Post by Angie on Jan 15, 2005 9:56:44 GMT -5
Chapter 1: Introduction
The English language has existed for hundreds of years. Many words came into English from various European languages. For example, St. Augustine and other Latin-speaking missionaries to England used such words as bishop and priest. Latin was the language of scholarship and religion. Wherever Latin scholars, missionaries, and government officials exerted important influence, Latin words became known. When the Scandinavians invaded and settled in Britain, some words beginning with sk- were adopted into English. For example, skill, skirt, and sky. The Scandinavians also contributed important pronouns such as their, them, and they. Words of French origin include army, blue, chair, dinner, government, jolly, mayor, paper, and towel. Balcony, piano, and pizza come from Italy; fiesta and siesta, from Spain; orchestra, from Greece; boomerang, from Australia; vodka, from Russia; and igloo, from the Eskimos.
English is always growing and changing. Words constantly are being added and falling into disuse. Many words that you hear, speak, and read today were not part of the language your grandparents used. Look in a dictionary published at that time and you will not find such words as astronaut, culture shock, miniskirt, rolamite, and microfiche. Every time new inventions, scientific discoveries, art forms, or fashions appear that do not have names to identify them, new words must be invented or old words given new applications, or taken from other languages.
When words are not used, they become obsolete. Obsolete words are included in the dictionary because they are part of our history and our culture. You will want to know what they mean when you read them in old books or hear them used in plays written a long time ago. Befor the automobile was a common form of transportation, people traveled in buggies drawn by horses. Now when you hear or see the word buggy you are inclined to think of something old-fashioned or insect-ridden.
Many words have changed their meanings. For example, sly and crafty people were once described as "pretty". At one time, when people wanted to picture someone as stupid and ignorant they referred to that person as "nice." Today, if someone tells us we are "nice" and "pretty", we feel flattered, not insulted.
These are only a few of the ways in which language changes and grows. By knowing how words become part of a language, you discover important clues to social, politicial, and cultural changes that take place in the history of a country using that language.
The story of how English originated is a fascinating one.
The English language has existed for hundreds of years. Many words came into English from various European languages. For example, St. Augustine and other Latin-speaking missionaries to England used such words as bishop and priest. Latin was the language of scholarship and religion. Wherever Latin scholars, missionaries, and government officials exerted important influence, Latin words became known. When the Scandinavians invaded and settled in Britain, some words beginning with sk- were adopted into English. For example, skill, skirt, and sky. The Scandinavians also contributed important pronouns such as their, them, and they. Words of French origin include army, blue, chair, dinner, government, jolly, mayor, paper, and towel. Balcony, piano, and pizza come from Italy; fiesta and siesta, from Spain; orchestra, from Greece; boomerang, from Australia; vodka, from Russia; and igloo, from the Eskimos.
English is always growing and changing. Words constantly are being added and falling into disuse. Many words that you hear, speak, and read today were not part of the language your grandparents used. Look in a dictionary published at that time and you will not find such words as astronaut, culture shock, miniskirt, rolamite, and microfiche. Every time new inventions, scientific discoveries, art forms, or fashions appear that do not have names to identify them, new words must be invented or old words given new applications, or taken from other languages.
When words are not used, they become obsolete. Obsolete words are included in the dictionary because they are part of our history and our culture. You will want to know what they mean when you read them in old books or hear them used in plays written a long time ago. Befor the automobile was a common form of transportation, people traveled in buggies drawn by horses. Now when you hear or see the word buggy you are inclined to think of something old-fashioned or insect-ridden.
Many words have changed their meanings. For example, sly and crafty people were once described as "pretty". At one time, when people wanted to picture someone as stupid and ignorant they referred to that person as "nice." Today, if someone tells us we are "nice" and "pretty", we feel flattered, not insulted.
These are only a few of the ways in which language changes and grows. By knowing how words become part of a language, you discover important clues to social, politicial, and cultural changes that take place in the history of a country using that language.
The story of how English originated is a fascinating one.