The History of English in Ten Minutes - for iPad/Mac/PC - podcast cover

The History of English in Ten Minutes - for iPad/Mac/PC

The Open Universitywww3.open.ac.uk
Where did the phrase ‘a wolf in sheep’s clothing’ come from? And when did scientists finally get round to naming sexual body parts? Voiced by Clive Anderson, this entertaining romp through 'The History of English' squeezes 1600 years of history into 10 one-minute bites, uncovering the sources of English words and phrases from Shakespeare and the King James Bible to America and the Internet. Bursting with fascinating facts, the series looks at how English grew from a small tongue into a major global language before reflecting on the future of English in the 21st century.
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Episodes

Anglo-Saxon

A look at what words the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings bought to the English language.

Jun 22, 20111 min

Transcript -- Anglo-Saxon

Transcript -- A look at what words the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings bought to the English language.

Jun 22, 2011

The Norman Conquest

In 1066, William the Conqueror invaded Britain and bought with him fancy French words to add to the English language.

Jun 22, 20111 min

Transcript -- The Norman Conquest

Transcript -- In 1066, William the Conqueror invaded Britain and bought with him fancy French words to add to the English language.

Jun 22, 2011

Shakespeare

This video tells us that Shakespeare invented over 2000 new words and phrases like eyeball, anchovy and puppy.

Jun 22, 20111 min

Transcript -- Shakespeare

Transcript -- This video tells us that Shakespeare invented over 2000 new words and phrases like eyeball, anchovy and puppy.

Jun 22, 2011

The King James Bible

Illustrating that in 1611, the new King James Bible was created and gave us many famous phrases.

Jun 22, 20111 min

The English of Science

In the 17th Century, new science words were being created like acid, ovary and tonsil.

Jun 22, 20111 min

English and Empire

Exploring how the British Empire spread across the world bringing back many new words and phrases.

Jun 22, 20111 min

The Age of the Dictionary

A look at how lexicographers started creating the Dictionary of the English Language to ensure that everyone spelt words correctly and knew their correct definition.

Jun 22, 20111 min

Transcript -- The Age of the Dictionary

Transcript -- A look at how lexicographers started creating the Dictionary of the English Language to ensure that everyone spelt words correctly and knew their correct definition.

Jun 22, 2011

American English

Learn about American-English and how some American words were actually English to start with.

Jun 22, 20111 min

Internet English

Exploring the expansion of internet language, with abbreviations like lol and btw.

Jun 22, 20111 min

Global English

The future of English and the many hybrids that have been created. Should we still call it English?

Jun 22, 20111 min

Transcript -- Global English

Transcript -- The future of English and the many hybrids that have been created. Should we still call it English?

Jun 22, 2011
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