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| Ancient Origin, Old, Middle, Modern, English Today |
One of the first incredible foundational English core courses I took as an English Major at Kean University was Structure & Origins of the English Language with Dr. Ruth P. Griffith. Besides learning the in-depth studies relating to the origin and structure (grammatical structure) of English, I, too, learned about The Adventure of English: Birth of a Language, a historical account by way of a BBC Documentary that I share with you.
As the story goes, the adventure begins in South Bank, London. The North Sea, now called the Netherlands in Friesland, is believed to sound close to modern language worldwide. Around the 5th Century, Germanic tribes contained parts of the Jutes, Angles, and Saxon families that took their language and ours with them to live a better life.
Conversely, Germanic invaders slaughtered the Friesland Celts, and the Celts later adopted the Germanic culture and language. In the 6th Century, Germanic tribes occupied half of the mainland of Britain and divided it into three kingdoms: Kent, Sussex, and Wessex, which spoke various dialects. The Anglo-Saxons emerged speaking Old English, the language we Americans speak today from names to numbers, averaging about 5,000 words in active recovery. Soon a Monk, Pryor Augustine, led a mission from Rome to Kent. Centuries afterward, Christians built churches and monasteries, bringing the international language of the Christian religion Latin. Latin, in return, became part of the word horde and more. The English also took their script from Latin.
The Runic Alphabet was formed mainly of straight lines and was primarily used for short and practical messages or graffiti. During the 8th Century, the Magnificent Lindisfarne Gospels were created in Lindisfarne. Monk scholar Bead began to write the ever history of the English-speaking people who wrote in Latin, the language of scholarship, with the yet dominant language Old English. From about the 7th Century, language and a script, "which we can just about recognize as our language." Between the 7th and 10th Centuries, the first great poem in the English language, “Beowulf,” which I read in British Literature, was written without credit. The story’s plot is terrific for telling, action, and description.
By the 8th Century, Old English began to face extinction; Vikings sacked and burnt a religious center that stood in the past time. Vikings (Danes) invaded Jarrow and burnt a Christian library with English dialects and books. They controlled the country’s east and north sides, and the Old Norse language began to spread throughout the land. But in Old English, not so much. Despite the Viking’s cruel intent, King Alfred defeated them, defended the kingdom, and saved the English language. What a hero! He also signed a peace treaty with the Vikings; therefore, hundreds of words entered mainstream English that are still used today.
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| King Alfred of Wessex |
In the 9th Century, King Alfred was concerned about losing the English language. So, he had books translated from Latin to English, promoting literacy, and made (coined phrased) the English language "the jewel in his crown." After that, Norman invaders and a new king arose who spoke French, and over 10,000 French words colonized the English language. The English language was forced underground and took three hundred (300) years until it re-emerged and changed dramatically. I discovered a few new Friesland words, i.e., butter, bread, cheese, meal, sleep, boat, snow, and sea, storm. And French words, e.g., city, market, porter, salmon, oysters, pork, fruit, fried, and vinegar.
Once enrolled in Kean University School of English Studies English and Writing Programs: you, too, will notice how our foundational English courses, such as ENG 1030 College Composition and ENG 2101 Structure & Origins of the English Language, will enhance your writing skills as a significant major or minor undergraduate just like I do!
Remember to participate and RSVP for our next event, Harvest Haiku (click on the link provided), running from October 20th through October 31st. Located outside the School Of English Studies Office, CAS 301. A hot Chocolate Bar Will Be Available. HARVEST PARTY, OCTOBER 31. 🍂
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