The History of English Podcast
Episode 180: English on the Move
Release Date: November 13, 2024
Host: Kevin Stroud

Introduction: The Dawn of English Global Expansion

In Episode 180, titled "English on the Move," host Kevin Stroud delves into the early 1600s, a pivotal decade when English began its extensive global migration. This period laid the foundational stones for what would become the British Empire, with English speakers not only traveling but establishing permanent settlements abroad. Stroud emphasizes the role of regional English dialects in shaping the diverse forms of English that emerged worldwide.

Political Landscape: King James and the Unification of Britain

Stroud begins by setting the political scene post the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605, highlighting King James' efforts to unify England, Scotland, and Wales under a single British identity. He notes:

"[James] sought to unify them, and he started to promote the idea of a unified Britain and a sense of common Britishness."
(00:09)

King James introduced symbols of unity, such as a new coin inscribed with "I will make them into one nation" and the creation of the Union Jack by combining the English and Scottish flags. Although formal political unity awaited another century, these early efforts sowed the seeds for a collective British identity.

Regional Dialects in England: The Seeds of Linguistic Diversity

Stroud explores the linguistic diversity within England itself during King James' reign. Regional dialects, particularly from the north and west, showcased significant variations from London English. He references Richard Verstigen's 1605 work, "A Restitution of Decayed Intelligence in Antiquities concerning the Most Noble and Renowned English Nation," which documents these dialectal differences:

"In some, several parts of England itself, both the names of things and the pronunciations of words are somewhat different..."
(n/a timestamp)

Verstigen advocated for preserving the Germanic roots of English, criticizing the influx of French and Latin loanwords. This preservationist view sparked debates, exemplified by Richard Carew's response in "Excellency of the English Tongue," which praised the enriched vocabulary brought by these loanwords, marking a shift in the perception of English from being "rude and rustic" to a more expressive and sophisticated language.

Literary Influences: From Don Quixote to Shakespeare

Don Quixote and English Proverbs

Stroud highlights the impact of Miguel de Cervantes' "Don Quixote," published in 1605, as a transformative work in Western literature and its indirect influence on the English language through translations. Notably, phrases like "tilting at windmills" and "the pot calling the kettle black" entered English, although some predated the translations.

"It's another phrase often attributed to the book... but a version of the phrase had actually appeared in English a few decades before that English translation."
(n/a timestamp)

Shakespeare's Macbeth and King Lear

The episode also examines Shakespeare's contributions during this era, particularly through "Macbeth" and "King Lear." Stroud points out that these plays reflect the unification efforts of King James and introduce several enduring phrases:

"Macbeth... introduced or popularized a lot of phrases that are still in common use in English today."
(n/a timestamp)
"Edmund... says, 'the wheel has come full circle,' a phrase attributed to Shakespeare."
(n/a timestamp)

These works not only enriched the English lexicon but also mirrored the sociopolitical changes of the time, fostering a nascent sense of British identity.

Colonial Ventures: The Establishment of Jamestown

The Jamestown Settlement

Stroud narrates the establishment of Jamestown in 1607 as the first permanent English settlement in North America. Highlighting the harsh conditions faced by the settlers, he recounts the high mortality rates and the pivotal leadership of John Smith:

"Under his guidance, several simple buildings were constructed, including a storehouse and several huts."
(n/a timestamp)

Smith's interactions with indigenous tribes and his efforts to document new vocabulary, such as the first recorded use of "raccoon" and terms like "creek" and "branch," illustrate the linguistic blending occurring in the New World.

Interaction with Indigenous Peoples: Pocahontas' Role

A significant turning point in Jamestown's survival story is Pocahontas' intervention to save John Smith's life, fostering better relations between the settlers and the Powhatan tribe. Stroud teases a future episode dedicated to Pocahontas, underscoring her lasting legacy in English history.

Linguistic Evolution in the New World: Creation of American English Terms

Stroud discusses how the interaction between English settlers and indigenous languages led to the creation and adoption of new English terms. Examples include:

• Raccoon: Derived from the native term raha hum.
• Creek: Initially pronounced crick, later evolving in American English.
• Branch: Originating from the French botanical term.

He also explores how regional English dialects from Britain influenced American English, noting the adoption of terms like "kill" from Dutch settlers in New York and "run" from broader English variations.

The Flight of the Earls and Its Linguistic Impact on Ireland

Political Upheaval and Migration

The episode transitions to Ireland, detailing the Flight of the Earls in 1607, where Irish nobility fled to the continent, creating a power vacuum in Ulster. This led to the Plantation of Ulster, where English and Scots settlers established a strong Protestant presence, significantly influencing the linguistic landscape with the introduction of Ulster Scots.

Ulster Scots and Its Legacy

Stroud traces the linguistic contributions of Ulster Scots to modern English dialects, particularly Appalachian English in the United States. He cites examples of words like "bairn" (child) and phrases like "y'all," demonstrating how migration patterns from Northern Ireland to America seeded regional dialects that persist today.

Settlement Patterns and the Development of Rhoticity in English Accents

A pivotal segment of the episode analyzes how migration patterns influenced the rhoticity of English accents:

• Rhotic Accents: Pronounce the "R" sound after vowels (e.g., "car" pronounced with a distinct "R").
• Non-Rhotic Accents: Do not pronounce the "R" sound in these positions (e.g., "car" sounds like "cah").

Stroud explains that early American and Canadian English retained rhotic accents due to settlers from rhotic-speaking regions of Britain, while New England English adopted non-rhotic features from settlers originating from eastern England. As England's non-rhotic accents became dominant, they were exported to other British colonies like Australia and New Zealand, solidifying non-rhoticity in these regions.

"Rhoticity... refers to whether or not a speaker pronounces the R sound after a vowel. If they do, it's rhotic; if they don't, it's non-rhotic."
(n/a timestamp)

This distinction remains a defining characteristic of various English accents globally.

The Pilgrims and the Plymouth Colony: Setting the Stage for Modern English

Stroud briefly touches on the Puritan migration led by William Brewster, which culminated in the establishment of the Plymouth Colony in 1620. This movement further influenced American English, particularly through the settlement patterns that contributed to rhotic and non-rhotic accent distributions across the United States.

Conclusion: Settlement Patterns as Architects of Modern English

In wrapping up, Stroud synthesizes the episode's themes, emphasizing how early 1600s migration and settlement patterns were instrumental in shaping the global landscape of the English language. The interplay between regional dialects from Britain, interactions with indigenous languages, and political upheavals in colonies like Ireland and North America collectively forged the diverse and rich tapestry of modern English accents and dialects.

"Regional accents tend to emerge naturally on their own over time, but they also occur when people who speak in a certain way settle together in the same region. So both of those factors contributed to the development of modern English accents."
(n/a timestamp)

He hints at future episodes that will explore subsequent milestones in the evolution of English, such as the King James Bible and the scientific revolution's impact on the language.

Notable Quotes

• On British Unity:
  "[James] sought to unify them, and he started to promote the idea of a unified Britain and a sense of common Britishness."
  (00:09)

• On Rhoticity Explanation:
  "Rhoticity is a fancy linguistics term that refers to whether or not a speaker pronounces the R sound after a vowel."
  (n/a timestamp)

• On Regional Accents Formation:
  "Regional accents tend to emerge naturally on their own over time, but they also occur when people who speak in a certain way settle together in the same region."
  (n/a timestamp)

Final Thoughts

Episode 180 provides a comprehensive exploration of how early English settlers, influenced by their regional dialects and the sociopolitical context of the time, set English on a path of global expansion. Through detailed historical narratives and linguistic analysis, Kevin Stroud illuminates the intricate processes that have led to the rich and varied forms of English spoken around the world today.

Stay tuned for the next episode, where Stroud will delve into the creation of the King James Bible and the advent of the scientific revolution, further uncovering the forces that have shaped the English language.