The Evolution of the English Language

A common question posed by young readers and writers is, "Why are there so many different rules for spelling?" It is helpful to look at the English language as a great quilt, made up of pieces of many cultures and tongues. Due to the adoption of various foreign spellings and subsequent changes in pronunciation, the spelling of English words is highly irregular, making it challenging to read and write.

The English language began in the British Isles prior to 410 AD, where a variety of Celtic languages was spoken. These languages included Irish, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, Breton, Manx, Cornish, and several pre-Roman languages such as Gaulish.

Words of Celtic origin include: basket = little wicker thing; crag = rock; and gob = mouth, lump, or mouthful.

Celtic was displaced some time after 410 AD when Germanic tribes arrived from the North Sea. These Anglo-Saxons spoke a variety of West Germanic languages, including Anglic and Frisian, which are now referred to as “Old English”.

Words of Anglo-Saxon origin include: abide = to wait, bide; ladle = to set down, lay, place; and rat = to scratch, gnaw.

Beginning in 793, Scandinavian raiders known as Vikings conquered and colonized Britain, bringing their Old Norse language to that region. A similar language is still spoken in Iceland.

Words of Old Norse origin include: husband = master of a house; ugly = to dread; and window = wind + eye.

In 1066, the influx of the Normandy, Breton, Flemish, and French made Anglo-Norman the language of the upper classes. Anglo-Norman, also known as "Middle English," was based on the French language and its usage lasted to the late 15th century.

Words of Anglo-Norman origin include: governor = to direct, rule, guide; jail = cage, prison; and pray = ask earnestly, beg, entreat.

By 1500, Early Modern English had developed. It was based on Latin and Ancient Greek as well as French, German, and Dutch. This was the time of The Great Vowel Shift, a series of changes in word pronunciation that began in southern England and lasted for about 350 years. The pattern of change had an upward phonetic trend. For example, “grain” was now pronounced “green” and “foad” was now pronounced “food.” It is believed this occurred because England wanted to distinguish itself from France by making words less “French-sounding.” The Great Vowel Shift, which changed some consonant sounds as well, influenced all dialects of English. This is another reason why many English spellings differ from their actual pronunciations.
The expansion of the British Empire began to influence world languages in the 1600's and beyond. By the late 1700's, English had become the dominant language of commerce, science, politics, art, diplomacy, and formal education. Many countries adopted English as their official language. Other countries adopted English as their de facto working language. Today, it is common to find English speakers in nearly every corner of the world.

 

Learn more about the Basic Spelling Rules of English.

Image credits: "The nave of Durham Cathedral in England" by Oliver-Bonjoch, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons; "The First Edition of the King James Bible" by Earl McGehee, CC BY 2.0 via Flickr; "Imperial Federation, Map of the World showing the extent of the British Empire in 1886" at http://maps.bpl.org, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.