Warm-up: September 4, 2013 Refer to the NYT article you read for homework to answer the following questions: Why are the options presented in the “fill-in-the-blank” introduction in the post likely to not interest or impress a college admissions official? Why are more mundane topics often preferable? What other alternatives to the standard college essay fare does this post offer? What are some things to avoid in a college essay?
Whan that Aprill, with his shoures soote The droghte of March hath perced to the roote And bathed every veyne in wich licour Of which vertue engendred is the flour
The History of the English Language
Proto Indo European (3,000 B.C.)
Proto Indo European (3,000 B.C.)
Sir William Jones (end of 18th century)
Sanskrit Classical language of the Hindus Studied it in India
Sanskrit + Ancient Greek + Latin = Epiphany!
Back to England…
The Celts
The Celts
The Celts
The Celts
The Celts
The Celts
Angles and Saxons and Jutes – oh, my!
3 Powerful Germanic Tribes (early 5 century AD) Angles Language called “Englisc” One of the main groups that settled in Britain. Got their name from Angeln (city in Germany). “England” and “English” English people ended up being referred to as “Anglo” Saxons Jutes
Latin Alphabet
All three tribes spoke similar languages. They didn’t write. Were given the Latin Alphabet. Languages merged. Began writing it down AND…
VOILA! We got the first written version of English. Uh, except to us, it looks and sounds nothing like English…
Three attested periods: …what does “attested” mean?
Old English
Old English Germanic tribes languages meshed together. Formed “Old English” Looks nothing like modern English. Native speakers wouldn’t know what it means. Our word roots can be traced back to Old English. Ex: Beowulf http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y13cES7MMd8
Middle Engish
Middle English 1066-William the Conqueror French influence French was language of the Royal Court Class division: lower classes (English) upper class (French) Decline of Feudalism/growth of cities English became dominant in Britain again But French words were intermixed The result was a new form of English: Middle English http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QE0MtENfOMU
Modern English
Modern English Early Modern (1500-1800) Late Modern English Renaissance brought with it many new words and phrases. Shakespeare. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2KeALDmztQ&feature=fvst&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active Late Modern English (1800-Present) British Empire Foreign languages filtered into English language. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ti5OaadrS9I
Chaucer’s English – Your Turn Read through the passage from Canterbury Tales a couple of times. Use the translation on the back to try to interpret each line of the passage. Annotate in the margins what each line is saying, using context clues to make your best interpretation. Don’t worry if you don’t get it totally correct; just try to get the gist of each line.