REZA AULIA PERDANA

18202241021

EARLY MODERN ENGLISH (1500 – 1800)

1. Great Vowel Shift

A major factor separating middle English from modern English
 A radical change in pronunciation (long vowels sound especially)
E.g. :
- “out” as “oot”
- “house” as “hoose”
- “mate” as “maat”
 5 major dialects in English :
- Northern
- West Midlands
- East Midlands
- Southern
- Kentish
 Therefore, big variety in spelling:
- She (60 different spellings)
- Church (30 different spellings)
2. Printing Press
By William Caxton (1476). So, 20.000 books were printed and the best sellers were “Tales
of King Arthur” and “Canterbury Tales”.
3. Standardization
People’s name spelled differently. Dictionaries (1604) and newspaper (1622).
4. The Bible
By William Tyndale (published in 1526). He was executed because he was found guilty of
heresy and his translation. Here, included many new words & phrases.
5. Golden Age & Shakespeare
It’s seen as a high point of English Literature, because it’s easier to make and spread
his/her works.
6. Elizabethan Era (1558 – 1603)
English Renaissance (progress in science & technology. Eg: navigation)
7. Exploration & International Trade
Progress in navigation led to an exploration of New Lands.

LATE MODERN ENGLISH (1800 – PRESENT)

1. NEW VOCABULARY
 Pronunciation, spelling, and grammar remain close to unchanged.
2. INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
 New technologies: sciences, ideas – new words.
 Examples:
- Science: oxygen, nuclear.
- Technology: locomotive, engine.
3. COLONIALISM & BRITISH EMPIRE
 Begin in the 16th century – at this time, 5-7 million English speakers.
 Colonial mentality: English language and culture representing “civilization” – seen as a
good thing to spread it to the “undeveloped” countries of the world.
4. THE NEW WORLD
 Colonization of North America begun in 1607. (Native American words into English:
raccoon, moose, tomato, squash)
 Parts of the New World had already been settled by the Spanish, French, and Dutch –
and immigration to North America was in no way limited to English speakers.
5. AMERICAN DIALECT
 As American settlers spread westward, this is what started to happen – new plants,
animals, food = new words.
6. OTHER COLONIES
 New colonies – new vocabulary.
- Australia: koala, kangaroo, boomerang.
- New Zealand: kiwi, maori.
- South Africa: apartheid, trek.
- India: curry, jungle, thug.
- Also: East Africa, West Africa, South East Asia.
 English: Language of power, business, administration & education – the elite.
7. 20TH CENTURY
  Political correctness
- Feminism has called into question the sexism of words such as mailman, fireman,
and chairman.
 Technological innovation
- Information Age – new vocabulary.
- Computer terminology.
- New “slang”.

 Reverse loanwords
- Many English words taken over by other languages: sport, weekend, etc.
8. ENGLISH TODAY
 English speakers today.
 English as Lingua Franca.