[Summary of The Story of English – An Overview
The Story of English – An Overview explains the importance of English in India and traces its development from a language spoken by Germanic tribes into a global language.
English in India
The British introduced English in India to make colonial administration easier. However, English later became an important instrument in the struggle against British rule. Indian leaders read the works of thinkers such as Ruskin, Carlyle and Abraham Lincoln and gained new political ideas. English also enabled leaders from different parts of India to communicate, organise themselves and prepare common plans for the freedom struggle. Thus, the language introduced for colonial control eventually helped the growth of Indian nationalism.
English became India’s window to the world. It enriched Indian languages, which borrowed many English words and expressions. It now serves as a national and international link language, a language of trade and commerce and, most importantly, a library language.
English is called the key to a treasure house of knowledge because much of the world’s information in science, technology, arts, music and the humanities is recorded in it. Young people therefore require a functional knowledge of English to remain informed about developments around the world. The Radhakrishnan Commission warned that abandoning English would separate India from the continuously growing stream of knowledge.
The Celts and Romans
The Celts were the earliest inhabitants of Britain. Welsh, Scots and Irish developed from Celtic languages, but English did not originate from them.
The Romans, led by Julius Caesar, conquered Britain in 55 BC. They ruled for nearly five hundred years and introduced Roman customs and Latin. However, they could not make the native population adopt Latin completely.
The Anglo-Saxons
The Angles, Saxons and Jutes were Germanic tribes who invaded Britain and defeated the Celts. Their language became the foundation of English and is generally known as Old English or Anglo-Saxon English.
The Anglo-Saxons were mainly farmers. Therefore, everyday words connected with rural life—such as earth, plough, field, work, wood, dog, ox, sheep and shepherd—entered English from their language. Essential words such as the, is, you, here and there are also Anglo-Saxon in origin. A major part of ordinary English speech developed from Anglo-Saxon vocabulary.
Christianity and Latin
England was Christianised around 600 AD. Christian missionaries introduced many Greek and Latin religious words, including angel, disciple, apostle, litany, psalm and mass. As a result, many religious words in English are of Latin origin.
The Vikings and Danish Influence
In 793 AD, the Vikings or Danes invaded Britain and nearly defeated the Anglo-Saxons. King Alfred the Great defeated them and protected the English language from possible disappearance.
The Danes gradually began speaking the language of the people they had conquered. During this interaction, Danish words such as get, hit, root and low became part of English.
The Norman Conquest
The Norman Conquest of 1066 greatly changed English. After winning the Battle of Hastings, the Normans introduced French, which became the language of the royal court. Latin was used in courts of law, while ordinary people continued to speak English.
This class division can be seen in vocabulary. Living animals cared for by English-speaking workers retained English names such as ox, cow, calf, sheep, swine and deer. When their meat appeared on the tables of French-speaking masters, it was called beef, veal, mutton, pork, bacon and venison. Simple breakfast is an English word, while dinner, supper and feast are French. Words such as joy, pleasure, delight, ease and comfort also came from French.
Development of Standard English
Several important events helped standardise English:
William Caxton introduced the printing press in 1476.
Tyndale and Coverdale translated the Bible into English in 1526.
The Authorised Version of the Bible was published under James I in 1611.
Writers such as Geoffrey Chaucer, William Shakespeare, John Milton and Dr Johnson enriched the language through their works.
English also borrowed culturally specific words from Native American, Australian Aboriginal, African and Indian languages.
English as a Global Language
English grammar and sentence structure gradually became simpler. Many inflections disappeared, verb forms were simplified and different regional varieties developed. The meanings of many words also changed.
English has grown from an obscure language into a global language and a major lingua franca. It continues to change because of historical contact, foreign influence, science and technology. Thousands of new words enter the language, while its vocabulary, pronunciation, spelling and grammar become increasingly flexible. Its willingness to accept words from other languages is one of the principal reasons for its remarkable growth.
Central Idea
The history of English is a history of continuous contact and change. Celtic, Latin, Anglo-Saxon, Danish, French and many global languages have contributed to its development. Its adaptability, simplicity and readiness to borrow have transformed it into one of the most widely used languages in the world.]