1. The history of the English language
Use the powerpoint to make notes about the poem that you have in your passport.
This can be done around the poem on page 4 or on page 7 of the booklet that you have. ©
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2. Early beginnings
Before 100 BC, Britain was populated by a mixture of tribes, including the Celts, Picts, Irish and Cornish.
They all spoke a variety of Celtic languages. ©
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3. The origins of English
In the 5th century AD, settlers from west Germany crossed over to Britain.
These tribes were called Saxons, Jutes and Angles, and set up kingdoms called ‘East Anglia’, ‘West Saxon’, ‘East Saxon’ etc.
They spoke a dialect of the Germanic language and this slowly evolved into the English we speak today. ©
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4. Old English (c. 400–1100 AD)
The language spoken by the Germanic settlers developed differently to the forms found in what is now known as Germany.
This early form of English is known as ‘Old English’. ©
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5. Influences during the Old English period
Viking invaders started arriving in north east England in the 8th century.
Parts of their Scandinavian language (which is closely related to Germanic languages too) , including words describing family and animals, spread through northern England.
These words were integrated into Old English. ©
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6. Middle English (c. 1100–1450 AD)
When the Normans invaded in 1066, French became the dominant language (of court, the church, and the nobility) while the rest of the country spoke versions of English.
Gradually, English became more widely used by the educated upper classes and by 1425 English was used universally again in speech and writing.
However, it had changed completely since the Old English period and became known as Middle English. ©
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7. Immigration to Britain
Use the following links to explore the changes that have made Britain more mutli-cultural. You will have to share this information when we get back to class so make notes on page 7 of your passport.
Read about the experiences of these immigrants who arrived to Britain from the West Indies after the Second World War. I will indicate who you should make notes on to feedback in class.
Find out more here about when other British immigrants came, from where and why. Add to your notes in the space provided. ©
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