History of the English Language

(3) Invasion of Angles, Saxons, & Jutes

• Germanic invaders called the native Celtic peoples “wealas,” meaning foreigners. Their territory became known as Wales.
• The Celts called all Germanic invaders “Saxons,” regardless of tribe, but by the 6th century, the term ”Angli” began to be used. (This is where the term “Anglo-Saxon” is derived).
• Because the language spoken by the German invaders was Englisc, their territory became known as Englaland (England).

(3) Invasion of Angles, Saxons, & Jutes

• During the “Anglo-Saxon” Period, England was divided into seven sovereign kingdoms (heptarchy)
• Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy= Seven Kingdoms
• Northumbria
• Mercia
• East Anglia
• Wessex (West Saxon)
• Essex (East Saxon)
• Sussex (South Saxon)
• Kent

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(3) Invasion of Angles, Saxons, & Jutes

• Some Characteristics of the Language:
• GERMAN / NORSE / DANISH / SCANDINAVIAN influence:
• Old English, the earliest form of our language, finally developed.

Old English (450-1066 A.D.)

• The invading Germanic tribes spoke similar languages, which in Britain developed into what we now call Old English.
• Old English did not sound or look like English today. Native English speakers now would have great difficulty understanding Old English. Nevertheless, about half of the most commonly used words in Modern English have Old English roots. The words be, strong and water, for example, derive from Old English.
• There were many dialects of Old English, because there were separate kingdoms founded by related , but different cultures: Angles, Saxons, Jutes, Scandinavians, etc.

• Part of Beowulf, a poem written in Old English.