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

-credited with introducing 2,000 words and catch-phrases

-“Shakespearean Firsts” – linguistic innovations he used in his plays

-Hamlet, Othello, MacBeth, Much Ado About Nothing

Christopher Marlowe

-Dido, Queen of Carthage, Hero and Leander

Ben Johnson

-Volpone

Edmund Spenser

-Faerie Qveen, The Shephearde’s Calendar

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

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

Pneumonia

Nucleus

Tendon

Nerve

Diagnosis

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

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

Pious - characterized by or showing reverence and obedience to God; faithful to religious duties and observances; devout, godly, religious. From Latin pi-us, 1603

Purgatory

Angel

Ecclesiastic

Orthodox

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

Clairshach

Reel

seamrag

tóraidhe

hooboube

clairseach

righil