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I-Sem(Origin & Descent of English Language)

 

English Literature Semester – I

Unit - I

Origin and Descent of English

Origin & Descent

English is a West Germanic language that originated from Ingvaeonic Languages brought to Britain in the 5th century AD by Anglo Saxon Migrants.

The Anglo Saxons settled in the British Isles from the 5th century and came to dominate the bulk of the southern Great Britain. Their language originated as a group of group of Ingvaenonic languages which was spoken by the settlers in England and Southerners and Eastern Scotland in the early middle ages by displacing the Celtic Languages (possibly British Latin) that had previously been dominant.

As a matter of fact, Germanic languages are divided into three parts. They are North Germanic, West Germanic and East Germanic. North Germanic is the Sub family of the indo European Languages. People who lived in Danish, Faroesic, Icelandic, Norwegian and Swedish spoke Nordic Languages.

West Germanic was further Sub divided into three parts. They are Ingvaeonic, Istvaeonic and Irminonic. Ingvaeonic include English and Frisian languages. East Germanic Languages were also called Vistula Germanic Languages. Today, East Germanic Languages are almost all extinct. Old English was developed from a set of Anglo Frisian or Ingvaeonic dialects originally spoken by Germanic tribes traditionally known as the Angles, Saxons and Jutes. These settlers became dominant in England and their language replaced the languages of Roman Britain or Common Britain.

Apart from these, old English had four major dialects associated with particular Anglo Saxon Kingdoms. They are Mercian, Northumbrian, Kentish and West Saxon. The basis for the literary standards of the later Old English was formed by the West Saxons. It is closely related to Frisian and Old Saxon languages. The dominant form of the middle and Modern English developed mainly from Mercian and Scots from Northumbrian like other Old Germanic Languages, it is very different from Modern English and Modern Scotts. It is largely incomprehensible for modern English or Modern Scot Speakers without study.

Etymologically, the word ‘Englisc’ has been derived from Angles during the Old English Period (450-1150). Angles were one of the Germanic tribes which conquered parts of Great Britain. During 9th century all the invading tribes were referred to ‘Englisc’. Etymologically, Angles acquired their name because of their land on the coast of Jutland resembling a Fishhook.

Most probably, Angles may have been referred Angling (as in fishhook) because of the curved or bent land resembling an angle. Most of the People who lived in the Jutland during those days relied on fishing for their survival and because of that they were called fishing people. England was also called ‘Land of Fisher man’ and English would be Fishermen’s Language because of the above reasons.

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