A Journey Through the History of the English Language

Posted on Aug 5, 2024 in Music

Periods in the History of the English Language

Early Influences (54 BC – 449 AD)

  • 54 BC: Julius Caesar lands in Britain.
  • 43 AD: Claudius invades the South of England, establishing it as a Roman province. The dominant languages were Celtic and Latin.
  • 449 AD: Germanic tribes, including Angles, Saxons, and Jutes, migrate from the continent to the south of England. They spoke Old English, while Latin remained the language of the church.

The Norman Conquest and Middle English (1066 – 1476)

  • 1066: Edward the Confessor dies childless, and William, the Duke of Normandy, becomes King of England. English remains common, with Latin used in the church, but the Norman rulers introduce French.
  • 1476: The printing press arrives in England, coinciding with the Renaissance and its emphasis on classical culture.

Modern English and the Early Modern Period (1476 – 1789)

  • 1611: The King James Bible is published, a significant event in the standardization of the English language.
  • 1648: King Charles I is executed by Parliament.
  • 1660: The Neoclassical Age begins, marked by the Restoration of the monarchy under Charles II and the death of Oliver Cromwell.
  • 1700: The Augustan Age, characterized by wit and satire in literature, flourishes.
  • 1745: The Age of Sensibility emerges, emphasizing emotion and sentimentality.

Romanticism and the Victorian Era (1789 – 1901)

  • 1789: The French Revolution sparks the Romantic period in England, emphasizing individuality and emotion.
  • 1837: The Victorian Age begins, a period of significant social and industrial change.
  • 1901: The Victorian Age ends with the death of Queen Victoria.

Characteristics of Old English (449-1066)

  • Use of the Latin alphabet.
  • Use of some runes (ancient Germanic symbols).
  • Use of diacritical marks to indicate long and short vowels.
  • Complex system of declensions (word endings that change based on grammatical function).
  • Complex verb conjugations.

Characteristics of Middle English (1066-1476)

  • Declensions begin to disappear.
  • The verb system simplifies.
  • Many words are borrowed from French.
  • Spelling is inconsistent.
  • Some runes are still in use.

Characteristics of Early Modern English (Exemplified by Shakespeare)

  • Mixes older grammatical structures with newer ones (e.g., “Came you…” vs. “Did you come?”).
  • The printing press plays a crucial role in standardizing the language, as books and manuscripts become commercial products.

Main Periods of English Literature

The Middle Ages

  • The Dark Ages (449 AD onward): Marked by the arrival of Germanic tribes. Notable work: Beowulf, an epic poem about a Viking warrior.
  • Middle English Period (1066-1476): Influenced by the Norman Conquest and the printing press. Notable work: Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, inspired by French literary models.

The Neoclassical Age (1660-1789)

  • Emphasis on reason, order, and morality in literature.
  • Principle of Decorum: Literature should adhere to established rules and conventions.
  • Moralizing Aim: Literature should instruct and improve the reader’s morals.
  • Notable writers: Alexander Pope (The Rape of the Lock), Daniel Defoe (Robinson Crusoe, Moll Flanders), Jonathan Swift (Gulliver’s Travels), Henry Fielding (Tom Jones).

The Romantic Period (1789-1832)

  • Reaction against Neoclassical emphasis on reason; celebration of emotion, imagination, and individuality.
  • Focus on nature, the supernatural, and the individual’s inner life.
  • Notable poets: Robert Burns, William Blake, William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, John Keats, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Lord Byron.

The Victorian Age (1837-1901)

  • A time of rapid industrialization, social change, and scientific advancements.
  • Challenges to Traditional Beliefs: Darwin’s theory of evolution (On the Origin of Species, 1859) challenges the idea of divine creation.
  • Social Issues: The Victorian Age grappled with issues of class, gender, and morality.
  • Literature: Often reflected the social anxieties and moral dilemmas of the time.