5G

ENGLISH

1. How old is the English language?

2. Why is the language called English?

3. What is the name of the early form of English?

4. What language did the Vikings speak?

5. Give five examples of words that comes from Old Norse.

6. What language did the Normans speak?

7. Who was the first king to speak English as his first language?

8. Give three words that English borrowed from Native American languages.

9. Note five US states with Native American names.

10. What are three Hindi words used in English?

Where Did English Come From?

English is spoken all over the world today, but it hasn’t always been that way.

In fact, English has only existed for about 1,500 years. Compared to how long humans have been around, that’s a pretty short time.

The language is called “English” because it started in England. But the full story is a lot more interesting.

Long ago, in the northern part of Europe, there were three main tribes: the Angles, the Saxons, and the Jutes. These tribes lived in areas that are now called Germany and Denmark. Around the year 400 or 500, they sailed across the sea and came to an island called Great Britain.

At that time, the people already living in Britain were called Britons.

They spoke Celtic languages, which were the early versions of Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, and Cornish. Before the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes arrived, the Romans had taken over much of the island.
The Romans also brought people from many parts of their empire, and those people spoke Latin.

Over time, the new tribes and the local people mixed together. They also mixed their languages. This is how the early form of English, called Old English, began.

More Invasions, More Changes

England didn’t stay the same for long. In the 800s, Vikings from Scandinavia invaded. They brought their own language, Old Norse. Old Norse was similar to Old English, so the two languages blended. Some words we still use today came from the Vikings, like “sky,” “egg,” “window,” and “knife.”

In 1066, another group called the Normans invaded England. The Normans spoke French. They brought thousands of new French words into English. Words like “beef,” “juice,” “liberty,” and “prison” all come from French.

The Normans also helped change English grammar. Their way of speaking made English easier to understand and helped create Middle English.

Even though English speakers today wouldn’t understand Old English or Middle English very well, those early forms were important steps toward Modern English.

English Becomes Official

For many years, English wasn’t the main language used by kings, courts, or the government. That started to change in the 1300s. In 1399, Henry IV became king of England. He was the first king to speak English as his native language. Soon, English was used in government and law.

In the 1400s, a big change helped English grow even more. A man named Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press. This machine could print books much faster than writing by hand. It helped standardize spelling, punctuation, and grammar. The printed books helped create Modern English, which is much closer to what we speak today.

English Travels the World

In the 1500s and 1600s, England started to explore and take control of lands in other parts of the world.

This time is known as colonialism. English was carried to these new places. In some countries, English became the main language. In other places, it mixed with local languages to create new kinds of English.

English also borrowed more words. For example, “tobacco,” “potato,” and “hammock” came from Native American languages.

From Hindi, English picked up words like “shampoo” and “pajamas.” Words like “spaghetti” and “volcano” came from Italian.

English in the Modern World

In the 1900s, English spread even more because of movies, music, television, and the internet. Today, about one out of every three people in the world uses English in some way.

More than 50 countries list English as one of their official languages. That includes the United Kingdom, Singapore, India, and Zimbabwe.

English is also the official language of international air travel. Since 2008, all international pilots must be able to speak English.

English is always changing. Every year, about 4,000 new words are added to English dictionaries. Some of these come from pop culture, science, or technology.

Even though keeping up with the language can be tricky, knowing English helps people around the world talk to each other.

Whether you’re traveling, doing business, or learning online, English is one of the most useful tools you can have.

• Ancestors – Family members from a long time ago.

• Celtic – A group of old languages once spoken in the British Isles.

• Colonialism – When a country takes control of land and people in another place.

• Conquer – To take over a place by force.

• Empire – A group of lands ruled by one country or leader.

• Invasion – When people enter a place by force, often to take control.

• Standardize – To make things the same or follow one set of rules.

• Modern – New or current, not old-fashioned.

• Native – The language someone grows up speaking.

• Language – A way of speaking and writing used by people to communicate.

• Global – Something that happens all around the world.

• Printing Press – A machine that prints books and papers.

• Official – Something that is accepted by the government or laws.

• Technology – Tools and machines made using science.

• Pop Culture – Music, movies, games, and trends that many people enjoy.

• Proficient – Being very good at something.

• Vocabulary – All the words used in a language.

• Tourist – A person who travels for fun or adventure.

► COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

— please answer with complete sentences

1. How old is the English language?

2. Why is the language called English?

3. What is the name of the early form of English?

4. What language did the Vikings speak?

5. Give five examples of words that comes from Old Norse.

6. What language did the Normans speak?

7. Who was the first king to speak English as his first language?

8. Give three words that English borrowed from Native American languages.

9. Note five US states with Native American names.

10. What are three Hindi words used in English?

BONUS question: How many new words are added to the English language every year?

► From EITHER/OR ► BOTH/AND

► FROM Right/Wrong ► Creative Combination

1. THESIS — Argue the case that is wonderful that “everyone” speaks English these days.

2. ANT-THESIS — Argue the case that it’s terrible that one language dominates the world.

3. SYN-THESIS — How might these two perspectives both be valuable at the same time?