THE EARLY SPECULATIONS ABOUT THE ORIGIN OF AN ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Keywords:
English Language, Linguistic Origin, Philology, Historical Linguistics, Anglo-Saxon, Proto-Germanic, Early Speculations, Language HistoryAbstract
The article represents the origins of the English language have long
intrigued linguists, historians, and philologists. Before modern linguistic methods were
developed, early speculations about the genesis of English ranged from biblical
interpretations to mythological and nationalistic narratives. This article explores these
early theories, focusing on pre-modern and early modern ideas concerning the roots of the
English language. It analyzes key texts and thinkers who contributed to these speculations
and contrasts their ideas with contemporary linguistic understanding. By examining
historical sources and early linguistic methodologies, the study reveals how national
identity, religious beliefs, and limited philological tools shaped early theories about
English's origin.
References
Bede. Ecclesiastical History of the English People. Trans. Leo Sherley-Price, Penguin
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Geoffrey of Monmouth. The History of the Kings of Britain. Trans. Lewis Thorpe,
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Camden, William. Britannia. 1586.
Verstegan, Richard. Restitution of Decayed Intelligence. 1605.
Jones, William. “The Third Anniversary Discourse.” Asiatic Researches, 1786.
Hogg, Richard M., and David Denison, eds. A History of the English Language.
Cambridge University Press, 2006.
Barber, Charles. The English Language: A Historical Introduction. Cambridge
University Press, 2000.
Crystal, David. The Stories of English. Penguin Books, 2004.
