Kevin Stroud, host of the History of English Podcast, joins the show to discuss the fascinating history of the English language. They delve into topics such as the absence of a dedicated letter for 'TH', the standardization of language in England, the first dictionaries, the prevalence of French words, silent letters, the origins of English surnames, and more!
English spelling has a complex history influenced by different languages and historical events, resulting in the presence of silent letters in words.
The standardization of the English language originated in the Wessex kingdom and was influenced by French, Latin, and the shift from inflectional endings to simplified grammar structure.
Deep dives
The History of English Podcast
The History of English Podcast, hosted by Kevin Stroud, explores the chronological history of the English language. It begins with the ancient Proto Indo-European language, which serves as the predecessor of English. The podcast covers various influences on English, such as Latin, French, Greek, and Norse. It explains how the language evolved over time and the reasons behind the spelling, pronunciation, and vocabulary variations. The podcast also delves into the connection between language and culture, highlighting how borrowed words reflect the importance of different aspects of each culture.
Origin and Development of English Spelling
English spelling has a complex history influenced by different languages and historical events. The podcast discusses the influence of Latin and French on English spelling, as well as the preservation of old pronunciations in modern spellings. It explains how the lack of spelling reform throughout history has led to the presence of silent letters in English words. Examples such as 'knight' and 'debt' showcase the evolution of spelling conventions and the preservation of historical sounds that are no longer pronounced.
Standardization and Regional Variations
The podcast explores the process of standardizing the English language in terms of grammar and spelling. It mentions the Wessex kingdom as the origin of the written English language standard. The influence of French and Latin during and after the Norman conquest is discussed, highlighting the discrepancies between written and spoken English at the time. Additionally, it explains the shift from inflectional endings to a more simplified grammar structure in English.
Language and Culture Connection
The podcast emphasizes the connection between language and culture, using examples like French words for food and legal terms, as well as Norse words for concrete nouns like knife and hat. It notes how cultural influences have shaped English vocabulary, reflecting the importance of certain concepts and customs within different cultures. The discussion also mentions the development of surnames and their connection to geographical locations or occupational roles.
Kevin Stroud from the History of English Podcast joins me for a fascinating discussion and dive into... well, the history of English!
In this episode, we talk about a variety of things, including:
Why TH doesn't have its own letter
In what part of England the language was standardised?
When did the first dictionaries come
Why there are so many French words in English
Why we have so many silent letters
Why we have different words for animals and meat (pig, pork)
Where English surnames come from
And more!
Don't miss this one! If you have any trouble understanding some of the difficult terms in this episode, the YouTube video version will have some definitions on screen. The Member's Transcript will help even more.