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The English Language (Questions and Answers)

Q.1: When was Anglo-Saxon spoken in England?
Ans: Anglo-Saxon was spoken in England from AD 450 to AD 1150.
Q.2: Why is Anglo-Saxon not like modern English?
Ans: The reason that Anglo-Saxon is not like modern English is that there were two more foreign invasions on British. The invaders were Norman from Denmark and Normans from Normandy in France. The result of these invasions was that old English was changed into Middle English.
Q.3: What happened to the language as a result of the Norman Conquest?
Ans: As a result of the Norman Conquest, the old English was greatly modified and was turned in the course of next three centuries in to a compound language called Middle English.
Q.4: Which countries form part of the British Isles?
Ans: England, Wales and Scotland form part of the British Isles.
Q.5: Which other languages are spoken in Britain to day?
Ans: Along with English Welsh is spoken in Wales and Gae lio in Scotland, Celtic dialect was spoken in South west corner of England two hundred years ago.
Q.6: Why is English not spoken as a first language in parts of Wales and Scotland?
Ans: English is not spoken as first language in parts of Wales and Scotland because the Anglo-Saxon after conquering England could not penetrate into remote parts of Britain. The result was that English language was never implanted in those parts.
Q.7: Why does language tend to change more rapidly in a primitive society than in an advanced one?
Ans: The reason that language tend to change more rapidly in primitive society than in advanced one is that in an advanced society the invention of printing and spread of education fix the traditional usage of words and phrases so speed of change is slow. But in primitive society that is not the case. Hence change takes place rapidly.
Q.8: What kinds of words in Modern English are derived from Anglo-Saxon?
Ans: Most of common words in English are Anglo-Saxon in origin, for instance nouns like father, mother, food, drink, bed hunger, all strong verbs, most of the prepositions and conjunctions.
Q.9: Why does English have such a large vocabulary?
Ans: English has such a large vocabulary because it has borrowed several words from different languages such as German, French, Latin and Greek. It has been rightly said that the majority of England vocabulary is of Latin origin. Similarly it has also derived some words from Arabic and Dutch.
Q.10: What is the origin of word Yacht?Ans: Yacht is a Dutch word which accounts for its uncommon spelling. The name is derived from a Dutch word for hunting, Yacht were so named for their speed. First Yacht was given by the Dutch King to King Charles II as a wedding gift in 1662.

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