Indo-European & Germanic Roots
What is the language family English belongs to?
Indo-European
When did the Old English period begin?
Around 450 AD
When did the Middle English period begin?
1066, after the Norman Conquest
What are the three historical layers of Old English words?
: Indo-European, Germanic, Old English-specific
Which event led to an influx of French words into English?
The Norman Conquest
What are the three branches of the Germanic language group?
East, North, and West Germanic
Which tribes brought Old English to Britain?
Angles, Saxons, and Jutes
Which author is known for writing in Middle English?
Geoffrey Chaucer
Give an example of a Common Indo-European word in Old English
Answer: “modor” - mother
What type of vocabulary was borrowed from French?
Legal, administrative, culinary, fashion
Name one extinct East Germanic language
Gothic
Name the most famous Old English epic poem.
Beowulf
Who is one famous writer from the Early Modern English period?
William Shakespeare
Give an example of a Common Germanic word in Old English.
“hus” - house
What kind of words did English borrow from French?
Words about food, law, and fashion.
What is the common root for the word “mother” in Indo-European languages?
méh₂tēr
What alphabet was used before the Latin script in Old English?
Runic alphabet
What sound changes happened in early Modern English?
The Great Vowel Shift.
What writing system was used for Old English?
The Latin alphabet with some runic letters.
What is a French word used in English today?
“Restaurant” or “ballet.”
Which subgroup of Germanic languages does Old English come from?
West Germanic)
How did Christianity influence Old English?
Introduction of Latin vocabulary and literacy
What time period does Modern English cover?
1500 AD to the present.
What language influenced Old English during the Roman occupation?
Latin.
What is a "borrowed word"?
A borrowed word (or loanword) is a word taken from one language and used in another language without translation. For example, the English word café comes from the French word café .