WITH over 460 million speakers globally and being the medium for 80 per cent of the information stored in the world’s computers, English is the most widespread language in the world. But do you ever stop to wonder, how did English come to be? Where did these words we speak originate? The answers might not be what you think, so get ready to be surprised!

The origin

It may be your assumption that English, naturally, originated in England. Think again! The heart of the English language is actually German!

A long time ago, during the fifth century AD, three Germanic tribes called the Saxons, the Angles and the Jutes invaded Britain. These fierce tribesmen from parts of north Germany and Denmark arrived in Britain and brought with them their own languages, which developed into the language we now classify as ‘Old English’.

The inhabitants of Britain were Celtic-speaking but these were eventually driven out of their own lands and forced to flee to places like Scotland, Wales and even to Brittany on the coast of France, where their descendants still speak the Celtic language today.

Meanwhile, the fierce warlike tribes introduced their own languages into the Britain, where, through the years the three different languages moulded together to form the language we would today call Old English.

One might think that Old English too is a form of ‘English’, and you might be able to somewhat understand what it means. Well, as you can see from this extract of the poem “Beowulf” written in old English, it is very difficult to understand indeed! It can only be read by experts thought I challenge you to try!

“Hwæt! We Gardena in geardagum, þeodcyninga, þrym gefrunon, hu ða æþelingas ellen fremedon.”

It’s translation in modern English is: “LO, praise of the prowess of people-kings of spear-armed Danes, in days long sped, we have heard, and what honor the athelings won!”

Middle English

Old English was spoken until around 1100. Then, just as the three Germanic tribes had invaded England, now William the Conqueror, Duke of Edinburgh, invaded and conquered England in 1066AD. Just like the Germanic tribes had brought in their own languages, so did William the Conqueror! His nobles spoke French, and so, instead of Old English, French became the language of the government.

In fact, now English was considered to be a ‘vulgar tongue’, and the language of the lower classes!But by the 14th century, the tables had turned once again and as the influence of William wore out, English became dominant in Britain once again. The only change now was that there were many French words added into English. This new language, a melting pot of English and French, became known as ‘Middle English’ or ‘Mediaeval English’.

Middle English is far easier to interpret than Old English, so here’s a sample below, have a try!

And whan I sawgh he wolde never fine To reden on this cursed book al night, Al sodeinly three leves have I plight Out of his book right as he redde, and eke I with my fist so took him on the cheeke That in oure fir he fil bakward adown. And up he sterte as dooth a wood leon And with his fist he smoot me on the heed That in the floor I lay as I were deed. And whan he swagh how stille that I lay, he was agast, and wode have fled his way, Till atte laste out of my swough I braide; “O hastou slain me, false thief?” I saide, “And for my land thus hastou mordred me? Er I be deed yit wod I kisse thee.”

Modern English

Slowly, but surely, changes began to come into English. Imagine a colourfully knitted rug. All those different threads and colours have become fused together to form one smooth, flowing cloth. In the same way, Middle English had influences from all sorts of different people, such as French, Greek and Latin, and the English language took some of the words from these cultures and they became part of the smooth, flowing language we know today as English.

Modern English developed further through the introduction of the printing press in England. The printing press meant that books were now cheaper and easier for people to obtain and read. The printing of books now meant that there was one common language in which these books were printed. Printing also brought standardisation to English. There was now a common system of spelling and grammar, and the first English dictionary was printed in 1604!

The British Empire, at this time, was also undergoing many different changes. Events like the Industrial Revolution and the Renaissance (period of development) meant that there was a need for new words to identify new things like new machinery that was invented.

In addition, the British Empire was constantly changing. Britain had acquired many colonies all over the world. So, as the British empire expanded all over the world — such as India, Australia, Malaysia and even parts of Africa, the English language continued to change as newer words, borrowed from all these different cultures, were added to the English vocabulary. British people were sent to rule over the conquered places, like in India, and as the British interacted with the local people, new words were added to the English vocabulary. We’ll learn more about these “borrowed” words in a bit.

English is still a very versatile language, and it continues to change and develop each year, with hundreds of new words being introduced and added to our vocabulary. Despite all the borrowed words from other languages, the heart of the English language remains the Anglo-Saxon version of Old English and the grammar is still distinctly Germanic.

Here are five English words with surprising origins! Try to guess which language or culture these words are borrowed from, they might not be what you expected!

Ketchup

If I were to ask you where the word “ketchup” first originated, your guess might be the USA, famous for its burger joints where people consume a large amount of ketchup. Right? Wrong!

The origins of the word ketchup are actually Chinese! In the 17th century, the Chinese invented a sauce made from pickled fish and spices and called it “kôe-chiap” or “kê-chiap”. This tasty sauce was taken to other South Asian states such as Malaysia and Singapore by Chinese sea traders, and the British settlers in these places fell in love with its taste. And hence, the word ‘ketchup”, an easier pronunciation of the Chinese “kôe-chiap” became part of the English language.

Tragedy

With their famous theatres and performances, who else could claim origin to this word other than the Greeks? But the interesting part of the history of English word is the meaning behind it.

The word is derived from Classical Greek term: trag(o)-aoidiâ , which has an odd literal meaning. This Greek term from which the word “tragedy” is derived from actually means “goat-song”!

You must be wondering, what does a farmyard animal like a goat have to do with tragedy?

Well, in Ancient Greece, the tragoi (goats) were believed to be priests of the god Dionysus. During festivals to the God, there were tragedy play contests and whoever put up the best performance was given the bumper prize — a live goat! Sometimes, however, the goat would be sacrificed in honour of the god Dionysus and a special song of grief sung for the goat as it was killed. And that is how the lament-song for the goat became to be associated with the tragic plays of Greek times and is used in English today.

Chimpanzee

Now, we’ve all heard stories of chimpanzees strolling in lush forests, and even performing in circuses all over the world, so can you guess where the word for these mammals came from?

Think carefully! Since most of the world’s chimpanzees are found in Africa, the origins of the word “chimpanzee” are African!

The phrase from which the word chimpanzee is derived comes from the Bantu Language of Congo, one of the main habitats of the chimpanzee in Central Africa.

It comes from the Bantu words “Tshiluba Kivili-Chimpenze” which are from nchima (‘blue monkey’) and mzee “respectable gentleman”.

Shampoo

You’ll definitely be surprised to learn where the word for ‘shampoo”, such a common everyday item, comes from!

Can you guess where the word “shampoo” originated? Right here in the subcontinent!

The word “shampoo” is derived from the Hindustani term “châmpo”, which means “head massage”.

This word dates all the way back to 1762, when the whole idea of shampoo originated in the olden days of the Mughal Emperors.

Later on, the man who brought the idea of shampoo to Britain was an Indian called Sake Dean Mahomed, who opened a steam bath in Brighton in the late 1780s! Isn’t it fascinating that someone from the subcontinent was the one who brought the idea of shampoo to the world?

In fact, so popular was Mahomed’s treatment of champi (shampooing), that he was appointed “Shampooing Surgeon” to King George IV of Britain!

Fun fact: Other words in English that are derived from Hindi or Urdu include: “typhoon” from Urdu’s “toofaan”, ‘Bungalow” from Urdu’s “bangla” and many more.

Jeans

One almost immediately identifies the idea of wearing blue jeans with America! However, the United States are not where the jeans, or even the word, originated.

The word “jean” comes from the French phrase “jean fustian”. The term “fustian” refers to a special type of twilled cloth that was worn by sailors from Genoa, Italy!