HISTORY OF ENGLISH
TEST REVIEW
About _____ language dialects are spoken
in the world.
About _____ language dialects are spoken
in the world.
 7,100
Languages are classified into many
linguistic _______.
Languages are classified into many
linguistic _______.
 families
Languages are classified into how many
linguistic families?
Languages are classified into how many
linguistic families?
 100
English belongs to the _____ family of
languages.
English belongs to the _____ family of
languages.
 Indo-European
Which of the following languages is NOT
included in the Indo-European family: Latin,
French, Spanish, German, or Arabic?
Which of the following languages is NOT
included in the Indo-European family: Latin,
French, Spanish, German, or Arabic?
 Arabic
English is included in the _____ branch of
the Indo-European family.
English is included in the _____ branch of
the Indo-European family.
 Germanic
All of the following languages are included in the
Germanic branch except: Swedish, Norwegian,
Italian, Dutch, or Yiddish.
All of the following languages are included in the
Germanic branch except: Swedish, Norwegian,
Italian, Dutch, or Yiddish.
 Italian (Italic branch)
English is the world’s first ____ language
spoken by more people around the
world.
English is the world’s first ____ language
spoken by more people around the
world.
 global
What language has the most native speakers
(meaning it is their first language learned)?
What language has the most native speakers
(meaning it is their first language learned)?
 Mandarin Chinese (over one billion
speakers)
English has about how many native
speakers?
English has about how many native
speakers?
 350 million
English has about how many TOTAL
speakers?
English has about how many TOTAL
speakers?
 1.5 billion
From 8,000 to 4,000 BC, what preliterate
(without a written language) group of people
lived in Europe?
From 8,000 to 4,000 BC, what preliterate
(without a written language) group of people
lived in Europe?
 Indo-Europeans
The Indo-European people spoke _______. (which
language?)
The Indo-European people spoke _______. (which
language?)
 Proto-Indo-European
Indo-European root words appear in a
dictionary as:
A. /rût/
B. *staC. ak´sent
Indo-European root words appear in a dictionary as:
A. /rût/
B. *staC. ak´sent
 B (asterisk, bolded)
_____ are words from different languages that
come from the same ancestral root.
_____ are words from different languages that
come from the same ancestral root.
 Cognates
In 500 BC, which group made their way
to England from the European
continent?
In 500 BC, which group made their way
to England from the European
continent?
 Celts
Which group is known as the first
Britons?
Which group is known as the first
Britons?
 Celts
All of the following are true about the Celts except: they
had red hair, they owned slaves, they introduced the
hard g sound (get, egg), they had chiefs, or they rode
in chariots.
All of the following are true about the Celts except: they
had red hair, they owned slaves, they introduced the
hard g sound (get, egg), they had chiefs, or they rode
in chariots.
 they introduced the hard g sound—that
was the Vikings
Which group invaded England in 55 BC?
Which group invaded England in 55 BC?
 Romans
This group of invaders was led by _____.
This group of invaders was led by _____.
 Julius Caesar
Which language did the Romans speak?
Which language did the Romans speak?
 Latin
About ___% of Modern English comes
from Latin.
About ___% of Modern English comes
from Latin.
 60% (many of these come indirectly from French words that were
based on Latin words)
Besides the Frisians and Jutes, what other
invaders entered England in 450?
Besides the Frisians and Jutes, what other
invaders entered England in 450?
 Angles and Saxons
The Angles and Saxons were _____ tribes
(where from?)

The Angles and Saxons were _____ tribes
(where from?)
 Germanic
The Germanic tribes were descended
from a group of people known as the
_____.
The Germanic tribes were descended
from a group of people known as the
_____.
 Teutons
What did most of the Anglo-Saxon
invaders do for a living?
What did most of the Anglo-Saxon
invaders do for a living?
 they were farmers
What language did the Germanic
invaders speak?
What language did the Germanic
invaders speak?
 Anglo-Saxon
Into which three countries did the
Romans and Anglo-Saxons push the
Celts?
Into which three countries did the
Romans and Anglo-Saxons push the
Celts?
 Wales, Scotland, and Ireland
From which group of people came words for war
(battle), building (road), household items (table), and
food (butter)?
From which group of people came words for war
(battle), building (road), household items
(table), and (butter)?
 Romans (these Latin words were already included in the
Anglo-Saxon language when they arrived in England)
From 500 to 750, which language was
spoken in intellectual matters and the
church?
From 500 to 750, which language was
spoken in intellectual matters and the
church?
 Latin
Who converted King Ethelbert to
Christianity in 597?
Who converted King Ethelbert to
Christianity in 597?
 St. Augustine
Which group invaded England in 787?
Which group invaded England in 787?
 Scandinavian Vikings
The Vikings spoke the language of _____.
The Vikings spoke the language of _____.
 Old Norse
All of the following countries are in Scandinavia
except: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Egypt, or
Denmark
All of the following countries are in Scandinavia
except: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Egypt, or
Denmark
 Egypt
How many words did the Vikings add to
the English language?
How many words did the Vikings add to
the English language?
 1,000
In 878, who won a decisive victory,
expelling the Vikings?
In 878, who won a decisive victory,
expelling the Vikings?
 Alfred the Great
The language developed between the
years 450 to 1100 is known as _____.
The language developed between the
years 450 to 1100 is known as _____.
 Old English
What work of literature was written in
Old English?
What work of literature was written in
Old English?
 Epic poem “Beowulf”
Which group developed place names in
England, like London, Kent, Dover, and
Thames?
Which group developed place names in
England, like London, Kent, Dover, and
Thames?
 Celts
Which group gave a name to England
and English?
Which group gave a name to England
and English?
 Angles (Angle-land)
Approximately _____ words were in the
Old English vocabulary.
Approximately _____ words were in the
Old English vocabulary.
 24,000
Of the 1,000 most common Modern English
words, what percent are from Old English?
Of the 1,000 most common Modern English
words, what percent are from Old English?
 80% (4/5)
Which group added the following words to
English: Thursday, leg, odd, husband, sky, skin,
scrape, they, their, and them?
Which group added the following words to
English: Thursday, leg, odd, husband, sky, skin,
scrape, they, their, and them?
 Vikings
Which group founded a colony named
“Britannia” in the British Isles?
Which group founded a colony named
“Britannia” in the British Isles?
 Romans
Which group is credited with creating the
King Arthur stories?
Which group is credited with creating the
King Arthur stories?
 Celts
In 1066, Edward the Confessor
supposedly promised the English
throne to _____.
In 1066, Edward the Confessor
supposedly promised the English
throne to _____.
 William of Normandy
Normandy is in which country?
Normandy is in which country?
 France
A council of elders appointed _____ as the
King of England after Edward the
Confessor’s death.
A council of elders appointed _____ as the
King of England after Edward the
Confessor’s death.
 Harold Godwin
William the Conqueror defeated Harold
in the Battle of _____.
William the Conqueror defeated Harold
in the Battle of _____.
 Hastings
Which economic system did the
Normans bring to England?
Which economic system did the
Normans bring to England?
 feudalism
During the 1100’s and 1200’s, which
language was spoken by the lower
classes?
During the 1100’s and 1200’s, which
language was spoken by the lower
classes?
 English
While English words were more commonly used,
___ words were more literary, and Latin words
were more scholarly.
While English words were more commonly used,
___ words were more literary, and Latin words
were more scholarly.
 French
What major event spurred the English
government to declare English as the official
language in the 1300’s?
What major event spurred the English
government to declare English as the official
language in the 1300’s?
 Hundred Years’ War
About _____ French words entered the
English language after the Norman
invasion.
About _____ French words entered the
English language after the Norman
invasion.
 10,000
What percent of Modern English comes
from French?
What percent of Modern English comes
from French?
 28%
Which language gave us words for
administration, law, fashion, leisure, and
science?
Which language gave us words for
administration, law, fashion, leisure, and
science?
 French
After the French invasion, plural nouns were
formed by adding –s or -es instead of ____
to words.
After the French invasion, plural nouns were
formed by adding –s or -es instead of ____
to words.
 -en (Anglo-Saxon housen became French
houses)
The English said chicken and sheep; the
French dishes from them were ____ and
____.
The English said chicken and sheep; the
French dishes from them were ____ and
____.
 poultry and mutton
During the 1400’s, what phenomenon happened
that changed the way Englishmen pronounced
their words?
During the 1400’s, what phenomenon happened
that changed the way Englishmen pronounced
their words?
 Great Vowel Shift
Say the 5 vowels as they are pronounced in
Spanish, French, Latin, and Italian.
After the Great Vowel Shift, the
pronunciation of words changed, but
_____ stayed the same.
After the Great Vowel Shift, the
pronunciation of words changed, but
_____ stayed the same.
 Spellings
The English spoken from about 1100 to
1500 is known as _____.
The English spoken from about 1100 to
1500 is known as _____.
 Middle English
During the Middle English period, _____
endings were dropped from most
English verbs.
During the Middle English period, _____
endings were dropped from most
English verbs.
 inflectional (in Spanish verbs contain the prefix also: estoy,
estas, esta, estamos, estan)
Who is deemed to be the greatest author
of medieval England?
Who is deemed to be the greatest author
of medieval England?
 Geoffrey Chaucer
Which book did Geoffrey Chaucer write?
Which book did Geoffrey Chaucer write?
 The Canterbury Tales
Which language added the qu- (as in
queen), the ch (as in church), and the
gh (as in night)?
Which language added the qu- (as in
queen), the ch (as in church), and the
gh (as in night)?
 French
Who revived education and translated
Latin documents into Old English?
Who revived education and translated
Latin documents into Old English?
 Alfred the Great
The Normans were descended from
which group of people?
The Normans were descended from
which group of people?
 The Vikings
Which group of people created the Robin
Hood stories?
Which group of people created the Robin
Hood stories?
 Anglo-Saxons (to get the French
out!)
What invention in the 1400’s spread
literacy among common people?
What invention in the 1400’s spread
literacy among common people?
 printing press
Who brought the printing press to
England and published 20,000 books?
Who brought the printing press to
England and published 20,000 books?
 William Caxton
Which book published in 1611 preserved
traditional phrasings like spake and
taketh?
Which book published in 1611 preserved
traditional phrasings like spake and
taketh?
 King James Bible
Bibles of the day contained many ____, which are
phrases that have their own meaning apart
from the literal.
Bibles of the day contained many ____, which are
phrases that have their own meaning apart
from the literal.
 idioms
Which “rebirth” occurred during the 16th and 17th
centuries that added 12,000 words to English?
Which “rebirth” occurred during the 16th and 17th
centuries that added 12,000 words to English?
 English Renaissance
During the Renaissance, many scientific,
_____, and mathematical words came from
Latin and Greek.
During the Renaissance, many scientific,
_____, and mathematical words came from
Latin and Greek.
 medical
The words panic, music, hypnosis,
mercury, and titanium come from
_____.
The words panic, music, hypnosis,
mercury, and titanium come from
_____.
 Greek mythology
During the Age of Discovery, colonies were
formed in Jamestown and ____, giving the start
to American English.
During the Age of Discovery, colonies were
formed in Jamestown and ____, giving the start
to American English.
 Plymouth
The English spoken from 1500 to 1800 is
known as _____.
The English spoken from 1500 to 1800 is
known as _____.
 Early Modern English
Which author’s work is representative of
Early Modern English?
Which author’s work is representative of
Early Modern English?
 William Shakespeare
In 1755, who published the first wellknown English dictionary?
In 1755, who published the first wellknown English dictionary?
 Samuel Johnson
Johnson’s dictionary contained each word’s ____,
which is its origin and historical development
over time.
Johnson’s dictionary contained each word’s ____,
which is its origin and historical development
over time.
 etymology
The English spoken from 1800 to the
present is known as _____.
The English spoken from 1800 to the
present is known as _____.
 Modern English
Which author’s work is representative of
Modern English?
Which author’s work is representative of
Modern English?
 Jane Austen
A _____ is a speech pattern in a particular
geographical area or in a certain ethnic or
social group.
A _____ is a speech pattern in a particular
geographical area or in a certain ethnic or
social group.
 dialect
The three main dialects in the United States
today are the Northern, ____, and the
Midland/Western.
The three main dialects in the United States
today are the Northern, ____, and the
Midland/Western.
 Southern
Thomas Jefferson was instructed to write which
document in the “language of the United
States”?
Thomas Jefferson was instructed to write which
document in the “language of the United
States”?
 Declaration of Independence
In 1828, who published the first
American English dictionary?
In 1828, who published the first
American English dictionary?
 Noah Webster
A ____ is a word or phrase that has been
recently created or “coined.”
A ____ is a word or phrase that has been
recently created or “coined.”
 neologism
Which of the following is a “clipped”
word: gym, advertisement, or love?
Which of the following is a “clipped”
word: gym, advertisement, or love?
 gym, from gymnasium
An ____ is a word created from the first
letters of several words.
An ____ is a word created from the first
letters of several words.
 acronym (MADD=Mothers Against Drunk Driving)
A _______ is a word that begins to be used
as a different part of speech
A _______ is a word that begins to be used
as a different part of speech
 conversion (Happy to meet you = verb. Go to the
track meet = noun.
Words “borrowed” from other cultures
from immigration, trade, and travel are
_____ words.
Words “borrowed” from other cultures
from immigration, trade, and travel are
_____ words.
 loan
_____ are words that have similar
meanings.
_____ are words that have similar
meanings.
 Synonyms
Peter Mark Roget wrote the first ____,
which recorded synonyms.
Peter Mark Roget wrote the first ____,
which recorded synonyms.
 thesaurus
More new words entered our language
between the years _____ and 1899 than
during any prior period.
More new words entered our language
between the years _____ and 1899 than
during any prior period.
 1850
How many new words entered our language
during the last half of the 1800’s?
How many new words entered our language
during the last half of the 1800’s?
 25,000
In the late 1800’s, what created the need
to name many things that did not exist
before?
In the late 1800’s, what created the need
to name many things that did not exist
before?
 Industrial Revolution
During the Industrial Revolution, words entered
our language from inventions and ____
products.
During the Industrial Revolution, words entered
our language from inventions and ____
products.
 brand (Kleenex, aspirin)
An ____ is a person’s name that is used to name a
product, such as pasteurize from Louis Pasteur.
An ____ is a person’s name that is used to name a
product, such as pasteurize from Louis Pasteur.
 eponym
What text was published in 1928,
updated in 1989, and is currently being
updated online?
What text was published in 1928,
updated in 1989, and is currently being
updated online?
 Oxford English Dictionary
An Internet group claims that English
now has over ____ number of words.
An Internet group claims that English
now has over ____ number of words.
 one million
The newest words being added to English come
from trends, fashions, pop culture, literature,
and this big one-- ____.
The newest words being added to English come
from trends, fashions, pop culture, literature,
and this big one-- ____.
 technology
Only about _____ words are in common
use.
Only about _____ words are in common
use.
 200,000
What language is considered the world’s
most influential language?
What language is considered the world’s
most influential language?
 English