The Formation of the English Language by Robert A. Beckner

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 7, 1907

The Formation of the English Language

By Robert A. Beckner

When Cæsar, in 55 B. C., landed on the island of Briton, he found a rude, barbarous, nature-worshiping people, called Celts. He was soon forced by these warlike people to leave the island unconquered; but in 45 A. D. the Romans came again, and conquered that part of the island now known as England. They built roads and towns, and turned it into a model Roman province, Romanizing and effeminating the Britons.

Rome was forced to withdraw her legionaries from this far-off province, to defend herself against the inroads of the Gauls; and the poor Britons were at the mercy of their cousins, the Picts and Scots, who came pouring down upon them from the fens and highlands. The fierce highlanders were so terrible and came so often that the Romanized Celts were forced to ask their Teutonic neighbors, the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes, living around the southern shores of the Baltic Sea, to come over and help them keep back these inroads.

About the year 449 the Teutons came over and drove back the Picts and Scots; and not being content with this, they took possession of the land of the Britons, and drove many of them out; however, there was more or less of a mingling of the two races. Thus there was a combination of Celtic, Roman, and Teutonic elements composing the people of England at this time; the Roman element, however, was slight. In like manner the language was composed of these same elements, the Teutonic predominating, the Roman showing only in the names of a few places.

Almost the only writings of Celtic origin were those of Cædmon. He wrote and sang of the great themes of the Bible. The old poem “Beowulf” is of Teutonic origin, and is thought to have been written before the Teutons came to England. After a few generations, the language of the two races became one, and was called “First English.” The first writer of this “First English” period was Bede. Besides many Latin works, he completed the translation of the Gospels into English, just before his death. The good King Alfred aroused an interest in learning, by translating into English many Latin works; he also started the great Saxon Chronicle.

In 1066 William the Conqueror came from France at the head of a Norman army, and conquered England. The Normans were of Teutonic origin, had lost their rough speech, and had adopted the manners and language of the French. Of course they would not give up their polished manner and speech to adopt those of the rude, half savage English, but tried in every possible way to force their language upon the people they had conquered. A continual warfare went on for more than two centuries to see which should be the language of the people; and since the English were little better than slaves, their wonderful tenacity is shown in the fact that they did not give up their language entirely. When there was a common union in a common cause to fight a common foe, then came a union of the language, and a feeling of good-will between the two peoples.

In the close of this “Transition Period,” about the middle of the fourteenth century, arose “The Morning Star of the Reformation,” John Wycliffe. He preached against the abuses of Rome, and translated the Bible into the English language. Just following Wycliffe, and probably a student of his writings, was Chaucer, called “The Father of English Poetry.” He did more for the English language than any other man; for coming at the time that he did, he gave to the people that which settled and fixed the language.

Since the time of Chaucer there has been no great or sudden change in the language, yet it is growing, and is taking on new words from all languages. As it is the most widely spoken language in the world, and, being made up of so many different elements, has the greatest facility for expressing thought, is it any wonder that God has given to the English-speaking people the greatest message ever given to any people,—the message that must and will go “to all the world in this generation”? And should not those who are to give the message study to give it in the best language possible?

ROBERT A. BECKNER.