C&C Lesson 2

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 3

C&C - The English Language: History, Idioms and Slang

Lesson goals

I have a grasp on the history of the English Language

I know what Idioms/expressions are

I know what slang is 

Contents

• History of the English Language
• Idioms/Expressions
• Slang

Old English (450-1100 AD)

It all starts with:

Three Germanic tribes invading Britain: 

The Angles, Saxons and Jutes

These tribes crossed the North Sea from what today is called Denmark and Northern Germany.

Middle English (1100-1500)

•  Vikings have invaded England
• Added 2000 words

1066: William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy (part of modern France) invaded + conquered England - The Norman Conquest

a type of French became the language of the Royal Court, and the ruling and business classes - results in a linguistic class division

Early Modern English (1500-1800)

Towards the End of Middle English there was a sudden change in pronunciation -> the Great Vowel Shift

Vowels were being announced shorter and shorter

e.g: 

Meet - meɪt (mate) -miːt (meet)

Early Modern English (1500-1800)

- 15th century: invention of the printing press

- More books = more access = more standardisation

- Shakespeare adds 1700 words (puppy, fashionable, alligator)

- 16th century onwards: colonialisation

Late Modern English (1800- now)

- Industrial Revolution & Enlightenment (Verlichting): new

   words for technological, philosophical & scientific concepts

- English spreads the world: vocabulary added for things &

   animals from other countries. 

The British Empire

From the British Empire

about 50 countries chose to keep a connection to Britain

This group of countries is called the Commonwealth

for example Canada, Australia, and India

In these countries English is the main or native language

Idioms/expressions

An idiom is a phrase or group of words that when taken together, has a meaning that is different from that of each individual word.

DO NOT TAKE IT LITERALLY! You will be very confused.

e.g -> Beat around the bush

e.g. -> to bite the bullet

Slang

dictionary definition: 'very informal language that is usually spoken rather than written, used especially by particular groups of people'

My favorite slang: 

Bonkers, a pint, grub, knackered, it's giving...

Let's get cracking!