10 Samacheer Books
HISTORY OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE
What is the importance of learning the history of English language?
To know any subject of study properly and to understand the basic facts and concepts with clarity, we need to know the relevant History of that subject likewise in English study also first we should go through the History of the English language to properly understand the basic structure of the English language.
Is English a language?
No! Definitely not. One may be surprised to know this fact. But it is true that English is not a language by itself, rather it is a mixture of many European languages, acquired and transformed in various ways to the present level of global English. Let us travel our minds to the European continent to know the History of English language. In Europe, there were Celtic people living who were speaking Celtic language. Imagine a language i.e. Celtic language once spoken throughout Western Europe is not living now excepting for some small pockets in Europe why? These Celtic people were speaking Celtic language. These Celtic people were conquered by Anglo-Saxons who were Germanic tribes. They imposed their Anglosaxonic language upon the celtic people.This celtic disappeared from the European continent. Why the anglosaxons did not absorb anything from celtic? Anglosaxons did not absorb anything from the celtic people because they considered celtic people as inferior. This was the first change in English.
Second great change in English happened when Latin began to be introduced in English.
Latin came along with Christianity, so Anglosaxons absorbed Latin into their language, also they thought Latin people of their language to be superior. Hence, So many Latin words came to be used in English
What is the importance of learning the history of English language?
To know any subject of study properly and to understand the basic facts and concepts with clarity, we need to know the relevant History of that subject likewise in English study also first we should go through the History of the English language to properly understand the basic structure of the English language.
Is English a language?
No! Definitely not. One may be surprised to know this fact. But it is true that English is not a language by itself, rather it is a mixture of many European languages, acquired and transformed in various ways to the present level of global English. Let us travel our minds to the European continent to know the History of English language. In Europe, there were Celtic people living who were speaking Celtic language. Imagine a language i.e. Celtic language once spoken throughout Western Europe is not living now excepting for some small pockets in Europe why? These Celtic people were speaking Celtic language. These Celtic people were conquered by Anglo-Saxons who were Germanic tribes. They imposed their Anglosaxonic language upon the celtic people.This celtic disappeared from the European continent. Why the anglosaxons did not absorb anything from celtic? Anglosaxons did not absorb anything from the celtic people because they considered celtic people as inferior. This was the first change in English.
Second great change in English happened when Latin began to be introduced in English.
Latin came along with Christianity, so Anglosaxons absorbed Latin into their language, also they thought Latin people of their language to be superior. Hence, So many Latin words came to be used in English