Figure 1.--.

Modern readers can not read Old English texts. It appears more like a foreign language, which it essentially is--Old German. Many modern English words, however, have Old English roots. Must of this is readily notable in the number and importance of the Old English root words. Many of the most commonly used words and the basic components of the language are Old English root words. Some are vaguely recognziable. Some less so. Some words were acquired from Latin. The Norman invasion injected many new words into the language. Some old English words were replaced. In many others instances, both the Old English word and the Norman French word entered the language. This meant that English speakers had a choice of words, often with slight variation in meaning. Often English readers do not give much thought to this. But the choice of Old English, French, or Latin root words can have great impact on the meanng or power of the words on the English speaking ear. There are many examples of this in written and spoken English.

Old English Root Words

Modern readers can not read Old English texts. It appears more like a foreign language, which it essentially is--Old German. Many modern English words, however, have Old English roots. Must of this is readily notable in the number and importance of the Old English root words. Many of the most commonly used words and the basic components of the language are Old English root words. Some are vaguely recognziable. Some less so.

Other Word Sources

Some modern English words were acquired from Latin. The Norman invasion injected many new words into the language. Some old English words were replaced. Few words were acquired from Celtic. Quite a number of words were acquited from Old Norse.

Dual Words

In many others instances, both the Old English word and the Norman French word entered the language. This meant that English speakers had a choice of words, often with slight variation in meaning. Thee words are mostly Old English/Norman French pairs.

Subtle Meanings

Often English readers do not give much thought to this. But the choice of Old English, French, or Latin root words can have great impact on the meanng or power of the words on the English speaking ear. There are many examples of this in written and spoken English.

Shakespeare

Reading over the famous St. Crispian speech that Henry V delivers to his troups before the Battle of Agincourt in Shakespeare's play, "Henry V", one finds that most of the vocabulary is Anglo-Saxon in origin although, of course, some of the words derive from Latin via Norman French: such words as "honour," "desires," "covert," "offending," "name," "advantages," "faniliar," "remembered," and "condition." But the majority of the words are of germanic origin, especially the all-important verbs. A word that illustrates the combination of romance and germanic roots is the word "gentlemen" (which uses the French word "gentille" and the Anglo-Saxon "mann"). Notice the most prominant phrase, "band of brothers". Many of the prominent and memorable words have Old English Anglo-Saxon roots. "Band of brothers" is certainly prominent, even memorable, and that is certainly a phrase with Germanic rather than French roots.

Churchill

A wondrful example of the power of Old English root words is shown by one of the greatest individuals to use the English language--Sir Winston Churchill. With the British Army straggling back from Dunkirk in 1940, language was one of the few weapons available to Churchill for carrying on the War with the NAZIs. The English root words carry a power sometimes lacking in the more sophistcated, nuanced French and Latin root words. Churchill spoke to the nation and in one of the most famous lines in the English language proclaimed, "We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender." What is notable here is that every word here has an Old English Germanic root--every word with the exception of "surrender". And "surrender" has a Norman French root. [McCrum, Cran, and MacNeil, p. 62.]

Sources

McCrum, Robert, William Cran, and Robert MacNeil. The Story of English (Viking: New York, 1986), 384p.