History in English Words

Synopsis

A classic historical excursion through the English language.

Owen Barfield's original and thought-provoking works over three-quarters of a century made him a legendary cult figure. This popular book provides a brief, brilliant history of those who have spoken the Indo-European tongues. It is illustrated throughout by current English words -- whose derivation from other languages, whose history in use and changes of meaning, record and unlock the larger history.

Summary

Introduction

History in English Words by David Crystal is an informative and intriguing book that explores the history of the English language from its roots in Proto-Indo-European to the present day. The Introduction briefly describes the scope of the book, which covers the history of the words in English from the time when it was first recorded through many stages of development up until its current state. The Introduction also speaks to the idea of “language evolution” by which English has developed and changed over time.

Chapter 1: Into the Hearts of Words

The first chapter of History in English Words starts with the idea that English is a complex and amazing language that has evolved over time due to many different influences and changes. Crystal delves into the origin of words in English, noting that many of them came from Proto-Indo-European, the mother language of modern European languages. Every language has its own particular lexicon, which comes from the particular influences, socio-cultural dynamics, and geographical circumstances of that language. Crystal also introduces six main word classes: nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, and conjunctions. The chapter provides an overview of their importance and function in English. For example, verbs are important because they indicate actions such as running, walking, or talking. Adjectives, on the other hand, are important because they give English words meaning and help to describe different things.

Chapter 2: A Short Story of English Words

In Chapter 2, Crystal outlines the history of English words, beginning with the Old English period when English first appeared in writing. He discusses how Old English (also known as Anglo-Saxon) was a mix of Germanic languages, Old Norse, and Latin. The emergence of the Norman Conquest had a huge influence on the lexicon of English words and a large number of French words entered into English. Crystal goes on to talk about the Middle English period where English underwent a "Great Vowel Shift," and then the Early Modern English period in which there was internal lexical growth and the emergence of new words. Finally, Crystal introduces the Modern English period, during which English underwent increased globalization and new language contact.

Chapter 3: Etymology and Word Development

Crystal's third chapter delves further into the etymology of English words and their development over time. He looks at how English words have been borrowed from other languages, how some have undergone semantic change and others have become specialized for specific areas of study. Crystal uses examples such as “etiquette” which was borrowed from the French and now describes a set of polite social rules, or “neurology” which was adapted from the Greek and now refers to the study of the nervous system. He also explores how some words have shifted their meaning from one context to another and how there are often different levels of formality attached to the same word.

Chapter 4: Jumping From English to English

In the fourth chapter of History of English Words, Crystal looks at how English has spread throughout the world as a result of colonization, migration, and globalization. He focuses on the varieties of English that are used in different parts of the world and how they differ in terms of pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary. He also explores how language contact between English speakers and non-English speakers has increased and had an influence on the lexicon of English. An example of this is the “pidgins,” or mixed languages, that have arisen as a result of language contact between different groups of people.

Conclusion

History in English Words by David Crystal provides an extensive and insightful look into the history and development of English words. The book covers a wide range of topics, such as the etymology of English words, word borrowing, and language contact. It is an informative and interesting read for anyone interested in learning more about how the English language has developed and changed over time.