Austen and C19th English

Write Austen’s phrase into modern English.

How has the language changed? Stick your phrase up on the appropriate poster around the room.

Apart from grammatical change, what other changes has the English language undergone since C19th? Record any ideas you have on your white board

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrcO_VBbXa0

Stages of English Language

1 Proto-English2 Old English – from the mid-5th century to the mid-11th century3 Middle English – from the late 11th to the late 15th century4 Early Modern English – from the late 15th to the late 17th century5 Modern English – from the late 17th century to the present

What influenced C19th English?

• Interest in past = use of archaic words

• Noan Webster publishes American Dictionary of the English Language in 1828

• British Empire causes huge lexical growth

• Industrial Revolution• Increasing literacy levels

and growth of literature (especially novels)

• English travels to other countries and imports many loanwords

• Modern language science begins with Jakob Grimm and others

• James Murray begins to compile the New English Dictionary (which later becomes the Oxford English Dictionary) in 1879

Late Modern English: C18/19th

Grammatically, sentences were likely to be longer, with embedded clauses and phrases. Using more subordinate clauses, influenced by Latin, became a fashionable way to make discourse more elaborate and display one’s learning.

You’ve listened, so now write• What can you remember about influences

on Late Modern English and its features? You have 3 minutes to write in silence all you can remember!

• In groups of 4 you each have 1 minute to read what you have written. Keep listening and adding to your notes!

• Now check your answers.

The Exam Question

Text A is from Jane Austen’s Emma published in 1815 and Text B is from Helen Fielding’s “Bridget Jones’ diary”, 1996. With reference to the text and ideas from language study, describe and comment on what these texts shows about the development of language over time. You should take account of context in your answer.

• You may wish to comment on some of the following:• language choices in relation to audience and style;• vocabulary, grammar and semantics• how social change effects language change

Preparing your data

• You have 20 minutes to produce a mind map / thought shower which captures the key ideas / examples about our text.

• Use the ‘How to Approach a Language Change Question’ to support your thinking.

Same / Different

He told me in our journey

She was small of her age

She say you to the day?

She doubted not

It is a nothing of a part

To be taken into the account

Fanny shrunk back

And much was ate

I am so glad we are got acquainted

So you are come at last!

The properest manner

The richest of the two

Will not it be a good plan?

It would shock you ..would not it?

I stood for a moment, feeling dreadfully

It is really very well for a novel

He told me in our journey prepositionsShe was small of her age prepositionsShe say you to the day? Auxiliary verbsShe doubted not Auxiliary verbsIt is a nothing of a part ArticlesTo be taken into the account ArticlesFanny shrunk back Irregular verbsAnd much was ate Irregular verbs

I am so glad we are got acquainted

So you are come at last!

The properest manner

The richest of the two

Will not it be a good plan?

It would shock you ..would not it?

I stood for a moment, feeling dreadfully

It is really very well for a novel

Tense usage

Tense usage

Comparative / superlative adj

Comparative / superlative adj

contractions

contractions

adverbs

adverbs

Adverb change

Irregular Verb Forms

Tense Usage

Comparative Adjectves

Use of Articles

Use of Prepositions

Use of contracted forms

Use of auxiliary verbs