Where did the phrase ‘a wolf in sheep’s clothing’ come from? And when did scientists finally get round to naming sexual body parts? Voiced by Clive Anderson, this entertaining romp through 'The History of English' squeezes 1600 years of history into 10 one-minute bites, uncovering the sources of English words and phrases from Shakespeare and the King James Bible to America and the Internet. Bursting with fascinating facts, the series looks at how English grew from a small tongue into a major global language before reflecting on the future of English in the 21st century.
Track 1: Anglo-Saxon
A look at what words the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings bought to the English language.
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Tracks in this podcast:
| Track | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anglo-Saxon | A look at what words the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings bought to the English language. Read more Anglo-Saxon |
| 2 | The Norman Conquest | In 1066, William the Conqueror invaded Britain and bought with him fancy French words to add to the English language. Read more The Norman Conquest |
| 3 | Shakespeare | This video tells us that Shakespeare invented over 2000 new words and phrases like eyeball, anchovy and puppy. Read more Shakespeare |
| 4 | The King James Bible | Illustrating that in 1611, the new King James Bible was created and gave us many famous phrases. Read more The King James Bible |
| 5 | The English of Science | In the 17th Century, new science words were being created like acid, ovary and tonsil. Read more The English of Science |
| 6 | English and Empire | Exploring how the British Empire spread across the world bringing back many new words and phrases. Read more English and Empire |
| 7 | The Age of the Dictionary | A look at how lexicographers started creating the Dictionary of the English Language to ensure that everyone spelt words correctly and knew their correct definition. Read more The Age of the Dictionary |
| 8 | American English | Learn about American-English and how some American words were actually English to start with. Read more American English |
| 9 | Internet English | Exploring the expansion of internet language, with abbreviations like lol and btw. Read more Internet English |
| 10 | Global English | The future of English and the many hybrids that have been created. Should we still call it English? Read more Global English |
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Grew
The series looks at how English grew from a small tongue into a (commercial website removed by OpenLearn Moderator 12.05.12) major global language before reflecting on the future of English in the 21st century.
Nice...
This was very analytic of the way I felt following the facebook status ideas deciding to up firewood and journey the world. This was amazing I had often dreamed about, had been economy for, but not yet had the balls to in fact go to the front and do it.
(external website removed by OpernLearn Moderator 19.03.12)
Unconquerable part of a set
Unconquerable part of a set of writing,realization for putting (commercial website removed by OpenLearn Moderator 19.02.12) this together! This is clearly one surprise post. Credit for the costly in order and just around the position you have so in occurrence here. Keep it up!
Thoroughly enjoyed it!! Well
Thoroughly enjoyed it!! Well done OU!
clips
Well put together ... really enjoyed it lol!!!!
Ten minute English
A well put together, light-hearted and entertaining way to share interesting information.
Stimulating, amusing capsule
Stimulating, amusing capsule ...Will they get it onto a tweet??
Hi Ken, Good question - do
Hi Ken,
Good question - do you or anyone else want to give it a try?
Many thanks
OpenLearn moderator
Such fun...very informative
Such fun...very informative too!
Loved it, great light relief.
Loved it, great light relief. Who would have thought that Shakespeare gave us Hob Nobs!!!!! LOL
laugh out loud funny!
laugh out loud funny!
Anglo-Saxons - coming of Christianity
I have not persisted with this past 'the coming of Christianity in 597 AD'. You are out by five and a half centuries. Gildas reports that christianity reached Britain before 38 AD (in reign of Tiberius) Many other witnesses to the fact that Celtic missionaries were working amongst the Anglo-Saxons well before the coming of Augustine in 597, whose actual purpose was to assert Roman hegemony in the church.
If this is the standard of factual accuracy in this dumbed down precis of events I suggest no one need bother with it further.
Rated: Nul points
Brilliant!!
They didn't say that Christianity hadn't arrived in Britain until 597AD. They said that it wasn't until the Romans left and the new invaders arrived (Angles, Saxons and Jutes) that Christianity took hold. This was because of the strength of Paganism at the time, and in 597AD the strong alliance between Christianity and Kingship (due to Augustine's mission from the Pope in Rome to King Aethelbert of Kent) helped make Christianity more widespread and accepted.
There's no pleasing some people. I think its brilliant, and very funny. I love the words 'snuffbumble' and 'fopdoodle', I'll definitely be using them lol.
What is the meaning of the words 'snuffbumble' and 'fopdoodle'?
Hi, Carole,
Could you please tell me what is the meaning of the words 'snuffbumble' and 'fopdoodle'?
I can not look them up in my dictionary!
A very well-spent 10 minutes!
Insighful and Hilarious! :D
Firewall
I was going to say that WW2 planes had firewalls between the engine and cockpit, but the word turns out to be from 1851.
Global English
V funny - laughed out loud.
Thank's
that's very useful videos thank you
Smart, funny and thought provoking - thanks
A very well spent 60 seconds - indeed 10 x 60 secs. Sharp scripts, nicely drawn and gets me thinking about the language in new ways. A treat. Thanks to all involved.
the history of english in 10 minutes
lol entertaining and informative.. I did in fact laugh out loud at a few parts.