The History of English Podcast

This podcast explores Edward I's conquest of Wales and his desire to extend his authority to Scotland. It discusses the linguistic situation in England around the 1300s and the anglicization of French words. The succession crises in England and Scotland during the 13th century are examined, as well as Edward's expulsion of the Jews from England. The evolution of legal terms in English and the origin of the word 'sentence' are also explored.

Explore the importance of wool and cloth industries in Medieval England, including the evolution of clothing styles and the influence of wool on the English language. Discover the historical significance of the term 'hayward' and its connection to surnames and nursery rhymes. Delve into the tax on wool exports and the process of wool production. Learn about the origin of the phrase 'dyed in the wool' and its connection to the profession of wool-spinning. Understand the impact of the wool tax on the growth of the English cloth industry.

This podcast explores the emergence of romantic literature in English in the late 1200s, focusing on the oldest surviving English romance poem called King Horn. It also discusses the linguistic developments revealed in the poem and the evolution of words like 'boy' and 'girl' in the English language. Additionally, it explores the story of Horn, the discovery of the oldest love song in English, and the association between birds and women in Middle English poetry.

Explore the movement of people and money in the 13th century, the origins of markets and fairs, the influence of trade and commerce on English society, the fear and dominance of the Mongols, their invention of fast food, the evolution of the word 'horde', Kublai Khan and the Mongol Empire, and the use of paper money by the Mongols.

Explore the rebirth of English writing in the mid-1200s, the evolution of language in religious texts, the origins of the word 'parlor', the first Great Council meeting and tax negotiations, the importance of honor and loyalty in King Henry's letter, Simon de Montfort and the emergence of parliament, and the development of parliament and the role of language.

Discover the birth of the Medieval book trade and the shift from monks to craftsmen in producing books. Explore innovations in medieval bookmaking, including the creation of the first mass-produced book in Europe, the portable handheld Bible. Delve into the use of red and black ink in manuscripts and the evolution of 'letter' in the English language. Learn about the origins of the colors yellow and gold in Old English and their connection to illuminated letters.

This podcast explores the changing nature of suffixes in early middle English, discussing common suffixes in old and middle English as well as new suffixes borrowed from Latin and French. It also delves into the decline and survival of old English suffixes in modern English, the origins and meanings of various old English suffixes, and the evolution of suffixes like 'ness', 'ity', 'ion', and 'ment' in the English language.

Exploring the borrowing of words from French and Latin in English during the 1200s, the emergence of new prefixes and suffixes in the Ancrenoisa text, creating new words with prefixes and suffixes, the use of 'yer' prefix in Old English and German, the usage of Old English prefixes in modern English, the evolution of English prefixes during the Middle Ages, and the introduction and adoption of prefixes in Early Middle English.

This podcast explores the rise of anchorites in the 13th century, the evolution of monasteries in England and Europe, and the manual 'An Krena Wiesa'. It also discusses the Corpus version manuscript, the role of rules, new words related to Christianity in Ankrenoisa, and the origins and meanings of various words.

Explore the coexistence of English and French in Medieval manuscripts, the evolution of glossaries, the glossing of French bird names, the evolution of the word 'spell', the development of spelling and grammar, and the impact of the Norman Conquest on the English language.