Notes For All Chapters – English Class 11
Modern English
Introduction to Modern English:
- Timeline:
- Modern English refers to the English language as it has evolved from the 15th century to the present day.
- The period can be further divided into Modern English I and Modern English II due to the social, technological, and political developments over the last 500 years that have influenced the language’s structure and use.
- Global Influence:
- English has established itself as an international link language, with widespread use in global forums such as the United Nations (UNO), WHO, IMF, SAARC, ILO, and more.
- In India, English plays a significant role in official, social, and commercial contexts, further emphasized by globalization.
- The Importance of Mastering English:
- As English is increasingly taught and learned in countries like China, Japan, Korea, and Indonesia, there is a growing need for Indian learners to continue mastering English to maintain their competitive advantage in the global landscape.
Development of Modern English I:
- Printing Technology:
- The introduction of printing technology in 1476 was a pivotal moment, helping to standardize English spelling and pronunciation.
- This technological advancement also increased literacy and provided more opportunities for people to write and circulate their works widely.
- Literacy and Literature:
- By the 17th and 18th centuries, the reading public had grown significantly in England, contributing to the expansion and development of the language.
- The rise of England as a maritime power, the expansion of the British Empire, and the growth of commerce, industry, and communication further fueled the evolution of English.
- Impact of the Renaissance and Reformation:
- Two major European events, the Renaissance and the Reformation, had profound effects on the English language, enriching it with new ideas and expressions.
Vocabulary Expansion:
- Rapid Borrowing:
- The rapid changes in society, technology, and politics led to the realization that the existing English vocabulary was insufficient to express new ideas and techniques.
- As a result, English began borrowing extensively from Latin, French, Greek, Italian, Spanish, and other languages, absorbing words from nearly fifty different languages, including those from Asia and Africa.
- Examples of Borrowed Words:
- Latin/Greek: Adapt, appropriate, capsule, lunar, virus.
- French: Alloy, battery, chocolate, passport, ticket.
- Hindi: Guru, pundit, sepoy, sari, thug.
- Arabic: Sultan, sheikh, algebra, hashish.
- Italian: Balcony, ballot, sonnet, lottery, fuse, macaroni.
- Portuguese: Buffalo, verandah, marmalade, pagoda.
- Persian: Bazaar, caravan, sofa, shah, divan, kismet.
- Spanish: Banana, cockroach, guitar, potato, barricade.
- Dutch: Knapsack, landscape, frolic, slim, easel.
- Turkish: Coffee, kiosk, yoghurt, caftan.
- Afrikaans: Trek, apartheid.
Grammar of Modern English I:
- Conservatism in Grammar:
- While the vocabulary of early Modern English underwent rapid changes, its grammar remained fairly conservative.
- The grammar of this period is characterized more by the survival of certain usages and features than by the introduction of new forms.
- As a result, texts from this period can be read and interpreted without much difficulty by modern readers.
- Influential Writers:
- Edmond Spenser: The Faerie Queene.
- Christopher Marlowe: Dr. Faustus.
- Francis Bacon: Essays.
- Ben Jonson: Volpone.
- William Shakespeare: King Lear, Othello, Macbeth, The Merchant of Venice, etc.
- The Authorized Version of the Bible and Shakespeare’s writings played significant roles in simplifying and popularizing the English language.
- The Augustan Age (18th Century):
- Known for a strong sense of order and regulation, contrasting the spirit of experimentation of the previous two centuries.
- The need for standardized spellings and correct grammar usage led to the publication of grammar books and dictionaries.
- Dr. Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary:
- In 1755, Dr. Samuel Johnson published A Dictionary of the English Language, containing over 40,000 words and their meanings. The work took seven years to complete.
- Grammar Books of the 18th Century:
- William Loughton (1734): Practical Grammar of the English Tongue.
- Joseph Priestly (1761): Various works.
- Robert Lowth (1762): Short Introduction to English Grammar.
- James Buchanan (1762): The British Grammar.
- Lindley Murray (1792): English Grammar.
- These grammar books aimed to codify English sentence structure, decide on cases of divided usage, and prescribe rules for correct usage, thereby strengthening the foundations of English grammar.
Conclusion and Transition to Modern English II:
- Establishing Order in Language:
- The 18th-century grammarians sought to establish order in the language following a period of expansion and experimentation. They viewed grammar as a means of preserving the language, although there were differences of opinion among them.
- Global Expansion of English:
- The changes, growth, and development of English largely took place within the British Isles until the 18th century.
- Afterward, English began spreading to other parts of the world, becoming a global language.
- The expansion and diversification of English in the 19th and 20th centuries, marking the beginning of Modern English II, will be discussed in the next chapter.
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