logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2021
19m 58s

#134: A Short History of The English Lan...

Leonardo English
About this episode

 


From a small, wet island, English has come to be the world's dominant language.

How did this actually happen, where does English actually come from, and how has the language changed over the years?

  • How many people speak English
  • Why English isn't a 'pure' language (English as a mongrel dog, and as a soup)
  • Anglo-Saxons & "Old" English
  • Anglo-Saxon words in English today (and why you should use them)
  • “Short words are best, and old words when short are best of all.” 
  • Invasion by the Vikings (and the impact on the English language)
  • Invasion by the Normans (and their linguistic impact)
  • How French words became 'fancier' versions of the original English
  • The French linguistic influence on how we talk about food in English
  • William Shakespeare & the 1,700 words he added to English
  • "Borrowing" words from the colonies
  • How many countries speak English today
  • English's incredible ability to change (and why some people still don't like that)


Full interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/history-of-english-language


---

You might like:

🔓 Unlock bonus episodes, interactive transcripts, subtitles & vocabulary lists

📹 A look inside Leonardo English membership

🧑‍💼 Demystifying Business English Course

⚡️  How To Use Podcasts Like A Boss To Learn English

📧 Join the weekly newsletter

✍️ Free English Grammar Checker

---

Keywords: Learn English, vocabulary, lessons, idioms, aprende inglés, idiomas, aprender inglês, apprendre l'anglais, imparare l’inglese, ingilizce öğren,英語を習う, تعلم الإنجليزية

Up next
Aug 14
#563 | The Curious Origins of The Nobel Prize
Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, was shocked to read his own obituary branding him the "merchant of death." While the story might not be entirely true, it pushed him to reconsider his legacy. His fortune went on to establish the Nobel Prizes, honouring achievements in phys ... Show More
23m 19s
Jul 31
#560 | What Makes An Italian?
In part one of a three-part mini-series on the theme of citizenship and identity, we'll ask ourselves, "What makes someone Italian?" We'll explore the topic of citizenship and identity in Italy, and see what the current laws tell us about what it means to be (or not to be) Italia ... Show More
20m 51s
Jul 17
#558 | General Hannibal | Rome’s Greatest Enemy
Hannibal of Carthage, one of history's greatest military strategists, almost brought the Roman Republic to its knees. As a boy, he swore eternal enmity against Rome, leading him to cross the Alps with his diverse army and elephants, stunning the Romans. Despite his victories, he ... Show More
27m 46s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2023
How Suffixes Simplify English-Boost Your British Vocabulary Ep 702
🎙Today you will discover some handy tips on how to grow your English vocabulary without having to learn more words. This lesson https://adeptenglish.com/lessons/ will help you with your #englishfluency https://adeptenglish.com/english/fluency/ and transform your current vocabula ... Show More
14m 23s
Jan 2024
Speak Better English with Harry | Episode 464
Boost your vocabulary and learn English words and expressions to help you speak and write fluently in English. In this lesson, I will teach you 10 English collocations related to achievements—a topic that often comes up in IELTS and other English proficiency exams. Learn how to t ... Show More
17m 33s
Jun 2024
Phrasal Verbs In Daily English Conversation Ep 756
Phrasal verbs in daily English conversation can be difficult for English language learners. Did you know? Phrasal verbs make up over 10,000 phrases https://adeptenglish.com/english/phrases/ in English! The GOOD NEWS is, at Adept English, we focus on the ones you might actually wa ... Show More
12m 19s
Jan 2023
Why is New Year's Day on January 1? | Learn English phrase 'seek to'
" Our current calendar is the Gregorian calendar and it's over 400 years old. But the basics (12 months, 365 days, leap years) have been in place for over two thousand years. A small change brought it closer into alignment with the astronomical year, but it's still not perfect. P ... Show More
20m 32s