Diese Arbeit beschreibt die Entstehung und die Entwicklungsphasen des britischen Standard-Englisch von den keltischen Siedlern bis zu den technologischen Entwicklungen unserer globalisierten Zeit und der Weltsprache Englisch.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction: The English English Standard
2. The genealogy of English
3. Before English
3.1.1. The first settlers in Britain
3.1.2. Roman invaders
4. The Old English Period (ca. 450-1150)
4.1. The Anglo-Saxons
4.2. The Vikings
4.3. The Normans
5. The Middle English Period (ca. 1150-1500)
6. The Early Modern English Period (ca. 1500-1800)
7. The Victorian Age and the Industrial Revolution
8. Conclusion
9. Bibliography
10. Appendix
Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the historical development of the English language, specifically focusing on the evolution of what is defined as the "Standard English" spoken in England. It investigates how historical, social, and cultural events shaped the language from its Germanic roots to its modern status as a global language.
- Origins of English and early influences in Britain
- Impact of the Old English, Middle English, and Early Modern English periods
- The emergence and standardization of the East Midland dialect
- The role of the Great Vowel Shift in pronunciation changes
- External influences including Latin, Scandinavian, and French
Excerpt from the Book
4.2. The Vikings
The next major influence on the Anglo-Saxon language came with the mass movement of Danes to Britain between 750 and 1050, after the Vikings, who had invaded and plundered many parts of Europe and even Asia, had “absorbed all or part of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of Northumbria, East Anglia, Mercia, and Essex into the Danelaw, where Danish law prevailed.” The cultural leadership among the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms meanwhile passed from Northumbria to Wessex and works from all Anglo-Saxon dialects were translated into its language which led to the recognition of the West Saxon dialect as a literary standard. However, West Saxon “is not the direct ancestor of modern standard English, which is mainly derived from an Anglian dialect.
Anglo-Saxons and Danes lived in relative peace and since their languages had common Germanic roots they could understand each other quite well and a process of pidginization occurred which resulted in today’s English having lots of words from Danish origin. An example for that is brought by Jamie K. Chang, who cites Tom Shippey:
Consider what happens when somebody who speaks. . . Old English. . . runs into somebody. . . who speaks good Old Norse. They can no doubt communicate with each other, but complications in both languages are going to get lost. So if the Anglo-Saxon from the South wants to say (in good Old English) "I'll sell you the horse that pulls my cart," he says: "Ic selle the that hors the drageth minne waegn."
Now the old Norseman -- if he had to say this -- would say: "Ek mun selja ther hrossit er dregr vagn mine."
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The English English Standard: Defines the concept of a standard language and outlines the paper's goal to trace its historical evolution.
2. The genealogy of English: Explains the classification of English within the West Germanic and Indo-European language families.
3. Before English: Covers pre-English settlers in Britain, including Celtic tribes and the period of Roman occupation.
4. The Old English Period (ca. 450-1150): Analyzes the foundational influence of the Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, and Normans on the early language structure.
5. The Middle English Period (ca. 1150-1500): Discusses the transition toward a standardized English, heavily influenced by the East Midland dialect and the introduction of the printing press.
6. The Early Modern English Period (ca. 1500-1800): Explores the impact of the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, and early dictionary attempts on the regularization of English.
7. The Victorian Age and the Industrial Revolution: Examines how urbanization and industrialization affected vocabulary and the standardization of spelling.
8. Conclusion: Synthesizes the development process and reflects on the nature of English as an evolving, global language.
9. Bibliography: Lists the academic sources and references used throughout the study.
10. Appendix: Provides supplemental historical context and source materials, including maps and personal essays.
Keywords
English language, Standard English, linguistic development, Old English, Middle English, Great Vowel Shift, Anglo-Saxon, Viking influence, Norman Conquest, East Midland dialect, language history, etymology, Germanic languages, standardization, historical linguistics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this paper?
The paper focuses on tracing the historical development of the English language, specifically looking at how different cultural and social events influenced the formation of the "Standard English" used today.
What are the primary thematic areas covered in this study?
The core themes include the genealogical roots of English, the impact of various invasions (Roman, Anglo-Saxon, Viking, Norman), the process of standardization, and the evolution of the language during the Victorian era.
What is the main research question or goal?
The goal is to explain why a specific dialect became the standard English and to trace its development from the first settlers in Britain to the present day.
Which scientific methods or approaches are employed?
The author uses a descriptive historical approach, synthesizing existing literature and linguistic theories to explain the progression of language changes over different historical periods.
What is covered in the main body of the work?
The main body systematically explores the language's transformation through major historical eras, from its roots before English to the modern global usage of the language.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include English language, Standard English, historical linguistics, Anglo-Saxon, Middle English, and language standardization.
What role did the Great Vowel Shift play in the development of English?
The Great Vowel Shift caused a significant change in the pronunciation of all vowels, acting as a major landmark in the history of the English language that differentiates modern English from older versions.
Why was the East Midland dialect chosen as the standard?
It became the standard due to its location in the London area (the center of culture and politics), its literary use by authors like Geoffrey Chaucer, and its use by William Caxton in the printing press.
- Quote paper
- Susanne Opel (Author), 2004, The Historical Development of the English Standard, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/42613
