Etymology

Timeline

100

English began its existence around this year.

450 C.E.

200

This famous author coined phrases such as "good riddance" and "wild-goose chase."

William Shakespeare

300

When did Modern English begin to exist?

~1500

400

Around what time did Grimm's Law (The First Germanic Sound Shift) take place?

~500 B.C.E.

500

What year was the Norman conquest of England?

1066

Word Evolution

100

English is a subset of multiple other language groups. Name one.

Indo-European, Germanic, West-Germanic, Anglo-frisian

200

Predict the English equivalent of this Latin word:

Tu (t --> th)

thou

300

What was the significance of the Great Vowel Shift?

The Great Vowel Shift explains the wonky spelling that exists in English as well as being the final step toward creating Modern English.

400

Predict the English equivalent of this Latin word:

Centum (k --> h)

hundred

500

Explain why French words tend to sound fancier.

The class divide between the Noble French speakers and the English-speaking peasantry caused French words to be associated with higher status.