How is the word “lord” related to a loaf of bread? Where did the pronoun “she” come from? (And why was it voted the Word of the Millennium?) When did double negation become non-standard, and who first said (erroneously) that two negatives make a positive? Is “must” being replaced by “hafta?”
Why and how does a living language like English change? The answer, in a word, is fascinating. Linguist and English-language historian Anne Curzan offers a lively tour that spans the language’s shifting landscape, from Beowulf to blogging. The history of English, Curzan says, is linked to its contact with other languages. She discusses the influences of Old Norse, the Celtic languages, French, and Latin during its early stages, joined by hundreds of others since. It’s no wonder that linguists now talk about the “Englishes” spoken around the world.
The language continues to evolve, especially given the impact of modern technologies. Despite a fear that texting and tweeting could destroy the written language, linguists who are tracking the effects of the internet and social media don’t suggest a decay in the language. After what the English language has undergone over the past millennium, you “hafta” believe it will survive.
Curzan is the Geneva Smitherman collegiate professor of English and linguistics at the University of Michigan, where she also served as dean of the college of Literature, Science, and the Arts.
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