The History and Heritage of the English Language - Writers Forum

Puppy · 08-01-2004, 10:01 AM

Hello

Can somebody please help me out on an important quest to find the name of one of the most important man that contributed to the English language. A man that suitably fits the description of a highly respected, "ancestor" of the English language. I'm sorry if this sounds like a silly question, but if anyone can help me out, it would really be great. Thank you in advance

Puppy

huni · 08-01-2004, 10:22 AM

Well that has to be one of the biggest questions I've ever heard!!! Let me think about that for awhile and maybe I'll get back to you. Or someone else may save me

. In the meantime, relax, look around and enjoy the forums. regards huni. (Actually, as I think about it I'm not sure you can really pin this down to one person. Not like Americans can pin down their current use of English to that excellent fellow Webster. ) (How far back are you wanting to go? William the conquerer had a lot to do with changing some of the English language. Mind you the English didn't adopt French words into the speech, so much as completely mangled them and made them into handy English words. Being a Germanic language I am guessing the first Viking on the soil of The Brits had the most impact, with the help of a whole heap of marauders. Incidentally both of whom are my ancestors. The Brits and the Danish I mean.) See what happens when I'm still at my computer at 1.00 in the morning. I LOSE it and RAMBLE. sorry. huni.

Puppy · 08-01-2004, 10:34 AM

Thank you so much huni!! As soon as I say that nick I want to say "bunny" after it *LOL* Thank you so much for your fast reply!! I have no idea about the English language as I come from a full on scientific background....but it's never too late to learn issit??

I'm looking for a name that not only have instant credibility upon hearing, but has a kind of "ting" to the name of it...like a "unique", good sounding name that people who have good English background would probably recognise. This is because a series of books will be based on this person that is decided...so it is a pretty important decision.

Is there anyone who you respect that suits this quality? He will be well-known through the publication of this series, and I'll definately let you know who was decided and how it is going. Thank you so much for your inputs.

Puppy

Puppy · 08-01-2004, 10:37 AM

OOOH How rude of me!! I didn't even say thank you for welcoming me onto the site!!!! I'm loving here already

What a nice community! Huni, when you get to it sometimes in the near future, sweet dreams

huni · 08-01-2004, 10:40 AM

Hi, I'm still up but must go soon. You've really got me thinking and one name does come to mind. Samuel Johnson (not sure of the spelling) but he was in the 1700's I think and I am pretty sure wrote the first dictionary for English and so gave it a proper form and some structure (of course more structure and better spelling came later). Any way check him out. Sorry he doesn't go far back, but English has developed like almost no other language and would be hard to pin down to any one person. regards huni.

huni · 08-01-2004, 10:44 AM

YES, definitely go with Johnson(?) as it is coming back to me that he was very influential and a BIG name. Goodnight puppy and you are welcome. huni.

Puppy · 08-01-2004, 11:05 AM

Sweetest Dreams Huni!!

Samuel Johnson, top priority list!! Thanks to you!!

A grateful Pups

Dragonscales · 08-01-2004, 12:00 PM

I tend to agree with huni in regards to not being able to give any one person credit for English. The language itself has been morphed countless times and borrows parts from many different origins and languages. I'd also be along the lines of thinking that if there was truely any one person who sat down one day and decided to themselves "Hmm, I think I'll create a new language today" that their name would have been lost to time centuries ago. Sorry.

Puppy · 08-01-2004, 12:06 PM

hehe, I am really sorry for phrasing my question so specifically when I know very well that there can be not just one man responsible for such a great language, morphed and beautified into one of the most stunning creation that contributes to a great part of life from ages ago till this very day. It was hard phrasing the question, but basically I needed the name of a great contributor to the English language. Yes that's better! That's what I meant!! Wanting the name of a major contributor, preferably well known to the society! Thank you so much for your responses, which have been delivered at an amazing speed, as well as being genuine and to the point.

Puppy

Spudley · 08-01-2004, 12:52 PM

Shakespeare is also quite a big name to use - he invented dozens of words in his plays, and a lot of them have made it into mainstream use. He was just following the trend at the time - there was a lot of linguistic experimentation going on in his day, but he was one of the most sucessful at it in terms of getting his new words to be accepted.

Also, the invention of the printing press probably did more to formalise the language than any other single event.

In general, though, I think trying to find one man who influenced the language the most is like trying to find one man who built London. I don't think it's really possible. The English language has been developing and evolving constantly, with new words and subtle changes in every generation.

English has roots going back into the Saxon days, and from them, links with Ancicent German, and so on. It's just changed bit-by-bit into the language we have today.

huni · 08-02-2004, 05:34 AM

Spud, I was going to say Shakespeare and then thought that he only really contributed by using it a lot, becoming really famous (and why not when you are that good a writer AND funny to boot) and then subsequent generations, maybe out of respect for this amazing man, froze it in time. Now you come along and say he invented some of the English language. I didn't know that! How come no one told ME. So how about it. Are you going to share? huni. (in waiting) I love English and defend it hotly as an amazing and complex language every chance I get.

Spudley · 08-02-2004, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by huni

Spud, I was going to say Shakespeare and then thought that he only really contributed by using it a lot, becoming really famous.... Now you come along and say he invented some of the English language. I didn't know that! How come no one told ME. So how about it. Are you going to share?

In Shakespeare's day, it was a fashionable trend to invent new words, and a sizable proportion of the words we take for granted today date from that period. Most of them are just anglicised latin, some are derived from other languages, and a few are genuinely invented on the spot.

I haven't got any reference material handy to quote from, but it is well documented that Shakespeare was one of the most prolific individuals ever in his creativity with inventing new words. He took the trend of his times, and built his career on it.

As I say, I don't have any details to hand, but I'll dig up a few links that might be of interest on the topic:

Link... - Book on Amazon titled Coined by Shakespeare: Words and Meanings First Used by the Bard... with a title like that, it should cover the topic pretty well.

Link... - another book on Amazon that touches on the topic.

Link... - list of words invented by The Bard. (not sure I agree with some of the ones they've listed here, though)

Link... - hehe. A wordsearch game of words he invented.

Drzava · 08-02-2004, 12:18 PM

Let's all bow down to the man that coined a few phrases and used some new words. If it weren't for him who knows what I'd be typing here!

Puppy · 08-09-2004, 05:40 AM

Sorry for not replying my own post as I have this on "watch" but has failed to get any notifications! Thank you everyone for your suggestions! Anymore would be greatly appreciated

Pookaah · 10-29-2004, 11:02 PM

I know this is an old topic but this is my first week here and this subject fascinates me. I think Johnson is a good start because he was the first person to try to standardise English - before then you could spell as you liked and no-one would know or care if it was wrong (bit like now, really).

One of the things which makes English hard to learn is pronunciation. For example we use 'ch' in three ways 'church', 'choir' and 'chivalry'. One is Anglo-Saxon, one Norse and one Norman. There's also wonderful little villages like Breedon-on-the-hill. Bree means hill and so does don. England has been invaded several times and when the invaders point at the village on the hill and gesture 'what's that' the locals think they're trying to learn the language and answer "hill" - you can imagine the rest.

If you like I'll have a 'quick' look at my Complete Oxford English Dictionary and see if I can come up with some more names.
Let me know.