines, written in Early Modern English by Shakespeare.

The change between the different periods took hundreds of years and spelling and pronunciation were the primary changes between the way that English was spoken and written.

Now, listen to the Lord’s Prayer and see if you can understand it.

Old English Version

Middle English Version

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blDM-ibezJQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FM2THezuzlI

“The Lord’s Prayer”

Our Father, who art in Heaven, hollowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

When the Romans left England, their alphabet had only 26 sounds. When the Anglo-Saxons took over, their combined languages had 66 sounds, for the 26 letters of the

Latin alphabet.

This is how it remains today.

Now—there are many sounds for one letter. For example, there are 7

sounds for the letter “O”.

Pot Hoarse

Took

Toe Boot

Noise

English was once considered slang.

Although, many people spoke English at home, Latin was used in

school and French was used in Parliament.

In fact, although most of English is influence by German, we can see the influence of outside language

on Modern English today.

Examples of French words that we use today:

Genre, Prince, GovernmentExamples of Latin words that we use today:

Bishop, Mass, AngelExamples of Norse words that we use today:

Cake, Sister

BEFORE written English, very few people spoke

it.It originate from small Anglo-Norse tribes.

TODAY—How many people do you think

speak English worldwide?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rexKqvgPVuA

History of English in 10 minutesShort film

A Brief Chronology of the English Language

YEAR EVENT WHY IT’S IMPORTANT

LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT THE TIME

43 AD

Romans invade Britain, beginning of Roman rule

Influence of outside language

Celtic

436-449

Romans leave Britain, German invaders settle

Influence of outside language

Celtic

450-480

Earliest known Old English inscriptions

First record of spoken language in written form

Old English

YEAR EVENT WHY IT’S IMPORTANT

LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT THE TIME

1000 AD

“Beowulf”, the oldest manuscript in the English language, was written

Story showed written grammatical rules of the spoken language

Old English

1150

Earliest surviving manuscripts in Middle English

Records of spoken language in written form, we are able to see how language was changing

Middle English

1348

English replaces Latin in most schools

English was becoming more popular

Middle English

YEAR EVENT WHY IT’S IMPORTANT

LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT THE TIME

1604

Table Alphabeticall, the first English dictionary, is published

Set standards for written English

Modern English

1828

Webster publishes his American English dictionary

Set standards for written English

Modern English