Latin Loan Words in Early
Modern English
Emily Hassett
History of the English Language
March 17, 2006
Early Modern English Timeline and
Major Events
-Approximately 1500-1660
-Some scholars document it as beginning as early as the 1470’s and
ending as late as 1800
-Major Events
- Invention of Printing Press in 1476 – books are now available to
wider audience for lower prices
- Renaissance – Although the Renaissance started in the 15th century
in Italy it did not hit Britain until the 16th when it created a new
interest in the arts and language and led to new translations of the
classics.
- Reformation – new interest/conflict surrounding religion, first
translations of the Bible into English
- Great Vowel Shift – changes in pronunciation
Major Authors of Early Modern
English
Shakespeare
Christopher
Marlowe
-credited with
introducing 2,000
words and catchphrases
-Dido, Queen of
Carthage, Hero and
Leander
-“Shakespearean
Firsts” – linguistic
innovations he used
in his plays
Ben Johnson
-Hamlet, Othello,
MacBeth, Much Ado
About Nothing
-Faerie Qveen, The
Shephearde’s
Calendar
-Volpone
Edmund Spenser
Age of Bibles
-Tyndale Bible is published in 1525-6 and meets sharp criticism because of
alterations made to certain words. Tyndale also intended his translation to be
read by “common” people
-King James Bible is published in 1611 and becomes the “Authorized Version”
even though the preface says it was meant to be read in Church
Where do specific words come from?
Latin/Greek
- new translations of the classics introduced new words into English
- Latin and Greek contributed greatly to the fields of Science/Medicine,
Education, and Religion
French
- French words were introduced through trade and, like Latin and Greek, to
improve the English language
- Many French words relate to government, law, fashion, social life, and the
arts/high culture
Italian, Spanish, and Arabic
- Through trade and economic/political expansion the English language
began to incorporate words from these languages
- Most of the words derived from these sources are names for products
Inkhorn Terms/Controversy
Inkhorn terms refer to those terms
incorporated into English from
foreign languages, especially Latin
and Greek. Many people criticized
adopting these terms. Some felt that
the English language did not need to
borrow terms for improvement and
looked upon these borrowings as
pretentious.
Medical and Science Terms Derived
from Latin
Anatomy – the process, subjects, and dissection of the
body, from Latin anatomia coined in 1541
Skeleton – the bones or bony framework of an animal or
human body, from Latin sceleton/skeleton, 1578
Virus – infectious organism, once meant poison, in
modern use can refer to computer virus, from Latin virus,
1599
Pneumonia
Nucleus
Tendon
Nerve
Diagnosis
Physiological - relating to the material universe or to
natural science; physical, from Latin physiologicus or
could be a compound of the Latin parts physio and
logical
Species – appearance or outward form, from Latin
species
Religious Terms
Excommunicate - To cut off from
communion; to exclude, by an authoritative
sentence, from participation in the
sacraments and services of the church, or
from religious rites in general. From Latin
excommunicate from excommunicare,
1526
Purgatory
Zealot - one who pursues his object with
passionate ardour; usually in disparaging
sense, one who is carried away by excess
of zeal; an immoderate partisan, a fanatical
enthusiast. From Latin zelotes, 1537
Angel
Ecclesiastic
Orthodox
Pious - characterized by or showing
reverence and obedience to God; faithful to
religious duties and observances; devout,
godly, religious. From Latin pi-us, 1603
Terms Relating to Education or
Learning
Education - instruction, schooling or training given to the young in preparation for
the work of life; instruction or training obtained in adult age. Also, the whole course
of scholastic instruction which a person has received. From Latin education-em,
1540
Curriculum – a regular course of study or training, From Latin curriculum, 1633
Encyclopedia – a general course of instruction; literary work containing extensive
information on all branches of knowledge. From Latin encyclopaedia, 1531
Since it’s Saint Patrick’s
Day……
Shamrock
Tory
Hubbub
seamrag
tóraidhe
hooboube
Clairshach
Reel
clairseach
righil