1. Old, Middle, and Modern English

2. 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.

3. The history of the English language is divided into 3 main parts:

4. 1. Old English
( AD)
What was written during this time period?

5. Part of Beowulf, a poem written in Old English.

6. 2. Middle English ( AD)
What was written during this time period?
The Canterbury Tales

7. An example of Middle English by Chaucer.

8. 3. Modern English (1500-present day)
Who wrote during this time period?
Shakespeare

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

10. 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.

11. Now, listen to the Lord’s Prayer and see if you can understand it.
Old English Version
Middle English Version

12. “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.

13. This is how it remains today.
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.

14. Now—there are many sounds for one letter
Now—there are many sounds for one letter. For example, there are 7 sounds for the letter “O”.
Pot
Hoarse
Took
Noise
Boot
Toe

15. English was once considered slang.
Although, many people spoke English at home, Latin was used in school and French was used in Parliament.

16. 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, Government
Examples of Latin words that we use today:
Bishop, Mass, Angel
Examples of Norse words that we use today:
Cake, Sister

17. 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?

18. History of English in 10 minutes
Short film

19. LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT THE TIME
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
Romans leave Britain, German invaders settle
Earliest known Old English inscriptions
First record of spoken language in written form
Old English

20. LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT THE TIME
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

21. LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT THE TIME
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