Tutorial 1
Tutorial 1
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.
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.
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.
Comparative Method: The primary method used is the Comparative Method, which involves:
Sources include:
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.
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