The English language changed throughout its periods of existence. This development was, for example, influenced by other languages. The Latin language contains specific lexical and morphological features which the English language inherited. In order to understand which and why the features were taken from Latin and therefore influenced the English lexis and morphology, this paper will give a general overview about the development of the English language and the relationship to and influence of Latin. The morphological and lexical features of affixes will be examined in detail.
The English language encountered other languages like Celtic or Scandinavian as well, but the strong relationship between Latin and English is undeniable, which marks the relevance for this paper. A reason English borrowed features of Latin, is the importance of the language in the past. Latin was a Lingua Franca, such as English is a Lingua Franca now. But Latin disappeared as a first language in the past. Nevertheless, several languages which are called “Latin variants” took over the language features of Latin. Such languages are Spanish, French, or Italian, which are Romance languages. These Latin stemmed languages came in contact with English and therefore influenced its development. The most prominent language contact in the Latin stemmed field of languages is French.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Theoretical background
2.1 Borrowing
2.2 The Zero Period
2.3 The First Period
2.4 The Second Wave – Christianization
2.5 The Third Wave – Renaissance
3. Methodology
4. Results
4.1 Derivation
4.1.1 Prefixation
4.1.2 Suffixation
4.2 Inflection
5. Discussion and Conclusion
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This paper investigates the historical and structural influence of the Latin language on English, specifically focusing on how Latin-derived lexical and morphological features—such as affixes and inflectional endings—shaped the development of the English language throughout various historical periods.
- The role of "Borrowing" as a catalyst for lexical and morphological change in English.
- Chronological analysis of the four main periods of Latin influence (The Zero Period, First Period, Christianization, and Renaissance).
- Comparative examination of morphological development through key dictionaries (OED, MED, Online Etymology Dictionary).
- Mechanisms of affix adoption, including Prefixation and Suffixation, and their integration into English phonology.
- The impact of Latin-based inflectional systems on English noun declension.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 Borrowing
This paper is about the development of words and therefore the creation of novel words. These result from “CREATING, BORROWING, COMBINING, SHORTENING, BLENDING, and SHIFTING” (Alego 1991: 3). In the focus of this paper will be Borrowing as “[...] a more productive source of new words [...]” (Alego 1991: 4). ‘Borrowing’ means to use words or linguistic features of other languages. According to (ten Hacken & Panocová 2020: 3) “[...] borrowing is a phenomenon that has been studied in lexicography, where it has connections with etymology, language policy and contact linguistic.” As (cf. Alego 1991: 4) explained, Borrowings are borrowed words and therefore there is no specific rule for borrowing (cf. ten Hacken & Panocová 2020: 5). Nevertheless, these borrowed words are called loanwords and can be divided into simple and adapted loanwords, and loan translations (cf. Alego 1991: 4).
Simple loanwords “[...] are ADOPTED directly into English, sometimes with minor modifications [...]” (Alego 1991: 4). (cf. Alego 19914) explains that the modifications are necessary to adapt them to the English sound system and can mean changes in spelling. According to (Alego 1991: 4) “French has been the main source of LOANS into English.” Which marks the importance of borrowing for this paper because French is a Latin stemmed language. Spanish “[...] provided a few loanwords, especially of American Spanish origin relating to politics, music, and drugs” (Alego 1991: 4).
Adapted loanwords include “[...] remodeling of meaningful parts of their form (morphological change)” (Alego 1991: 4). The “[...] foreign word pattern [was changed] to a more native one” (Alego 1991: 4) A prominent form of adaption is to omit or change endings such as “[...] the French -isme and Spanish -ismo [which] were replaced by the corresponding English -ism” (Alego 1991:4). Adapted loanwords will be important for this paper because affixes as a morphological feature are in the focus in this form of borrowing. Latin grammatical endings were changed to English suffixes (cf. Alego 1991: 4), which will be presented and analyzed in the following chapters.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the historical context of English language evolution and sets the objective to examine Latin-inherited lexical and morphological features.
2. Theoretical background: Defines the concept of "Borrowing" and describes the four historical periods of Latin influence on English from the Roman era to the Renaissance.
3. Methodology: Details the comparative approach of using the OED, MED, and Online Etymology Dictionary to track the etymological development of affixes and inflectional suffixes.
4. Results: Presents empirical findings on borrowed affixes and inflectional patterns, supported by timelines and specific examples of derivation and declension.
5. Discussion and Conclusion: Analyzes the findings by linking the linguistic developments to social and historical trends like the Christianization and the impact of the Renaissance, concluding that Latin remains a fundamental influence on English.
Keywords
Latin, English language, Borrowing, Morphology, Affixes, Prefixation, Suffixation, Inflection, Etymology, Christianization, Renaissance, Lexicography, Linguistic development, Loanwords, Middle English.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
The paper examines how Latin influenced the English language, specifically focusing on the adoption of lexical and morphological features such as prefixes, suffixes, and inflectional endings across different historical stages.
Which historical periods are analyzed?
The analysis covers four periods: The Zero Period (pre-5th century), The First Period (43–450 AD), The Second Wave (Christianization starting 597), and The Third Wave (Renaissance in the 15th-16th centuries).
What is the central research question?
The research explores which specific Latin features were inherited by English and why these borrowings occurred, assessing the resulting impact on English lexis and morphology.
Which methodological approach is applied?
The study uses a comparative analysis of data retrieved from three major dictionaries: the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the Middle English Dictionary (MED), and the Online Etymology Dictionary.
What does the main body of the work address?
The main chapters cover the theoretical definition of borrowing, the timeline of Latin influence, the categorization of derivational affixes, and the observation of inflectional declensions in English.
What are the key terms that characterize this work?
Core concepts include Borrowing, Latin influence, Derivation, Inflection, and the evolution from Old to Modern English.
How did the Christianization affect English vocabulary?
The Christianization introduced significant Latin vocabulary related to religious practices, the church, and also established Latin as the language of literacy, which fostered new educational and historical terminology.
What role does French play in the study of Latin influence?
French is treated as a "Latin variant," serving as a critical intermediary through which extensive Latin-rooted vocabulary and morphological structures entered the English language, especially during the Renaissance.
How is the process of "morphological anglicization" explained in the study?
It describes the transition where Latin derivational or inflectional endings were adapted to fit the English sound system, allowing them to function naturally within English grammar.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2022, The influence of Latin to affixes of the English language, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1398986
