Old English (450–1100): Germanic Roots
Which three tribes brought the Germanic roots of English to Britain?
Angles, Saxons, and Jutes.
What historical event in 1066 began the transition to Middle English?
The Norman Conquest.
Who introduced the Printing Press to England in 1476?
William Caxton.
Name one Old English letter that is no longer used in Modern English.
Þ (thorn), ð (eth), or æ (ash).
Which social group primarily spoke French after the Conquest?
The ruling elite: nobility, clergy, and government officials.
What was the main effect of the Great Vowel Shift?
It changed the pronunciation of long vowels, raising or diphthongizing them.
Give one example of a Latin word borrowed into Old English due to Christian missionaries.
monk, church, bishop, etc.
Give an example of a Germanic-French synonym pair (everyday vs. prestigious word).
cow (Germanic) vs. beef (French); freedom (Germanic) vs. liberty (French).
Give one example of a word whose spelling and pronunciation no longer match because of the GVS and the Printing Press.
knight, through, meet, bite, house.
How did Old English grammar differ from Modern English grammar in terms of inflections?
It was highly inflected with case endings, grammatical gender, and more flexible word order.
How did French influence affect the grammar of English during the Middle English period?
It accelerated the loss of inflectional endings, simplifying grammar and increasing reliance on word order.
How did the Printing Press contribute to the spread of the London (Chancery) dialect?
Caxton used this dialect in his press, spreading it as the standard form of written English.
Why is Old English considered difficult for Modern English speakers to understand, even though it is technically the same language?
Because of its Germanic vocabulary, complex inflectional system, and lack of many modern French/Latin borrowings.
Explain how the Hundred Years’ War (1337–1453) affected the status of English.
It strengthened English national identity, leading to English replacing French as the language of government and culture.
Explain why English spelling is often irregular today, using both the Great Vowel Shift and the Printing Press in your answer.
The Great Vowel Shift changed how vowels were pronounced, while the Printing Press froze older spellings. As a result, words look “old” in spelling but sound “modern” in pronunciation.