Overview of English Language History

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to the history and development of the English language.

Old English

The early form of the English language spoken from approximately 500 to 1100 AD.

Proto-Indo-European

The hypothetical ancestral language from which many modern languages are derived.

Germanic Languages

A branch of the Indo-European language family that includes languages such as English, German, and Dutch.

Cognates

Words in different languages that have a common etymological origin.

Danelaw

An area in England where Danish law was accepted after the Viking invasions.

Christian Conversion

The process through which England adopted Christianity, influencing language and culture.

Anglo-Saxon Chronicles

A collection of annals in Old English chronicling the history of the Anglo-Saxons.

East Germanic

A subgroup of Germanic languages that is now extinct, with Gothic as the sole surviving written language.

North Germanic

The branch of Germanic languages that evolved into the Scandinavian languages.

West Germanic

The branch of Germanic languages that includes modern English, German, and Dutch.