How Old English Changed Over Time
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How Old English Changed Over Time
Exploring the evolution of our language From Anglo-Saxon times to today Year 5 English - History of Language
WALT: We Are Learning To
Understand what Old English was like Identify how English has changed over 1000 years Compare Old English words to modern words Appreciate the history of our language
What do you think English sounded like 1000 years ago?
Think about how your grandparents speak Imagine going back even further in time Would we understand each other?
When was Old English spoken?
From about 450 AD to 1150 AD That's over 700 years! Spoken by Anglo-Saxon people Before the Norman Conquest in 1066
Timeline: English Language Evolution
What made Old English different?
Different alphabet - they used runes and later Latin letters Strange letters like þ (thorn) and ð (eth) Word order was often different Many words we don't use anymore
Spot the Difference: Old vs Modern English
Old English: 'Hwæt! We Gardena in geardagum' Modern English: 'Listen! We of the Spear-Danes in days of yore' This is from the famous poem Beowulf! Can you see how different it looks?
Word Transformations Over Time
{"left":"Old English: hús\nOld English: hlāf\nOld English: cyning\nOld English: dōm","right":"Modern English: house\nModern English: loaf\nModern English: king\nModern English: doom"}
Why did English change so much?
Viking invasions brought Norse words Norman Conquest (1066) added French words Trade with other countries People naturally change how they speak over time
Language is always changing!
'Language is not a fossil' - it's alive and growing Every generation adds new words Old words sometimes disappear This is completely normal and natural
Old English Writing Styles
Poetry used alliteration (same starting sounds) Example: 'Bold brave bear brings berries' Stories were told aloud before being written Poems had strong rhythm for memorizing
Famous Old English Literature
Beowulf - epic poem about a hero fighting monsters The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle - historical records Riddles and short poems Religious texts and prayers