The History of English Podcast

Explore the influence of Germanic mythology on modern English. Learn about Germanic gods, religious traditions, and their impact on the English language. Discover the mythology of Thor and the debates surrounding the goddess of Friday. Discuss the connection between the Germanic goddess Eostra and Easter. Dive into the Germanic belief in the afterlife and its connection to the sea. Discover the influence of Germanic mythology on literature and its lasting impact on Western literature today.

Exploring the society and language of the early Germanic tribes through Tacitus' 'Germania'. Discussion on the borrowing of words between Romans and Germans. The use of iron technology and the concept of kingship in Germanic tribes. Social structure, conflict resolution methods, and the practice of ordeal in Old English.

Exploring the evolving grammar of early Germanic tribes and the decreasing use of inflections. Identifying modern English grammar elements within the original Germanic language. Discussing the evolution of verb tenses, weak verbs, noun and pronoun inflections, subtle sound shift, and the impact of stress on multi-syllable words.

Exploring the origins and vocabulary of early Germanic tribes, the impact of Grimm's Law, reconstructing the original Germanic language, changes in sounds, the influence of early Germanic words on English, and tracing the origins of basic English words.

The podcast explores the history of the alphabet, specifically focusing on the constant consonants. It discusses the interconnectedness of letters and includes an excerpt from the audiobook. The evolution of letters B, L, M, and N are explored, highlighting their origins, influences, and symbolism.

Explore the origins of Germanic tribes and their connection to the Indo-Europeans. Learn about the evolution of Germanic, Celtic, and Baltoslavic languages. Discover the migration of Germanic tribes and Rome's attempt to conquer Germania. Find out about the Battle of Tudorburg Forest and its impact on Roman expansion. Also, uncover the influence of Latin on the Germanic tribes and their language.

The Roman Empire emerges following the death of Julius Caesar.  Emperor Claudius sets his sights on Britain, and the native Celtic culture becomes Romanized.  We look at the evolution of Latin words related to law, money and social classes. TRANSCRIPT: EPISODE 19

We explore the origin of modern English words related to time. A direct connection is made to the calendar reforms of Julius Caesar. The etymology of English words related to time illustrate the combined influences of the Germanic languages and Latin on modern English. TRANSCRIPT: EPISODE 18

We look at the arrival of Celtic speaking people in Europe, and the invasion of Celtic Gaul by the Romans. Celtic is replaced by Latin in Western Europe, leading to the modern Romance languages. Celtic words in modern English are examined. TRANSCRIPT: EPISODE 17 Map Prepared by Louis Henwood (Click Map for Larger Image)

We look at the rise of the Roman Republic from a small Italian city-state to the dominant political and military power of the Mediterranean. The expansion of Rome also led to the expansion of Latin which emerged as a common lingua franca.  We also explore Latin words and phrases from this period which have found their way into Modern English. TRANSCRIPT: EPISODE 16 Map Prepared by Louis Henwood (Click Map for Larger Image)