Running Head: The History of English

Running Head: The History of English
The History of English 2
Introduction
English is considered to be among the most commonly used languages in the world.
However, English used today had undergone various changes for several centuries as its origins
can be traced back to the Germanic languages (Moody,2016). Therefore, regards to this context
this paper will illustrate the various changes English underwent from old English to modern
English, by focusing on syntax and phonology.
Syntax
The focus in old English when it comes to syntax is the word order. During this era,
writers and speakers had a lot of freedom in word orders as there was no specific way to place
the structure of the main clause elements; subject, object, and noun (SVO)in a sentence. each
clause elements can follow or come before the other clause element, there was a lot of options.
For example, the sentence portrays and OSV structure 5) Sum man his sǣd sēow
However, the middle English was still flexible compared to modern-day English despite
the progressive impoverishment of inflictions. Rigidness in the structure of the main clause
elements continued to be a focus as a common structure was solidified towards the end of the
Middle English era (Fowler,2017). The word order pattern was solidified to the SVO structure
which paved way for early modern to present-day English. 5) A sower went out to sow his seed
show an SVO structure, It was considered to be the standard structure in the long run.
Early modern English as a very similar syntax to the present-day English, words order or
element structure is predominantly SVO with the exception of the adjective-noun head modifier
sequence. However, there are differences with the predominant English such as structural; verb
phrase, and the secondary and primary auxiliaries within it which were introduced in early
modern English 14), which, when they have heard, ( primary auxiliary)
Phonology
Old English sound systems are much more complex as compared to present-day
English.its is actual; ly much more Germanic and closer to german as compared to early modern
and present-day English. It has 15 monophthongs 17consonatst and 4 diphthongs are the pillars
of old English (Smyth, 2016).
 Sum man his sǣd sēow -O.E
 He that sowith, yede out to sowe his seed-Modern English
A drastic change form Old English to Middle English is the voicing of fricatives due to
the fixing of the world order from relative free word order in old English. The vocal weakening
of unstressed syllabus was predominant in middle English such as the word sǣd -seed which
further depicts the transitions if English form a Germanic nature (Kulsum-Binder and
Linebaugh,2016).
The great vocal shift is predominant in the early modern English era which is still
applicable in present-day English. This changed the pronunciation of long Vowels from a Latin
like-derived Romance languages of Europe that characterized middle English. An increase in the
use of double Vowels is also predominant in the early modern English e.g sǣd -seed which is
also in use on the present-day English (Stenbrenden,2016).
Conclusion
The three passages that portray the history of English have been used to illustrate the
various changes the language has undergone by depicting the various changes in syntax and
phonology with the help of a few examples. Moreover, this also plays a major role in helping the
paper portrays the independence the English has achieved from its origins .
References
Fowler, D. C. (2017). The Bible in Middle English Literature. University of Washington
Press.
Kulsum-Binder, R., & Linebaugh, G. (2016). Splits, Shifts and Losses: Historical
Changes in the Phonology and Morphology of English.
Moody, W. V. (2016). A history of English literature. Read Books Ltd.
Smyth, A. (Ed.). (2016). A history of English autobiography. Cambridge University
Press.
Stenbrenden, G. F. (2016). Long-Vowel Shifts in English, c. 1050-1700. Cambridge
University Press.

Running Head: The History of English

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Running Head: The History of English

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Running Head: The History of English

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Running Head: The History of English

The History of English 2

English, by focusing on syntax and phonology.

of old English (Smyth, 2016).

 Sum man his sǣd sēow -O.E

 He that sowith, yede out to sowe his seed-Modern English

also in use on the present-day English (Stenbrenden,2016).

Fowler, D. C. (2017). The Bible in Middle English Literature. University of Washington

Changes in the Phonology and Morphology of English.

Moody, W. V. (2016). A history of English literature. Read Books Ltd.

Smyth, A. (Ed.). (2016). A history of English autobiography. Cambridge University

Stenbrenden, G. F. (2016). Long-Vowel Shifts in English, c. 1050-1700. Cambridge

You might also like