Background of the English Language Old English (500-1100)
  • Anglo-Saxon developed into English & also developed into German. Hence English is a Germanic language.
  • Had full inflection system. (an inflection shows how a word funtions in a sentence by its form).


Middle English (1100-1500)

  • Inflections weakening.
  • Can actually read some of it without very much training.


Modern (1500-present)

  • No inflections. (With a few exceptions, such as the personal pronoun - I, me, mine, we, us, ours.)
  • Modern syntax.

Background Sources for British Culture, Literature & Language:
 
 
Native tribes:
Descendants from original Britons
Invaders:
  • Scotch
  • Irish
  • Welch
  • Cornish
  • Romans
  • Angles
  • Saxons
  • Jutes 
  • Vikings 
  • Normans
 
Celtic:


Classic (Greco-Roman):


Germanic:


5th century


The Vikings: (793-1050)


The Norman Conquest 1066.

100 Years War (1337-1454)


    Anglo-Saxon society was quite different from the culture that developed in the high Middle Ages reflected in Chaucer. Following the Roman exit from Britain, there was a breakdown of the rule of law. It was a very tribal form of society in which much superstition abounded. They were pagans. Pagan traditions were fused with Christian ones.  For instance, the spring festival of Eostre became Easter. Christian concepts of fortune & providence were similar to the Anglo Saxon concept of wyrd, or fate: the control of a person's destiny beyond the reach of personal exertion. Christianity brought intellectual advancement. Schools grew up as monestaries spread; Latin taught. Led Anglo Saxons to produce & write down their own literature. Anglo Saxon (Old English) the first important vernacular written literature of Western Europe. (Vernacularlanguages were the local language, as opposed to the Latin that was common across the area covered by the western Roman Empire. )

Two classes recognized by Anglo-Saxon society:

King:


The tribal social system:


597 A.D.:
 

Pagan traditions were fused with Christian ones.  For instance, the spring festival of Eostre
became Easter.

Christian concepts of fortune & providence were similar to the A.S. concept of wyrd, or fate:
the control of a person's destiny beyond the reach of personal exertion.

Christianity brought intellectual advancement. Schools grew up as monestaries spread; Latin
taught. Led A.S. to produce & write down their own lit. Anglo Saxon (Old English) was the first
important vernacular written literature of W. Europe. (Vernacular languages were the local
language, as opposed to the Latin that was common across the area covered by the western Roman
Empire. )
 
 

Bede:

870: 1014: Danes conquered Britain

1042: Anglo Saxons returned to power

1066:

1066.  The Normans/Frenchmen invaded. William imposed Norman law, government and
language on Anglo-Saxons.

    The foundation of Norman civilization (Feudal System) which was based upon the holding of land. King owned all the land. He granted areas to his lords who promised him their services. Lords gave portions to the knights who pledged to assist them in battle. Serfs were the lowest on the social scale. They paid goods and services to the lord in return for land they farmed.

Social Scale: