Scribd
Upload
14 views

Tutorial 1

Uploaded by

ainurnurlan062
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
14 views

Tutorial 1

Uploaded by

ainurnurlan062
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

Абылай хан атындағы Қазақ халықаралық қатынастар және әлем тілдері университеті

SIWT №1 - The English Language as a chief medium of communication. The


origin of the English language

209 GROUP Nurlan Ainur

123
10.09.2024
1. The History of the English Language as a Discipline

The History of the English language as a formal academic discipline involves studying how
English has evolved over time, from its earliest forms to its modern state. This discipline
encompasses:

 Early Scholarship: Initial interest in the English language’s origins and its early forms
began in the 16th and 17th centuries with scholars like William Shakespeare, who
provided insight into Early Modern English, although he was more a literary figure than a
linguistic analyst.
 Development of Historical Linguistics: In the 18th and 19th centuries, linguists began
to systematically analyze the historical development of English. Key figures such as
Robert Lowth and Joseph Wright contributed significantly by documenting grammatical
changes and historical texts.
 Modern Linguistic Approaches: The 20th century saw the rise of historical linguistics
as a distinct field. Scholars like Otto Jespersen and Henry Sweet established frameworks
for analyzing linguistic change, which paved the way for contemporary approaches that
include sociolinguistics, computational analysis, and corpus linguistics.

2. Connection with the History of England and Related Disciplines

The History of the English language is intricately linked to the History of England due to:

 Historical Events: Language changes often reflect historical events such as the Norman
Conquest (which introduced Norman French influences) and the English Reformation.
Each period of English history has left its mark on the language.
 Political and Social Changes: The rise and fall of different political powers, such as the
Anglo-Saxons and Normans, and social changes, such as urbanization and colonization,
have influenced the development of English.

Related Disciplines:

 History: Provides context for understanding the socio-political and cultural factors
influencing language change.
 Literature: Offers examples of language use across different periods, reflecting changes
in vocabulary, syntax, and style.
 Sociolinguistics: Examines how social factors influence language variation and change.
 Archaeology: Helps to date and contextualize linguistic artifacts and texts.

3. Intralinguistic vs. Extralinguistic Factors

 Intralinguistic Factors: Changes occurring within the language system itself. Examples
include:
o Sound Changes: The Great Vowel Shift, which altered vowel pronunciation in
English.
o Morphological Changes: The loss of inflectional endings in English over time.
 Extralinguistic Factors: External influences that affect language development.
Examples include:
o Social Factors: Dialect mixing due to migration, such as the influence of Norse
on Old English.
o Cultural Factors: The impact of colonization and trade, which introduced new
vocabulary and linguistic patterns.

4. Synchronic vs. Diachronic Study of Language

 Synchronic Linguistics: Focuses on the structure of a language at a specific point in


time. It examines how the language functions at that moment without considering its
historical development. For instance, studying Modern English grammar.
 Diachronic Linguistics: Looks at the historical development and changes in a language
over time. It tracks how linguistic elements have evolved from one period to another. For
example, tracing the evolution of English from Old English through Middle English to
Modern English.

5. Main Method Applied to the Study of Language Evolution

Comparative Method: The primary method used is the Comparative Method, which involves:

 Comparing Languages: Examining similarities and differences among related languages


to reconstruct features of their common ancestor (the proto-language).
 Reconstructing: Using these comparisons to infer the characteristics of the ancestral
language.

Why It’s Called Comparative: It is named so because it involves comparing different


languages or dialects to understand their historical relationships and evolution.

6. Sources of the History of the English Language

Sources include:

 Written Texts: Historical manuscripts, letters, books, and official documents.


 Literary Works: Texts such as the epic poem Beowulf, Geoffrey Chaucer's The
Canterbury Tales, and other significant literary works.
 Legal and Administrative Documents: Such as the Domesday Book.

First Extant Written Records: The earliest surviving records in English date from the 7th
century, with texts like the Epinal-Erfurt Glossary and the Laws of Æthelberht.

7. Periods in the History of the English Language

Henry Sweet divided the history of the English language into the following periods:

 Old English (ca. 450–1150 AD): The earliest form of English, used from the Anglo-
Saxon settlement until the Norman Conquest.
 Middle English (ca. 1150–1500 AD): Developed after the Norman Conquest,
characterized by significant French influence and grammatical changes.
 Early Modern English (ca. 1500–1700 AD): Marked by the Great Vowel Shift and the
standardization of English.
 Modern English (1700–present): The language as it is known today, with ongoing
changes and influences.

Henry Sweet’s Characterization: Sweet described these periods based on significant linguistic
changes, including shifts in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammatical structure. He
highlighted how each period represented a stage of transition influenced by historical events and
social factors

You might also like