LESSON C READING

1. DISCUSS THESE QUESTIONS IN PAIRS.

• What do you know about the origin of English?

• Is English the same since its origin?

2. READ THE TEXT QUICKLY AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS IN EXERCISE 1.

A short History of English

English started when three Germanic tribes invaded and settled Britain more or less in the
5th century. These tribes, known as the Angles, the Saxons and the Jutes left what today is
Denmark and the north of Germany and went through the North Sea into the South of Britain.
B
(1) ____________. With the invasion, these people went away to the west and to the north, and
settled in what now is Wales, Scotland and Ireland, where people still speak their ancient
Celtic languages. The Angles, Saxons and Jutes named their new territory Englaland and
they called their language Englisc.

Old English (450-1100)

The Angles, Saxons and Jutes spoke similar languages that mixed in Britain and developed in Old English. Old English
was different to English of these days. (2) ____________.
D Be, strong and water are examples of words that came from Old
English.

Middle English (1100-1500)

In 1066, invaders from the north of France, called the Normands, conquered England. They brought their French
language to England so French became the official language but the lower classes still spoke English. (3) ____________.
F
However, it adopted many French words and modified its structure. Spelling and sounds changed during this period.

Modern English (1500-the present)

A sudden change in pronunciation known as the Great Vowel Shift marked the end of Middle
English and the beginning of Modern English. Shakespeare, an English writer created many
words that the people adopted and remained in the language. (4) ____________.
A With this, more
people learned to read. The printing also standardized the language and made it difficult to
continue changing. (5) ____________.
E Now, English is still incorporating vocabulary but the
structure of the language is very unlikely to change.

3. FILL THE GAPS USING THESE SENTENCES. WRITE THE LETTER ON THE LINE. THERE
IS AN EXTRA SENTENCE THAT YOU DON’T NEED TO USE.

A. The invention of the printing press allowed to publish books.

B. At that time, the people who lived in Britain spoke a Celtic language.
C. Nothing from this period is printed or written.
D. However, most of the modern English words have its origin in Old English.
E. English went on adopting words and phrases from developments in technology.
F. Gradually, English became the dominant language again.

96
 4. CHOOSE THE BEST ANSWER FOR EACH QUESTION.

1. The Angles, Saxons and Jutes: 4. The great Vowel Shift:

a) invaded Germany, Denmark and Britain and still
✔a) marked the division between Middle and Modern
speak ancient languages. English.
b) settled in Wales, Scotland and Ireland and spoke b) was a change that Shakespeare introduced in the
Celtic languages. language.
c) established in the south of Britain and called it
✔ c) standardized Middle and Modern English.
Englaland.
5. English today:
2. Old English: a) continues changing and incorporating words that
a) still remains in most modern English words.
✔ Shakespeare created.
b) is similar to modern English. b) is still suffering the great Vowel Shift.
c) is the language that people still speak in Wales, c) continues adopting words but it does not change
✔
Scotland and Ireland. in structure anymore.

3. Norman invaders:
a) adopted many English words.
b) spoke French.
c) invaded the north of France.
✔