The History of English Podcast

1492: Columbus encounters native people in the Americas and their language; European discovery of the Americas and its impact on English; Introduction of potatoes and tomatoes and their pronunciation evolution; Columbus's search for Japan and conflicts in Hispaniola; Journeys of European explorers, Portuguese colonies in Brazil, and influence of cocoa; Historical usage of 'Columbia' and naming of America; Impact of discovery on world history: cultural exchanges, African slaves, and global spread of goods and ideas.

This podcast explores the European exploration and discovery in the 1400s, the linguistic impact of the New World discovery on the English language, the origins of nautical terms and shipbuilding incentives, the etymology of terms like 'denim', 'jeans', and 'maps', the historical origins of terms like Middle East and India, the influence of island chains on European exploration and naming conventions, the trading relationship between England and Iceland, and Christopher Columbus's search for support from Spanish rulers.

Explore the creation of new words and collective nouns in English during the mid-1400s. Delve into the origins of onomatopoeic words and bird-related sounds. Uncover the political intrigue and tragic fate of the two princes in the Tower of London. Discover Richard III's impact on the English language and law. Trace the genealogy of the Lancastrians and Tudors and analyze the strengths and weaknesses of their claims to the throne.

In this bonus episode of the regular podcast, we explore the effects of the Great Vowel Shift on the pronunciation of English by reading Geoffrey Chaucer’s last known poem in Middle English, early Modern English and contemporary English.

Explore the vowel shifts in the back of the mouth during the Great Vowel Shift and how they influenced spelling. Learn about regional pronunciation variations and Canadian raising in Canadian English. Discover the evolution of vowel sounds and words affected by the Great Vowel Shift. Explore the lingering evidence of vowel shift and the impact of the shift from long U to short U sound. Finally, discuss the modifications in the English vowel sound in southern Britain.

Explore the movement of vowel sounds in the Great Vowel Shift and their impact on English spelling. Discover the pronunciation exceptions of Irish names, the shift of the 'A' sound, and the emergence of words with similar vowel sounds during this linguistic transition.

The term ‘Great Vowel Shift’ was coined in the early 1900s by the Danish linguist Otto Jespersen to describe a systematic change in the long vowel sounds of English. The changes help to mark the transition from Middle English to Modern English. In this episode, we explore the specific changes that took place in the upper front part of the mouth. We also examine the impact of those changes on Modern English spellings. TRANSCRIPT: EPISODE 141

Explore the significance of the great vowel shift in English, uncover the impact of vowel shifts in regional accents, and understand the distinctions between consonant and vowel sounds. Discover the variation and fluidity of vowel sounds, delve into the spellings of the 'ee' sound, and uncover the evolution of the 'Ooh' sound and the caught-caught merger. Learn about the positioning of pure vowel sounds and their influence on other vowel sounds, including the role of the schwa sound.

This podcast explores William Caxton's introduction of mass production of books in England, his role in bringing the printing press to England, and his contributions to the English language. It also discusses the political backdrop and alliances of England during Caxton's time, the challenges faced by scribes and printers in aligning margins, and the spellings and innovations in Caxton's printing techniques.

Explore the rise of the Paston family in 15th-century England and their struggles to acquire and maintain their wealth. Learn about the evolution of the word 'assault' and Margaret Paston's spelling choices. Discover the power struggles, corruption, and battles during the Wars of the Roses. Witness the rise of Edward as the new king.