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Post by edwardjohn on Jul 6, 2020 17:32:26 GMT
So what did the English language come from?
My Mom's family is from Scotland but my Dad's ancestors were French (French Canadian from Quebec)
Thats a much older story. English is, in its origin a westgermanic language. It originated with the influx of Anglo-Saxons in the 5,th century to the british isles, Above all german, danish, and frisian people. Their language in due time came to be called Old English. That replaced, slowly, the celtic languages that had been spoken there earlier. Then the Vikings came and made raids and became kings over parts of england and their influence with the language made it change and become what we today call Middle English. This was in the 9,th and 10,th century. Then in 1066 came the Norman invasion and the Norman of the invaders became a big influence on English. Since Normans were essentially Vikings that had learned to speak old french a lot of loanwords from both French and Old Norse entered the language and kept on doing so for many centuries since the ruling class spoke Norman. The next change was Middle english became Early Modern English around 1500, the language of william shakespeare. With the influence of the renaissance spreading over europe a lot of loanwords from Greek and latin entered the language. It also included rather big pronunciation changes. Ok, that was the shortest i could make it but as a subject you could write a book about it and many have. The story of the English language is basically what nations invaded England.
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Post by edwardjohn on Jul 6, 2020 17:39:37 GMT
I am currently getting into John Buchan's book, Oliver Cromwell. A great account of the English Civil War and the following rule of the Commonwealth of England, and I also appreciated the military accounts of Cromwell and his army. A very balanced account of Cromwell, commending him where it was justified and criticising him where justified. But it is obvious that the historian is Pro-Cromwell at moments. I believe that Theodore Roosevelt also write a book on Cromwell as well. Regarding your question re languages. That is definitely not true. Once upon a time scandinavian could be said to be one language including what is now, Swedish, danish, norwegian and icelandic. According to linguists the language that now is closest to the scandinavian of yore is Icelandic. But the others developed in different ways and are now distinct. It is true that most people can with some tries find a mix that can be understand by all, that was how we communicated with our danish neighbours at my old countryplace. But often swedes have difficulties understanding danes when they are speaking pure danish. And the norwegians, after our union broke down in 1905, has distanced themselfes languagewise very much from swedish. So by now they are clearly different languages. Closely related yes and words in common and all that but distinct. The relationship that the Swedes and Danes have with regards to language seems very similar to what the Scots and English has. A Scotsman can understand any version of English that the English speak, but if a Scot is speaking what is called Broad Scots, then an English native definitely would not understand. I think that there are enough differences between Scots and English to officially class Scots as a different language. But something being a different language is as much a political decision as it is a linguistic decision. Like you said, probably the Danes, once independent, did not say they spoke Swedish, they spoke Danish.
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Post by wireman on Jul 6, 2020 20:45:35 GMT
I have, for the moment, abandoned history and am enjoying a spy novel. Double image by Helen MacInnes, a scottish-american author that wrote quite good spy stories from the beginning of the 40,s to the beginning of the 70,s. Her husband worked for the MI6. Her first books are taking place during the war and then during the cold war. Unlike Lecarre, that i think is overrated, her main character is seldom a spy of some kind but an ordinary person thats get dragged into an intrigue of spies by accident. He is often surrounded by spies of all colors but he is an example of the ordinary man. She went to the same University I go to! U of G (I looked it up)
Do you live in Glasgow? Our beloved SKMB member, John Daglish (not sure I got the spelling right) was from Glasgow. He was a fascinating guy. He was a professional musician in his younger years. He played with The Alex Harvey band in the 60s. When I joined the SKMB, he was always on, it seemed like 24 hours a day. I always thought it was odd that no matter what time of day I logged on he was there. I found out later that he had a muscular disease and was pretty much stuck at home all the time. He died 7 or 8 years ago. You may have heard him mentioned (we called him JD too) on the board. We still talk about him.
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Post by edwardjohn on Jul 6, 2020 21:45:00 GMT
She went to the same University I go to! U of G (I looked it up)
Do you live in Glasgow? Our beloved SKMB member, John Daglish (not sure I got the spelling right) was from Glasgow. He was a fascinating guy. He was a professional musician in his younger years. He played with The Alex Harvey band in the 60s. When I joined the SKMB, he was always on, it seemed like 24 hours a day. I always thought it was odd that no matter what time of day I logged on he was there. I found out later that he had a muscular disease and was pretty much stuck at home all the time. He died 7 or 8 years ago. You may have heard him mentioned (we called him JD too) on the board. We still talk about him.
I do when the semester starts, but I'm an Edinburgh native. I'm in Edinburgh at the moment. The University is first class, maybe the best in the whole of the UK? Nah, I only joined the board in the summer of last year right enough. I believe you spent a day in Edinburgh, right?
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Post by wireman on Jul 6, 2020 22:22:18 GMT
U of G (I looked it up)
Do you live in Glasgow? Our beloved SKMB member, John Daglish (not sure I got the spelling right) was from Glasgow. He was a fascinating guy. He was a professional musician in his younger years. He played with The Alex Harvey band in the 60s. When I joined the SKMB, he was always on, it seemed like 24 hours a day. I always thought it was odd that no matter what time of day I logged on he was there. I found out later that he had a muscular disease and was pretty much stuck at home all the time. He died 7 or 8 years ago. You may have heard him mentioned (we called him JD too) on the board. We still talk about him.
I do when the semester starts, but I'm an Edinburgh native. I'm in Edinburgh at the moment. The University is first class, maybe the best in the whole of the UK? Nah, I only joined the board in the summer of last year right enough. I believe you spent a day in Edinburgh, right? Yes, I remember we went to the castle.
We mostly stayed in London and did sightseeing tours to various places from London. When we went to Scotland, I remember we took a train and stayed the night in Edinburgh. We went to the castle and maybe a cathedral. I remember it was beautiful there and the train trip was awesome but other than the castle, I'm struggling to remember exactly what else we did in Edinburgh. I have a box somewhere of stuff like programs, postcards and various other souvenirs. I'll have to find that and look through it and it might kick start my memory.
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Post by edwardjohn on Jul 6, 2020 22:28:24 GMT
I do when the semester starts, but I'm an Edinburgh native. I'm in Edinburgh at the moment. The University is first class, maybe the best in the whole of the UK? Nah, I only joined the board in the summer of last year right enough. I believe you spent a day in Edinburgh, right? Yes, I remember we went to the castle.
We mostly stayed in London and did sightseeing tours to various places from London. When we went to Scotland, I remember we took a train and stayed the night in Edinburgh. We went to the castle and maybe a cathedral. I remember it was beautiful there and the train trip was awesome but other than the castle, I'm struggling to remember exactly what else we did in Edinburgh. I have a box somewhere of stuff like programs, postcards and various other souvenirs. I'll have to find that and look through it and it might kick start my memory.
Very cool.
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Post by neesy on Jul 6, 2020 22:28:26 GMT
So what did the English language come from?
My Mom's family is from Scotland but my Dad's ancestors were French (French Canadian from Quebec)
Thats a much older story. English is, in its origin a westgermanic language. It originated with the influx of Anglo-Saxons in the 5,th century to the british isles, Above all german, danish, and frisian people. Their language in due time came to be called Old English. That replaced, slowly, the celtic languages that had been spoken there earlier. Then the Vikings came and made raids and became kings over parts of england and their influence with the language made it change and become what we today call Middle English. This was in the 9,th and 10,th century. Then in 1066 came the Norman invasion and the Norman of the invaders became a big influence on English. Since Normans were essentially Vikings that had learned to speak old french a lot of loanwords from both French and Old Norse entered the language and kept on doing so for many centuries since the ruling class spoke Norman. The next change was Middle english became Early Modern English around 1500, the language of william shakespeare. With the influence of the renaissance spreading over europe a lot of loanwords from Greek and latin entered the language. It also included rather big pronunciation changes. Ok, that was the shortest i could make it but as a subject you could write a book about it and many have. Wow - thank you so much! That was a great condensed version - makes it very easy to understandI have, for the moment, abandoned history and am enjoying a spy novel. Double image by Helen MacInnes, a scottish-american author that wrote quite good spy stories from the beginning of the 40,s to the beginning of the 70,s. Her husband worked for the MI6. Her first books are taking place during the war and then during the cold war. Unlike Lecarre, that i think is overrated, her main character is seldom a spy of some kind but an ordinary person thats get dragged into an intrigue of spies by accident. He is often surrounded by spies of all colors but he is an example of the ordinary man. She went to the same University I go to! That's cool!
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Post by muskrat on Jul 8, 2020 6:18:19 GMT
Been kinda casually re-reading The Plague by Camus. Can’t really get into it right now, dunno why. Derf.
Waiting on a big pulp crime anthology that shoulda been here yesterday. I dunno...nothing sounds good. Right now I need some mindless escapist fiction, something like John Carter and the Bootleggers of Mars, or Gimp Whippers of Gor. Maybe some Harold Robbins. Something just trashy and stupid.
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Post by grant87 on Jul 8, 2020 14:47:22 GMT
I'm currently reading The Office: The Untold Story and the new anthology Final Cuts: New Tales of Hollywood Horror and Other Spectacles. Hi Grant! What do you think of that first book? Is it any good?
Great to see you posting here!
I'm loving it! I'm a huge fan of The Office, so this book is right up my alley. Plus, I enjoy reading behind the scenes type stuff. I find that interesting.
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Post by neesy on Jul 8, 2020 16:22:29 GMT
Hi Grant! What do you think of that first book? Is it any good?
Great to see you posting here!
I'm loving it! I'm a huge fan of The Office, so this book is right up my alley. Plus, I enjoy reading behind the scenes type stuff. I find that interesting.That's a pretty old series - I need to catch it on reruns - that's the story of my life - while something is popular I usually miss seeing it, then later I will binge watch (if I get the chance and have enough time)
How's your summer going so far?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2020 16:40:19 GMT
I have started Slapshot by Joe Hill with thought of entering into the discussion today but couldn't finish it. No fault of the story. I'm just so darn tired i cant concentrate. I managed 30 pages before i realised, No, not gonna happen, and put it away. Ah, tomorrow is another day as the saying goes.....
Just when i start thinking of snoozing a little i hear the first thunder. I doubt the gods (Norse of course) are on my side......
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Post by Wicked Esther on Jul 8, 2020 16:46:05 GMT
I have started Slapshot by Joe Hill with thought of entering into the discussion today but couldn't finish it. No fault of the story. I'm just so darn tired i cant concentrate. I managed 30 pages before i realised, No, not gonna happen, and put it away. Ah, tomorrow is another day as the saying goes..... Just when i start thinking of snoozing a little i hear the first thunder. I doubt the gods (Norse of course) are on my side...... It’s a very good story, but I know that feeling of not being able to concentrate. When I find myself having to re-read paragraphs or whole pages, I know it’s time to give the ol’ eyeballs a break.
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Post by neesy on Jul 8, 2020 17:26:04 GMT
I have started Slapshot by Joe Hill with thought of entering into the discussion today but couldn't finish it. No fault of the story. I'm just so darn tired i cant concentrate. I managed 30 pages before i realised, No, not gonna happen, and put it away. Ah, tomorrow is another day as the saying goes..... Just when i start thinking of snoozing a little i hear the first thunder. I doubt the gods (Norse of course) are on my side...... Hi - was just checking on that book (Strange Weather) - many of our branches are closed but they said I could try calling a branch way down in the south end of our city - I am up in the north east.
Guess I won't get a chance to join in, in the discussion.
Sorry to hear you are so tired! I know that feeling - it's hard to focus and concentrate - hope you feel better soon Kurben!
((((@kurben))))
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Post by grant87 on Jul 8, 2020 18:21:17 GMT
I'm loving it! I'm a huge fan of The Office, so this book is right up my alley. Plus, I enjoy reading behind the scenes type stuff. I find that interesting. That's a pretty old series - I need to catch it on reruns - that's the story of my life - while something is popular I usually miss seeing it, then later I will binge watch (if I get the chance and have enough time)
How's your summer going so far?
You'll have plenty of chances to catch up on it. Comedy Central airs re-runs all the time! It's great, I rewatch episodes all the time.
As for summer, it's going OK, all things considered. Spending a lot of time at home with my kids, which has been great. How about you?
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Post by neesy on Jul 8, 2020 18:51:48 GMT
That's a pretty old series - I need to catch it on reruns - that's the story of my life - while something is popular I usually miss seeing it, then later I will binge watch (if I get the chance and have enough time)
How's your summer going so far?
You'll have plenty of chances to catch up on it. Comedy Central airs re-runs all the time! It's great, I rewatch episodes all the time.
As for summer, it's going OK, all things considered. Spending a lot of time at home with my kids, which has been great. How about you?
We don't go out much, other than the back yard - focusing on gardening
I wish I could get that book Strange Weather by Joe Hill but it's hard right now with a lot of the library branches closed
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Post by Wicked Esther on Jul 8, 2020 21:25:51 GMT
You'll have plenty of chances to catch up on it. Comedy Central airs re-runs all the time! It's great, I rewatch episodes all the time.
As for summer, it's going OK, all things considered. Spending a lot of time at home with my kids, which has been great. How about you?
We don't go out much, other than the back yard - focusing on gardening
I wish I could get that book Strange Weather by Joe Hill but it's hard right now with a lot of the library branches closed
I don't know if you'd want to buy it, but I bought it on Ebay for about 4 bucks and there were plenty of other copies to be found for close to that price.
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Post by neesy on Jul 8, 2020 22:18:41 GMT
We don't go out much, other than the back yard - focusing on gardening
I wish I could get that book Strange Weather by Joe Hill but it's hard right now with a lot of the library branches closed
I don't know if you'd want to buy it, but I bought it on Ebay for about 4 bucks and there were plenty of other copies to be found for close to that price. The only things I buy are Avon and Lush products online (believe it or not) but if the Covid restrictions continue I may need to branch out a bit
Oh yeah - and I was buying CBD oil (legally) as I have a prescription so might need to top that up sooner or later.
I go through a company called MedReleaf, but I need to get my prescription renewed within 30 days or it will expire.
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Post by Wicked Esther on Jul 8, 2020 22:21:12 GMT
I don't know if you'd want to buy it, but I bought it on Ebay for about 4 bucks and there were plenty of other copies to be found for close to that price. The only things I buy are Avon and Lush products online (believe it or not) but if the Covid restrictions continue I may need to branch out a bit
Oh yeah - and I was buying CBD oil (legally) as I have a prescription so might need to top that up sooner or later.
I go through a company called MedReleaf, but I need to get my prescription renewed within 30 days or it will expire.
Oh ok. Too bad we don't live close--I'd share my book with ya. I hope your library comes through.
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Post by His Majesty on Jul 8, 2020 22:26:53 GMT
You'll have plenty of chances to catch up on it. Comedy Central airs re-runs all the time! It's great, I rewatch episodes all the time.
As for summer, it's going OK, all things considered. Spending a lot of time at home with my kids, which has been great. How about you?
I wish I could get that book Strange Weather by Joe Hill but it's hard right now with a lot of the library branches closed
I actually recommend Full Throttle instead. Much better, in my not so humble opinion. : )
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Post by Wicked Esther on Jul 8, 2020 22:32:21 GMT
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