The Inspiring Journey of English (Part-2)

                                

 The Inspiring Journey of English (Part-2)

The Rise of Patriotism in England

In the previous chapter, we discussed how English was once looked down upon by the nobles as the language of the poor and illiterate, while French and Latin were considered more prestigious. However, in the early 14th century, the Hundred Years' War between England and France brought about a change in the perception of English.

The Hundred Years' War was a long-lasting conflict between England and France that spanned from 1337 to 1453. It was a series of intermittent wars, not a continuous battle, and the name "Hundred Years' War" was actually coined by historians in the 19th century.The war saw many famous battles, including Agincourt, Crécy, and Poitiers.

English kings such as Edward III and Henry V used the English language to inspire their troops and create a sense of unity and pride among the English people. At the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, Henry V delivered a famous speech in English that invoked the idea of a united and proud English nation. This victory was a turning point in the Hundred Years' War and helped to cement the importance of English as a language of national unity.

As a result, English began to gain more recognition and status as a language of national importance. The rise in patriotic sentiment and national pride in England also contributed to the development of English literature, which started to flourish in the 14th century.

In conclusion, the Hundred Years' War played a significant role in the rise of patriotism in England and the recognition of English as a language of national importance. This event also contributed to the development of English literature and its eventual rise as a global language."

Understanding the Text

1. What do you understand by 'Hundred Years War'?
2. How did English kings like Edward III and Henry V contribute to the recognition of English as the national language of England?
3. What was special about Henry V's speech in English at the Battle of Agincourt, and how did it affect people's views of the language?
4. How did the rise in patriotism play a key role in the development of English?

THE INSPIRING JOURNEY OF ENGLISH

  

  The Inspiring Journey of English (Part-1)

Once the language of Poor and Illiterate

Dear Students,

We are all here to learn and practice English, the most powerful language in the modern world, which has earned the distinction of being called "the international language" or "the global language." But how many of us know that this world conquering language was once called the language of poor and illiterate, and the English elite men and women would try to avoid using it as much as possible. English was considered so impure a language that even the church did not allow the holy bible to be written in English. In the following chapters we shall learn the gruesome struggle that the English literary class had to go through to write the first bible in English.

  So how it gained its present status? To know the answer, we need to take a break to reflect on its rich history and inspiring journey that brought this language from the humble dwellings of common people and peasants to the royal courts of England and beyond.

You would be surprised to know that the England we know today was once a colony of several nations for over a thousand years, and the language spoken in the royal court reflected the conquerors' languages. The Romans were the first to invade and conquer England in 43 AD, and they ruled the territory for more than 400 years. Then came the Anglo-Saxons, a group of Germanic tribes, they invaded and conquered England in the 5th and 6th centuries, establishing several kingdoms, including Wessex, Mercia, and Northumbria.

Again, in 1066, William the Conqueror, the Duke of Normandy, invaded England and defeated King Harold, an Anglo Saxon King, at the Battle of Hastings. This marked the beginning of Norman rule in England, which lasted until the end of the 12th century. The Normans spoke a variety of old French known as Anglo-Norman. As a result, French became the language of the English elite for several centuries, while the common people continued to speak old English. This linguistic fusion eventually led to the development of middle English.

 The Vikings, a seafaring people from Scandinavia, also invaded England multiple times between the 9th and 11th centuries, while the Scottish and English had a long history of conflict with several invasions and battles taking place between the two countries, including the Wars of Scottish Independence in the 13th and 14th centuries.

Due to these invasions and conflicts, the language of the royal court and the elite classes of England became French and Latin, and knowing German and Spanish was considered an honor. Meanwhile, English was still spoken by the common people, but it was seen as a rustic or vulgar language and was not considered suitable for use in formal settings or literature.  

Consequently, English was not used in official documents or legal proceedings, which were conducted in Latin or French.

However, over time, English began to regain its status as a respectable language, but the journey was not easy. In the next chapter, we will discuss the factors that allowed English to rise from the humble dwellings of the common man and peasants to walk into the royal courts of England.

Till then, keep learning and exploring the richness of the English language!

Best regards,

Raksha Suryaansh 

Understanding the Text

• Which civilizations or groups invaded and ruled England throughout its history?
• How long did the Romans rule over England?
• Who were Anglo-Saxons? How long did they rule over England?
• Who was William the Conqueror, and what impact did his invasion have on England?
• Which seafaring people invaded England between the 9th and 11th centuries?
• Why was English considered a rustic or vulgar language for a long time?