KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH

GROUP ONE

THE INTRODUCTION OF ENGLISH INTO THE ENGLISH ISLAND

 The name “England” and “English”

 The origin and position of English

 The periods in the history of English

THE NAMES “ENGLAND” AND “ENGLISH.”
The names ‘England’ and ‘English’ have a rich historical and linguistic background that reflects
the interplay of cultures, languages, and identities that have shaped the British Isles over the
centuries.
The name ‘England’ itself is derived from the Old English word ‘Englaland’ which means ‘land
of the Angles’. The Angles were one of the Germanic tribes that migrated to Britain during the
early medieval period, and their name became associated with the territory they settled in. Over
time, ‘Englaland’ evolved into ‘England’ as we know it today.
The introduction and evolution of the English language into English island is a similarly complex
process. The roots of English can be traced back to the arrival of Germanic tribes, including the
Angles, Saxons, and Jutes in Britain during the fifth (5th) and sixth (6th) centuries AD. These
tribes brought with them Germanic dialects, which eventually coalesced into what we recognize
as Old English. The epic poem ‘Beowulf’ and stands as a testament to the linguistic richness and
storytelling tradition of Old English.

The development of Old English was influenced significantly by contact with other languages,
particularly Old Norse due to the Vikings invasion of the eighth (8th) to eleventh (11th) centuries.
Norse warriors, traders and settlers left their impact on not only on the social and political
landscape but on the language as well. This linguistic interaction resulted in a significant impact
on the vocabulary and grammar of Old English.

The Norman Conquest of 1066 further transformed the linguistic landscape of England.
Following the Battle of Hastings, William the conqueror and his Norman followers asserted
dominance over England. The Normans, who spoke a variety of Old French, brought their
language and culture to England, leading to a period of bilingualism and the infusion of French
vocabulary into English or a unique blend of Anglo-Saxon and Norman influences.

This interaction between Old English and Old French ultimately contributed to the development
of Middle English. This transition was between the 11th to 15th centuries. This is evident in the
English vocabulary where similar pairs of words with similar meanings for example, ‘begin’
from Old English and ‘commence’ from Norman French showcase the linguistic duality.
Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales stands as a pinnacle of Middle English literature,
reflecting the evolving language and societal dynamics of the time.
The Renaissance period, for example, saw an influx of Latin and Greek words into the English
language as a result of intellectual and cultural exchange. The evolution of the English language
continued through the subsequent centuries, marked by shifts in pronunciation known as the
Great Vowel Shift, grammar and vocabulary leading to the pronunciation patterns we recognize
in Modern English.
The Protestant Reformation and the advent of the printing press in the 15th century played a
pivotal role in standardizing the English language. With the mass production of texts, a more
consistent form of English emerged, contributing to linguistic uniformity and accessibility. As
England expanded its influence through exploration and colonization, English spread globally.
The language underwent regional adaptations and absorbed loanwords from various cultures,
creating a diverse linguistic tapestry. English’s expansion continues to influence and be
influenced by a multitude of languages worldwide.

THE ORIGIN AND POSITION OF ENGLISH.

The English Language belongs to the Germanic branch of the Indo- European language
family. In essence, the English Language is primarily traced to the Indo-European family, where
it falls under the Germanic sub-family. Among the three (3) groups of the Germanic sub family
[namely; West Germanic, East Germanic and North Germanic]. The English Language falls
under the West Germanic group where it aligns with the Low German instead of the High
German, and at the low German divisions the English Language is traced to the Anglo- Saxon or
Old English division.
In other Literature, the origin of English can be traced back to the Anglo-Frisian dialects,
which were brought to Britain by Germanic invaders in the 8th and 9th centuries. Anglo-Frisian
refers to a linguistic grouping that encompasses old English (Anglo-Saxon) and Old Frisian, two
closely related Germanic languages spoken during the early medieval period (i.e., the Middle
Ages that lasted approximately from 500 AD to 1500, although alternative starting and end
points exist. Whilst the Old English was spoken in what is now England from the 5th century
until the middle of the 12th century. The Old Frisian was spoken in the coastal regions of what is
now the Netherlands and Germany, particularly in the regions of Friesland and East Frisia.
The Old English is what is now known to be the Modern English. It evolved from the language
spoken by the Anglo-Saxons, who migrated to Britain from what is now Germany and Denmark
(i.e., Germanic tribes). Old English is the earliest form of the English language and has had a
profound influence on the development of Modern English, the Anglo-Saxon chronicle,
Beowulf, and the works of Caedmon are among the surviving literary texts written in Old
English.
English has undergone several historical influences over time, including the Norman conquest of
England in 1066, which introduced Old Norman to the language (thus leading to a blend of Old
English and Old French resulting in middle English). The renaissance and the English Language
during the 16th and 17th centuries were also significant periods of change, with literary translation
and the circulation of translated and printed books, such as the Bible, influencing the language.
Following the invention of printing press in the 15th century which helped to standardize the
English Language, making it more accessible to a wider audience, the Early Modern English also
came to bare highlighting the works of Shakespeare and the expansion of English vocabulary
through exploration and trade.
TODAY, English is spoken about a third of the world’s population. According to Ethnologue,
English is the spoken language in the world including native and non-native speakers. It has
become the world's common language. Modern English is both the most spoken language in the
world and the third-most spoken native language, after Mandarin Chinese and Spanish. It is also
the most widely learnt second language in the world, with more second language speakers than
native speakers. It is the foreign language in most other countries and has become a global
lingua franca. It is the dominant language of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada,
Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and various Island nation in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific
Ocean. English is also an official language in India, the Philippines, Singapore, and many
countries in sub-Sahara including South Africa, Ghana etc. English has become the language of
international communication and also used in various fields such as business, science,
technology, and entertainment (eg. social media). The most important function of a language is
to allow people communicate effectively. For many years, English has been the most widely
known and valued language on the planet. In other words, it has become an efficient tool for
communicating with people all over the world.
The origin and position of the English language are intertwined with historical migrations,
linguistic developments, and cultural interactions. Let's delve into the details:

Origins
Germanic Ancestry: English belongs to the Germanic branch of the Indo-European language
family. Germanic languages trace their roots to a common ancestor spoken by early Germanic
tribes.
Anglo-Saxon Migration: In the 5th and 6th centuries AD, the Anglo-Saxons, a group of
Germanic tribes from areas now known as Denmark and Germany, migrated to what is now
England. This migration brought the Germanic languages to the British Isles.

2. Development in England: Anglo-Saxon England: The Germanic languages spoken by the

Anglo-Saxons in England evolved into what is known as Old English. Old English, influenced
by local Celtic languages, underwent significant changes in vocabulary and pronunciation. Norse
Vikings, who spoke another Germanic language (Old Norse), also played a role in shaping Old
English through interactions and invasions.
3. Norman Conquest (1066):
Norman Influence: In 1066, the Norman Conquest introduced Norman French to England. This
led to a period where French was the language of the ruling class, while English remained the
language of the common people. The interaction between Old English and Norman French
resulted in a rich vocabulary, with English borrowing many French words. This phase is known
as Middle English.
4. Evolution into Modern English:
Great Vowel Shift: From the late 14th to the 18th centuries, the Great Vowel Shift altered the
pronunciation of English vowels, contributing to the transition from Middle English to Early
Modern English.
The invention of the printing press: The invention of the printing press in the 15th century played
a crucial role in standardizing English. The dialect of London, influenced by both southern and
northern English varieties, became the basis for the standard.
5. Global Expansion:
Colonial Influence: During the colonial era, English spread globally through British colonization.
It became a dominant language in North America, Australia, Africa, and parts of Asia.
Global Lingua Franca: English's status as a global lingua franca is reinforced by its widespread
use in international business, science, technology, and diplomacy.
6. Current Position:
International Language: English is one of the most widely spoken languages globally and serves
as a global means of communication.
Diverse Varieties: Various English varieties exist, including British English, American English,
Australian English, and more, each with its unique characteristics and vocabulary. English
language originated from Germanic roots, evolved through historical events, absorbed influences
from other languages, and expanded globally, solidifying its position as a major international
language.
THE PERIODS IN THE HISTORY OF ENGLISH

The indo- European language family stretches from the north of India all the way to Western
Europe. Almost half of the global population speaks an Indo-European language. English is an
Indo-European language specifically part of the Germanic branch of the family. The periods in
the history of English are dived into four parts they are as follows;

a. Old English(450-1100)
In the early 5th century, the romans, who had ruled over now England for over 400 years
withdrew their hold over the island. Filling a vacuum, a number of Germanic tribes from
Denmark,The Jutes, Angles and Saxons ventured unto the island and slowly replaced the Celtic.
They developed a common cultural identity as Anglo-Saxons. The Anglo-Saxons spoke a
language we now call old English, an example of this language from the epic poem Beowulf;

Hwaet, We Gardena in geardagum,

Peodeyninga ,brym gefrunon

Hu a aepelingas ellen fremedon

This language has become old and a foreign language to the modern speaker but half of the
commonly used words come from Anglo-Saxon tongue, words like; water, child, ear, talk and
the. English is not a static language therefore keeps changing. The first major influx of change to
English came from the Viking invasion of the 8th century onward. Norsemen from Norway and
Denmark invaded the north of England and set up a kingdom of their own called the Danelaw.
These Vikings spoke a language called OLD NORSE, which is the ancestor of the modern
Scandinavian languages .its influence on English was mostly vocabulary with words like; sky,
bag, law, hit and they.

b. Middle English(1100-1500)

In 1066, William the bastard, later called William the conqueror invaded England with his
Norman army (The Normans invaded England because thought William the conqueror should be
king instead of Harold) and at the battle of Hastings successfully conquered it. These Normans,
now the ruling class of England spoke a dialect of Old French. This Norman French came to be
the language of the royal court whiles old English continued to be the language of the peasantry.
After around a 100 years of this, the two languages began to merge to what we call Middle
English. Now about 30% or 10000 words in English are French in Origin.
This French connection is why English has so many words that mean the same thing called
SYNONYMS. This period saw the development of distinct vocabulary and syntax as well as
amny inflectional endings. Example of this language can be found from the Canterbury Tales by
Chaucer, the most famous Middle English writer:
 Whan that aprille,with his shoures soote

The droghte of March hath perced to the roote

And bathed every veyne in swich licour,

Of which vertu engendred is the flour;

c. EARLY MODERN ENGLISH(1500-1700)

In the 15th century, a phenomenon known as THE GREAT VOWEL SHIFT started occurring,
which propelled English into its early modern version. The pronunciation of long vowels
underwent a systematic change such as; the Middle English “i” sound was pronounced “ee”.
Also there were many consonants were become unpronounced which we now call silent letters
eg; the word “KNIFE” was pronounced “KNEEF” in Middle English but with the change the
“k” became silent and the diphthong “ai” replaced “ee”. Even though the pronunciation has
changed the spelling remains the same. A good example of the early Modern English is the work
of Shakespeare. A prologue from Romeo and Juliet are as follows;

Two households, both alike in dignity

(In fair Verona, where we lay our scene),

From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,

Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.

Although it can be read, the word choice makes it difficult to comprehend as modern English
speaker.

D. MODERN ENGLISH (1700- PRESENT DAY)

This is the period we are now. Beginning of the 16th century, the British started exploring and
subsequently creating a British empire covering a quarter of the earth by the 19th century. This
spread of English and the later industrial revolution transformed English further mostly in the
realm of vocabulary. Also, the invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg contributed
to the standardization and the spread of English. Modern English continues to adapt evolve with
ongoing changes in vocabulary, grammar, and usage with new words added to the dictionary
every year and as well as old words falling out of use . It has been shaped by various regional
dialects and global influences including colonization, technology and globalization. English will
continue to change and in a few years, English would sound different just as Chaucer does to us.

GROUP MEMBERS

1. Adjin Flora Nana Owusuaa- 3543020

2. ADOMAKO Lydia -3543220

3. Adomako Cecilia- 3543120

4. Christabel TabuaahAdjei- 3542820

5. Abakah Aba Kwansah Helena 8707819

6. Abena Takyiaw Adjei -5496520

7. Affram Sebastian- 3543520

8. Victoria Barbara Abban- 3542420

9. Aaron Adu - 3543320

10. Adakudugu Priscilla Kisbo- 3542720

11. Agormeda Jephter Ofoe- 3543720

12. Serwaa Akoto Agyei-3543820

13. Acheampomaa Priscilla- 3542520

14. Adjei Queenster- 3542920

15. Agyemang Appiah Kwame- 5496620