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history of English language Flashcards

1
Q

How many people speak English as a first language?

A

Around 400 million people

English is spoken as a first language primarily in countries like England and the US.

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2
Q

Approximately how many people use English as a second or foreign language?

A

Nearly 1 billion people

This includes people in countries where English is an official language or widely taught.

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3
Q

What regions of the world speak English?

A

Parts of Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand

English is also spoken on many islands in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.

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4
Q

Why is English referred to as a ‘world language’?

A

It is probably used in some way by all people in the world

This includes those who speak it or use it in various contexts.

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5
Q

In which countries is English used as a second language?

A

India, Kenya, Singapore, Papua New Guinea

These countries have their own first languages but use English in official contexts.

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6
Q

What are ‘Seaspeak’ and ‘Airspeak’?

A

Languages of international sea and air traffic control that use English

They simplify communication using a small number of English phrases.

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7
Q

What historical events contributed to the spread of English?

A

British settlement of North America, Caribbean, Australia, and Asia

The spread continued with British colonialism in the 19th century.

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8
Q

What was a significant factor in the 20th century for the spread of English?

A

Growth in international business and air travel

Faster communication methods like the telephone and computer also contributed.

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9
Q

What is the main reason for the global importance of English?

A

It is extremely widely used, not due to the number of first language speakers

For example, Chinese has more first language speakers than English.

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10
Q

Why do we study history?

A

To learn about our ancestors, understand culture, and avoid past mistakes

Studying history helps us understand how past events shape the present.

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11
Q

What lessons can we learn from history?

A

Why societies thrive or fail, reasons for wars, and how to improve society

These lessons help in creating better paths for future societies.

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12
Q

What does ‘Proto’ in Proto-Indo-European mean?

A

‘First’, ‘foremost’, or ‘earliest form of’

It indicates the origin of many modern languages.

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13
Q

How many people speak an Indo-European language today?

A

About a quarter of the world’s population

Examples include English, Portuguese, and Iranian languages.

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14
Q

What was the Kurgan culture?

A

A group that arrived in the Aegean and Adriatic regions around 2300 BC

They are considered some of the first Proto-Indo-European speakers.

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15
Q

Who was Sir William Jones?

A

The first to study the history of languages in the late 18th century

He noted similarities between Sanskrit, Latin, and Greek.

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16
Q

What significant conclusion did Sir William Jones reach?

A

Sanskrit, Greek, and Latin came from a common source

This common source is now identified as Proto-Indo-European.

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17
Q

Where did the Celts migrate to?

A

Black Sea, Turkey, southwest Spain, central Italy, Britain, and Ireland

They were the first group to move to Europe.

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18
Q

What languages did different Celtic groups speak?

A
  • Galatian in Turkey
  • Celtiberian in Spain
  • Gaulish in France, Italy, and northern Europe
  • Goidelic or Gaelic in Ireland and Scotland
  • Brythonic in southern England

Around 20 Celtic words are found in Old English, e.g., London and Leeds.

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19
Q

What language did the Romans introduce to Britain?

A

Latin

Latin was used primarily by the upper classes during the Roman occupation.

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20
Q

What tribes invaded Britain after the Romans?

A

Jutes, Angles, and Saxons

They settled in large numbers, displacing the British Celts.

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21
Q

What is Old English?

A

The language used from the first Anglo-Saxon settlement in England to about 1100

It developed from the various Germanic dialects of the invading tribes.

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22
Q

What are the four dialects of Old English?

A
  • West Saxon
  • Kentish
  • Mercian
  • Northumbrian

These dialects had small grammatical and vocabulary differences.

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23
Q

What is the runic alphabet?

A

An ancient writing system used by Germanic peoples

It consists of angular characters and was primarily used from the 1st to 17th centuries CE.

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24
Q

How did Christianity affect Old English?

A

Brought Latin words and organized learning

Monks built churches and taught various subjects, leading to about 450 Latin words entering Old English.

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25
What percentage of Old English vocabulary has disappeared in modern English?
About 85% ## Footnote This vocabulary has been replaced with words from Latin or French.
26
Who were the Vikings?
People from Scandinavia, particularly Norway and Denmark ## Footnote They invaded Britain in the 8th century.
27
What did King Alfred the Great do for the English language?
Made English the language of education and translated texts into Old English ## Footnote He supported the writing of The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle.
28
What major event occurred in 1066 related to the Normans?
The Battle of Hastings ## Footnote King Harold was killed, leading to William the Conqueror becoming king.
29
How did the Normans influence the English language?
Introduced French and Latin into government, law, and literature ## Footnote Very little was written in English during this time.
30
What effect did the Norman conquest have on the English language?
It led to the development of a French-speaking aristocracy and introduced about 10,000 new words into English. ## Footnote Examples of borrowed words include: alcool, salade, chef, soupe.
31
What are Normans and how do they differ from Nomads?
Normans are people from northern France that came to England; Nomads are people who keep moving from place to place. ## Footnote Normans played a significant role in the governance and Church of England.
32
What languages were used in government, the Church, the law, and literature after the Norman conquest?
French and Latin were primarily used, while very little was written in English at that time.
33
Who continued to write The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle after the Norman invasion?
English monks continued writing it until 1154.
34
Why did English people speak French after the Norman invasion?
French was spoken by those who wanted to be important or part of the upper class.
35
What were the two important linguistic developments that characterized Middle English?
1. Grammar: Reliance on word order over inflectional endings. 2. Vocabulary: Increase in borrowings from French, Latin, and Scandinavian.
36
What grammatical changes occurred in Middle English?
English became simpler, losing different endings of nouns, adjectives, and pronouns.
37
What was the significance of William Caxton in English language history?
He introduced the printing press to England in 1476, which led to the standardization of English language and spelling.
38
What dialect did Caxton and other printers decide to use?
The East Midlands dialect, as it was spoken in London and used by government officials.
39
Who was Geoffrey Chaucer and what is he known for?
Chaucer was the greatest writer of Middle English, known for 'The Canterbury Tales' and for establishing Middle English as a literary language.
40
What was the main theme of William Langland's poem Piers Plowman?
It addresses the difficulties of the poor in London and the bad customs of the Church.
41
How did English change during the early Modern English period?
It changed in pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and was associated with the Renaissance.
42
What is significant about Caxton's publishing of Le Morte d'Arthur?
It is regarded as the first bestseller in print material.
43
What was the status of English in the early Modern period?
Latin was still the language of learning, but acceptance of English as a language of learning grew.
44
What were the four ways Latin influenced English?
* Direct influence from Romans * Indirect influence from French * Through Bible translation * From the Renaissance and Industrial Revolution.
45
Who was Noah Webster and what did he contribute to the English language?
Webster was an American teacher who wrote 'The American Spelling Book' and 'An American Dictionary of the English Language' to standardize American English.
46
What is a lingua franca?
A language or mixture of languages used as a medium of communication by people whose native languages are different.
47
When did English become a lingua franca?
It became a lingua franca during the British colonization of parts of Asia and Africa in the late 16th century.
48
What are the differences between lingua franca, pidgin, and creole?
* Lingua franca: Language used between people without a common language * Pidgin: Simplified language combining elements of two or more languages * Creole: A stable, fully developed language that evolved from pidgin.
49
What linguistic changes occurred in Modern English?
* Use of 'do' with main verbs * Dropping of -th ending * Pronoun changes * Disappearance of certain sounds.
50
What was Jonathan Swift's view on English language changes?
He disliked spelling changes and wanted to establish fixed grammar rules, but acknowledged that language change was unavoidable.
51
What are the four features of standardization in English?
* Grammar * Vocabulary * Spelling * Pronunciation rules.
52
What role did the printing press play in the standardization of English?
It allowed for the mass production of texts, which contributed to the uniformity of grammar, vocabulary, and spelling.
53
What are some examples of American English vs. British English?
* Learned (British) - Learned (American) * Colour (British) - Color (American) * Licence (British) - License (American).
54
What is a lingua franca?
A language used as a common means of communication between people who do not share a native language.
55
Define pidgin.
A simplified language with limited vocabulary, combining elements of two or more languages, used for communication between speakers of different native languages.
56
What is a creole?
A fully developed mother tongue that evolves from a pidgin, often spoken as a first language by a community.
57
What is the primary difference in grammar between pidgin and creole?
Pidgin has simple and inconsistent grammar; creole has fully developed and consistent grammar.
58
Does pidgin have native speakers?
No, pidgin does not have native speakers.
59
Does creole have native speakers?
Yes, creole has native speakers.
60
What is linguistic imperialism?
The process by which the dominance of English is asserted and maintained by the establishment and continuous reconstitution of structural and cultural inequalities between English and other languages.
61
True or False: English is both replacing and displacing other languages.
True.
62
What is linguicism?
Ideologies, structures, and practices that legitimize and reproduce an unequal division of power and resources based on language.
63
What are the three sets of arguments in linguistic imperialistic discourse?
* Capacities: English-intrinsic arguments * Resources: English-extrinsic arguments * Uses: English-functional arguments
64
What is crosslinguistic influence (CLI)?
The different ways in which one language can affect another within an individual speaker.
65
What are the four fallacies identified in the ELT profession?
* The monolingual fallacy * The native speaker fallacy * The early start fallacy * The maximum exposure fallacy * The subtractive fallacy
66
What is the pluralization view regarding English?
English can peacefully co-exist with existing local languages and is seen as a useful global language.
67
What does the resistance view claim about English?
English poses a direct threat to the existence of other languages in many contexts.
68
What is jargon?
The language, especially the vocabulary, peculiar to a particular trade, profession, or group.
69
How does jargon differ from slang?
Jargon is specialized language used in specific professions, while slang is informal language often used by young people.
70
Fill in the blank: Jargon can create confusion in general conversations due to its _______.
[specialized vocabulary].
71
What are the advantages of using jargon?
* Makes communication simpler * Creates a sense of shared identity * Facilitates communication in professional environments
72
What are the disadvantages of using jargon?
* Unlikely to be understood by outsiders * Can be exclusive * Can cause distrust if overused
73
What is argot?
A speech variety used by specific groups, typically secretive or obscure.
74
What does the term 'blamestorming' refer to?
A meeting where everyone is trying to assign blame for something.
75
Give an example of modern British slang.
'Safe!' means 'That’s good' or 'I understand.'
76
What is a key characteristic of slang?
It changes rapidly with trends and cultural shifts.

History of English (1 decks)

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