The History of the English Language

Oxford Bookworms Factfiles: Level 4

by Brigit Viney

Tells a story of invasion and conquest, of exploration and adventure, of poetry and literature, of business and technology. Find out how people like St Augustine, William of Normandy, William Shakespeare, Noah Webster, and others have influenced and shaped the English language.

Genres: Language, History, Linguistics, Textbooks, Nonfiction

62 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Shaimaa شيماء · Rating 3 out of 5]

كتاب مختصر عن تاريخ اللغة الإنجليزية وتطورها ومستقبلها..

من الحاجات اللطيفة اللي ذكرها الكتاب إن كل ما اللغة الإنجليزية بتنتشر كل ما ده ممكن يأثر عليها ويحولها للغة تانية خالص من كثرة الكلمات الدخيلة بسبب الناس اللي بيدمجوا لغاتهم الأصلية بالإنجليزي.. لدرجة إنها في بعض الأماكن ظهرت فعلا لغات جديدة مكونة من انجليزي ولغات محلية..

وان مع الوقت مش هيبقى في ستاندرد للغة الإنجليزية...

[mai pouliot · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has an interesting subject but was written in a way that made it very boring to read.

[mora]

empezaron las lecturas facultativas

[MA kindle lover · Rating 4 out of 5]

كتاب جميل ولطيف
تطور اللغة الانجليزية عبر بسرد تاريخي مبسط، مع أمثلة شائعة لاقتباسات كل حقبة.
وجدت صعوبة في الفصل الأول وكدت أن أرجع للمستوى الأدنى، لكن بمجرد بدايتي في الفصل الثاني زاد استمتاعي بالكتاب ووجدت لساني منطلقا في القراءة والاستيعاب.
مع تحفظي على بعض الأفكار التي تناول فيها المؤلف قضية احتلال بريطانيا لدول العالم وتوظيفه لذلك الجانب بشكل أدبي.
لكنها خطوة جميلة في درب تعلم اللغة.
شدني الفصل الأخير الذي تناول مستقبل اللغة الانجليزية وصراعها مع اللغات المنافسة من حيث عدد المتحدثين بها.
وأعجبني أنه لم يقتصر على طرح المشكلة بل أردفها ببضعة حلول مقترحة.

It is nice and good book. It is talking about English development through historical articles, with a simple examples for each section.
It was hard for me to finish the first unit. I found a lot of new vocabularies. And i couldn’t understood many sentences. But when i stat the second unit I felt comfortable and I enjoyed it.
I don’t agree with the author in some of his ideas. Especially when he wrote about British wars and them governing other countries.
I like the last unit which is talking about the future of English and if it will stay as a leader of science and as the first language for the world. Then the author suggests some solutions.

[Emre Yalabık · Rating 5 out of 5]

For English learners 👍 read with audio file.

[Yuki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very interesting for me because I was able to learn not only the history of the English language but also the history of England and Europe a bit. I might have understood why some French people didn't want to use English even though I was speaking with them in English. I only know that English was from Latin. I have been learning English for years, I thought that I want to cherish Japanese too as my native language once again.

[morag Sarkar · Rating 3 out of 5]

can't believe this book was on Good reads.
I read it 20 years ago and wanted a quick read so read it again.
I think there must be new evidence to show the origins of the indu
European languages 😉

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

English is a mongrel language. A language from the fringes of Europe that came to be the international language by default.This is the story of English from its beginnings and its ancestors to its future. Some letters of Old English like thorn, wynn and eth didn’t make it to modern English. The book is a stage 4 (Intermediate) reader, intended for students learning English as a foreign language. A slim volume with illustrations, perfect for dipping into, on the metro.

[Namiko]

English came from varieties of roots. Many kinds of people have affected it. So now there are people from different countries in Japan, I wonder how Japanese will change.

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book distills complex linguistic shifts—from the arrival of Germanic tribes to the global spread of modern English—into a concise narrative. By using a limited but effective vocabulary and manageable sentence structures, Viney ensures that the fascinating evolution of the language remains readable without losing the essential historical depth.
​Furthermore, the book is effective because it frames the history of English as a vivid story of people and events rather than just a dry list of grammar changes. Viney connects linguistic milestones to major historical "watersheds," such as the Norman Conquest of 1066 and the invention of the printing press. By highlighting the influence of key figures like William Shakespeare and Noah Webster, the book provides relatable human context to how we speak today. This human-centric approach, combined with the "Factfiles" format that often includes helpful illustrations and maps, makes the intricate journey of the English language easy to visualize and understand for a broad audience.

[Lilamedusa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just the basics. Excelent for reviewing with students

[Amin Bachari · Rating 5 out of 5]

اطلاعات این کتاب برای من خیلی مفید بود. از این کتاب کلی چیز درباره ی زبان انگلیسی و تاریخش یاد گرفتم.

[Refal Khan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good subject, bad written

[Durrah]

The book does not coverer the history of language is as I expect, albeit rather it informed me anyway.

[Boon · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The History of the English Language" serves as an engaging and concise exploration into the rich past of the English language. Despite its brevity, the book succeeds in providing a comprehensive overview of the language's evolution, making it an accessible and illuminating read.

The narrative begins with the Proto-Indo-European language, spoken by the Kurgans around 5000 BC, which notably served as the root for many diverse languages. It then shifts focus to the Celts, the earliest settlers on the island now known as Great Britain, paving the way for the development of Old English under the influence of the Jutes, Angles, and Saxons.

A significant shift in the language occurred during the Middle Ages, marked by the Normans' influence and the consequent integration of French into Old English. The book traces this fascinating evolution right through to the modern English language we are familiar with today.

In conclusion, "The History of the English Language" is an excellent resource for anyone seeking a succinct yet thorough understanding of the origins and development of English. It adeptly condenses complex linguistic history into an enjoyable and easily digestible read.

[Hideki Makimura · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. Oxford university press level 4

2. 11/30= 20 minutes, 12/01= 20 minuets, 12/05= 20 minutes, 12/06= 20 minutes

3. English, history, international, quarter, language, communication, widely

4. Our understanding of the history of English began at the end of the eighteenth century when Sir William Jones, a British judge who lived in India, began to study Sanskrit.

I was very surprised that the understanding of the history of English began at the eighteenth century. I thought that it had begun before the eighteenth century. I want to know the reason why it didn't begin before the eighteenth century.

5. About a quarter of the people in the world today speak or use English. People are speaking English everywhere. This book is written that how English began and what English will become in the future and so on.

[Kosuke Kamiya · Rating 2 out of 5]

1. Oxford level 4
2. 4/29=60min, 4/30=60min, 5/1=60min
3. English, old, middle, modern, US, future, slang
4 a. “r u alryt?” means “Are you all right?”
“thx 4 ur msg. How ru? ” means “Thanks for your message. How are you?”
4 b. it is used in chat room and message board. First of all, I can’t understand what it is. More and more I can imagine how to use the expressions. Chat often use numbers instead of words(2 means to, 4means for). It is very interesting for me. It is unique culture.

5 b. In fact, It is a little hard for me to read this book because it is not a kind of greaded reader. It is neither story nor essay. However, thanks to this book, I can be interested in language History. I also learn slang and jargon from it.
I need some bread. Can you understand this sentence?

[Hussain J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice

[Hm · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good

[CORSAK fan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An easy-to-follow introduction to English's history as a language. Well-written and entertaining, it's filled with lots of helpful explanations and interesting facts.