Origins of the English Language & Roman Britain

These flashcards review Roman Britain, early Latin influence, the Indo-European and Germanic roots of English, the Anglo-Saxon settlement, and surviving Celtic contributions.

Under which Roman emperor did the Romans invade Britain, and in what year?

Emperor Claudius, 43 CE.

For approximately how long did Rome rule Britain?

Nearly 400 years (43 – ≈410 CE).

What was the official language of Roman Britain, and who primarily spoke it?

Latin, spoken by Roman military, officials, and elites.

Name two Latin-derived religious words adopted by Celtic Britons that survive in English today.

Examples include altar (altare), angel (angelus), saint (sanctus), priest (presbyter), or temple (templum).

Did the Romans introduce the English language to Britain?

No. The Romans withdrew around 410 CE, before English existed.

To which language family does English belong?

The Indo-European family.

What is the reconstructed ancestor of Indo-European languages called, and roughly when was it spoken?

Proto-Indo-European (PIE), spoken about 5,000 years ago.

Which branch of the Indo-European family does English come from?

The West Germanic branch of the Germanic family.

List the three main groups of the Germanic branch.

East Germanic (extinct), North Germanic (Scandinavian languages), and West Germanic.

Which living language is considered the closest relative of Modern English?

Frisian.

Which three West Germanic tribes arrived in Britain around 491 CE?

The Angles, Saxons, and Jutes.

What happened to the Celtic language and its speakers after the Anglo-Saxon arrival?

They were pushed to the margins; the term Welsh (from Old English ‘wealh’) came to mean ‘foreigner’ or ‘slave.’

Give two Celtic words that survived into Modern English.

Any of: crag (rock), combe (deep valley), tor (peak).

Name a major English river or city whose name is of Celtic origin.

Examples: Thames, Avon, or London.

During which centuries did Anglo-Saxon (Old English) England exist?

From the 5th to the 11th centuries.

Which ancient Germanic people gave their name to the English language?

The Angles.