- History and development of the English language
- Analysis of the origin of the history of the English language indicates that it belongs to the West Germanic branch of the Indo-European family of language (Algeo, & Pyles, 2010). The indo-European families of languages were the first languages to spread throughout European and many parts of south Asia. These indo-languages managed to reach the entire corner of the globe as result of colonization. Some school of thought proposes that the indo-languages originated around 7,000 BC in Anatolia, which is a land that lies between the black and Mediterranean seas from where it spread to the rest of the European countries.
- Old English
- During the 5th century AD three Germanic tribes the Saxon, angles and jutes settled in British Isles. (Melzer, 2009) These Germanic tribes were warlike and they managed to push the original Celtic-speaking inhabitant from England to Scotland, Wales and Cornwall. During their stay in England these Germanic tribes managed to mix with other Germanic dialects. These groups of dialect formed the linguistics that later came to be referred to as the old English. However due to the mixing of the dialects and the Germanic tribes four major dialect language emerged which include the Northumbrian which was in the north of England, Mercian in the midland, west Saxon in south and the Kentish which was in the southeast. The origin of the word English can therefore be traced in the old English ‘Englisc’ that came from the name of the Angles, which was one of the Germanic tribes (Gelderen, 2006).
- The Celtic languages had little influence on the Old English language. This is because analysis of the current English language it is evident that the influence of the Celtic language can only be traced on the names of places and rives or other natural features. Moreover, the arrival of the Christianity into Saxon had an impact on the English language where some of the Latin words were incorporate into the old English. In relation to this, some of the church ceremonies and dignitaries were given the Latin name these include word like baptism.
- Middle English period
- The Middle English period is usually associated with the period when Duke of Nomandy conquered England with his army. After conquering England he is believed to have brought his men who spoke French to help form the new government. In addition after conquering the England the old French became the language to be used in courts and for administrative purposes. The Latin during this period was used for written language mostly in church while the English language was used by the lower class people and in some cases considered as vulgar language (Melzer, 2009). However by 1200AD England and France had split leading to the development of the English language. It is important to note that during this period the old English language incorporated French word such as the parliament, governor among others. In addition this Middle English period is also characterized with the beginning of the great vowel shifts.
- Modern English
- The modern English language is believed to have significantly developed after William Caxton developed a printing press in around 1450 (Gelderen, 2006). This development of the printing press allowed the materials such as bible to be published in large volumes, which helps in standardizing the language. Development of the modern English language is divided into three major periods, which include the renaissance, industrial revolution and finally the British colonization. During the renaissance period most of the words from the Greek and Latin language were incorporated into the English language. While during the industrial revolution which is period in the 18th century new words related to technology were added into the English language (Gelderen, 2006). Moreover, between the 18th and 20th centuries when the British Empire moved across the world new words were incorporated into the English vocabulary (Algeo & Pyles, 2010). It is therefore evident that the late modern English language has more world than the old English does however, aspects such as pronunciation of words and spellings have remained the same.
- Role of English as a lingua franca and how it affects you in job and your daily life
- English as a lingua franca is the use of English language as a general means of interaction for speakers of dissimilar earliest languages. Nowadays English the national language in more than 60 states. English has effectively become the common language globally in the field of science and technology, commercial activities and tourism. Since the world needed a lingua franca, English is actually the best preference. This is because English terms are easy to utter and they are quite short. Nevertheless, syntax is not that much constraining therefore immigrants easily adopt the language. Morphology in the words is less therefore an added advantage. English has a positive impact on people in that it gives a simple and direct access to various customs in the society such as literature. Science and Artistic activities like paintings and other talents are also included.
- More to that, English is also used in work places or businesses, social networks, schools, advertisements and media programs and in trade markets. The language acts as a means of interaction between employees, people from different countries and people with the same locality. Being a general medium of communication, it promotes businesses, promotes peace and unity among countries and allows interactions and socialization among people within and outside the states. English promotes education in schools since all subjects are interpreted in English language. Moreover, it allows member countries to negotiate and enhance trading of goods that is importing and exporting. This therefore enables a country to earn revenue and promote friendly terms with other countries. English is furthermore an external social force binding together the members of a community. (Smolicz et al, 2003)
- English language has both positive and negative influence in our daily lives and places of work. It enables employees to work together in harmony and share common views with each other about the work. This is due to the use of English as a regular language between them. Most of workers in any institution are of different tribes so if everyone speak his or her own language, not everyone will understand therefore language barrier. That is the main reason why English is formally used in places of work. When everyone understands each other, unity and corporation is enhanced. However there can be incidences of language barrier if an employee is posted or gets a job in a foreign country that does not use English as a lingua franca.
- This is a great challenge to such people since they have to acculturate. Acculturation is the process in which a person learns or adopts the language or cultural norms of a certain society. This is a disadvantage since learning may be time consuming, expensive, or the language may be difficult to be easily understood. Communication with other employees or members of the country is hard therefore one is unable to express his feelings or views or even ask directions to the people of that state. English can also affect our daily lives such as in schools where English is used in almost all subjects. Learned and wealthy parents tend to take their siblings in all-English learning centers, which are good since they provide quality education and prosperous future for the kids.
- However students especially in secondary and primary schools who are used on local languages find it difficult to express what they want and think in their mother tongues, particularly during lessons. The language degrades the use vernacular languages since it is used in almost every occasion even in communication over mobile phones when chatting or other social Medias between friends or relatives. Members of a society also find it odd to express themselves in vernacular since it is nowadays believed to be out of date especially for the youth. The use local language therefore tends to be limited or constrained in our daily lives while English grows to be the language of school and job. This is a miserable outcome experienced in Europe and many other countries.
- Societies and geographical influence of the development English language
- Considering that the majority of the modern English word came from the foreign language and not the old English roots then it is evident that the various society cultures had a great influence in the development of the English language. The earliest influence in the development of the English can be traced back around 850 AD when Vikings invaded the northern Germanic word where he managed to bring words such as dream in the old English.
- The conquering of the England by the duke of Normandy also had a significant in the development of the English language. One of the influences of Normandy on the English language can be traced through analysis of the word beef and cow (Melzer, 2009). In this case the word beef was derived from the Anglo-Norman language while the Anglo-Saxon mainly used the word cow. In addition many of the legal terms can be traced back in the Norman rule since he established various courts these legal terms include the jury, verdict among others. in addition some of the French words such as crimes replaced some of the original old English word firen( Hogg, & Denison, 2008).
- The Celtic culture also had some influence in the development of the English language. One of the greatest influences of the Celtic culture on the English language development can be traced considering the names given to the some of the geographical features such as rivers and places, which include names like York, Cumberland among other (Hobbs, 2009). After the British Empire moved across the world into countries such USA, New Zealand among others, they incorporated some vocabulary into the language. For instance the word such as Kangaroo, which were incorporated into the English language, which had its origin among the Australia aboriginals.
- References
- Hobbs, J. J., & Hobbs, J. J. (2009). World regional geography. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning.
- Hogg, R. M., & Denison, D. (2008). A history of the English language. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge Univ Pr.
- Algeo, J., & Pyles, T. (2010). The origins and development of the English language. Boston, MA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
- Melzer, D. (2009). French Influence on the English Languange in the Middle English Period. München: GRIN Verlag GmbH.
Gelderen, E. . (2006). A history of the English language. Amsterdam [u.a.: Benjamins - Smolicz, J.J. & Secombe, M. (2003), ‘Assimilation or pluralism?Changing policies for minority languages education inAustralia’,Language Policy,, 3-25
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