The Origins of English English language started as a tribal dialect in a small island and has now become the language spoken by over a billion people worldwide. The story of English is characterized by tenacity, luck, near extinction, flexibility, and absorption.
'Forced Underground' "For 300 years English was forced underground." This chapter explores how the Germanic tribes invaded Britain and pushed the native Celts to adopt their culture and language. Only a few Celtic words survived into modern English.
Christianity's Influence With Christianity came Latin terms that became part of Old English vocabulary. The Christian missionaries also brought script to England - runes for practical messages or graffiti were replaced with Latin alphabet for writing on parchment or vellum.
The Power of Old English Old English was a language capable of recording and expressing a wide range of human experiences. It became powerful enough to create imaginary worlds through poetry, as seen in the epic Beowulf.
The Viking Threat "Pagan pirates" known as Vikings attacked religious centers like Lindisfarne and Jarrow, destroying books and threatening the Latin-based culture that had developed in England. The Vikings eventually gained control over most Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.
The Influence of Old Norse on English Old Norse had a significant influence on the English language, with hundreds of words borrowed from it. Words like score, sky, anger, knife, and window are all examples. The SK sound is characteristic of Old Norse and can be found in many English words.
Alfred the Great's Impact on the English Language "King Alfred was concerned about the decline in literacy among priests who couldn't understand Latin. He decided to promote literacy by translating important books into English so that everyone could read them." This project led to an increase in written vernacular history and philosophy in England.