The History of English Podcast: Episode 3 – The Indo-European Family Tree

Host: Kevin Stroud
Release Date: July 2, 2012

Introduction

In Episode 3 of The History of English Podcast, Kevin Stroud delves into the expansive Indo-European (IE) language family, elucidating how English fits within this intricate linguistic tree. Building upon the previous episode’s exploration of Sir William Jones’ contributions, Stroud sets the stage to unravel the connections between English and its ancient linguistic ancestors.

Understanding the Indo-European Language Family

Stroud begins by underscoring the significance of the Indo-European language as the progenitor of English and numerous other European languages. He highlights the surprising similarities between reconstructed Proto-Indo-European (PIE) words and their modern English counterparts. For instance:

• "Oxen" was "uxen" (00:10)
• "Mother" was "mater" (00:10)
• "One" was "oinos" (00:10)

Stroud emphasizes that nearly 50% of the reconstructed PIE vocabulary is present in modern English (00:10), either directly inherited or borrowed through other IE languages like Latin and Greek.

The Global Reach of Indo-European Languages

Approximately 3 billion people speak an Indo-European language as their native tongue, constituting about 50% of the world’s population (00:10). This widespread distribution underscores the profound influence of the IE language family on global communication and cultural exchange.

English: A Hybrid Indo-European Language

Stroud characterizes English as a hybrid IE language, primarily rooted in the Germanic branch (Old English) but significantly enriched by borrowings from other IE languages, especially Latin. He notes:

"English has at its core the original Germanic language known as Anglo Saxon or Old English. But it has lost a significant portion of the original Anglo Saxon vocabulary, replaced it with borrowed words." (00:10)

This blend results in English possessing a relatively small core vocabulary of Germanic origins, supplemented by a vast array of borrowed terms, predominantly from Latin.

The Indo-European Family Tree

Stroud provides a comprehensive overview of the Indo-European family tree, which his podcast’s website represents with 12 branches. He acknowledges variations in linguistic classifications, such as combining or separating branches like Baltic and Slavic based on scholarly debates (00:10). Key branches discussed include:

1. Hellenic (Greek)
2. Italic (Latin and Romance Languages)
3. Celtic
4. Germanic

Stroud also touches on less prominent or extinct branches like Phrygian, Hittite, and a recently discovered IE language from the Xinjiang region in China (00:10).

Impact of the Hellenic and Italic Branches on English

• Hellenic (Greek):
  Greek has influenced English both directly and indirectly through Latin. The Romans, heavily influenced by Greek culture, adopted numerous Greek words, which subsequently entered English. Additionally, the Greek alphabet, borrowed by the Romans from the Phoenicians, evolved into the modern English alphabet (00:10).

• Italic (Latin and Romance Languages):
  Latin's impact on English is profound, stemming from the Roman occupation of Britain, the role of the Catholic Church, and the Norman Conquest. Stroud explains:

  "Latin was seeping into these early Germanic languages... and continues to influence English almost without interruption." (00:10)

  The Norman invasion in 1066 introduced a vast number of French (a Romance language) words into English, further enriching its vocabulary. Even post-Renaissance, Latin remained the language of scholarship, science, and medicine, continuing its influence (00:10).

The Oak Tree Analogy: English's Linguistic Structure

Stroud employs a vivid analogy to illustrate English's linguistic composition:

"English is a massive oak tree. The roots and trunk of the tree are the original Germanic Anglo Saxon words. These are the core words of the language... the limbs, branches and leaves of that oak tree represent the borrowed words, most of which are from Latin." (00:10)

This metaphor highlights how the fundamental structure of English is supported by its Germanic roots, while its extensive vocabulary primarily consists of borrowed terms that add richness and diversity.

Core Vocabulary vs. Borrowed Vocabulary

Stroud presents compelling data on English word usage:

• Top 50 Most Common Words:
  Only 1 out of 50 non-Germanic words appears, with "use" being the first (42nd word) borrowing from Old French (00:10).

• Top 200 Words:
  A staggering 183 out of 200 are from the Germanic language family, showcasing the dominance of Anglo-Saxon vocabulary in everyday English (00:10).

This stark contrast underscores that while English's dictionary is teeming with Latin and other borrowings, the language’s daily use is grounded firmly in its Germanic heritage.

Celtic and Germanic Influences

Stroud discusses the historical interplay between Celtic and Germanic languages:

• Celtic Languages:
  Once widespread across Europe, Celtic languages like Irish, Welsh, and Breton have dwindled in use, with limited impact on modern English. The migration and domination of Germanic tribes led to the marginalization of Celtic languages in regions like Britain (00:10).

• Germanic Languages:
  As part of the Germanic branch, English shares common ancestry with languages like German, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian. Stroud clarifies that English and German evolved separately from Proto-Germanic, making them linguistic cousins rather than direct descendants (00:10).

The Migration of Germanic Tribes and the Birth of Old English

Focusing on the Low German dialects, Stroud traces the migration of the Saxons, Angles, Jutes, and Frisians to Britain in the 5th century (00:10). These tribes established regions such as:

• Kent: Settled by the Jutes
• Essex: From East Saxons
• Sussex: From South Saxons
• Wessex: From West Saxons

The West Saxon dialect, preserved under Alfred the Great during Viking invasions, became the foundation for most Old English documents, solidifying English’s place within the Germanic branch (00:10).

Frisian: The Closest Sibling to English

Stroud highlights the Frisian language as English’s closest linguistic relative, sharing remarkable similarities with Old English. He cites a traditional Frisian-English poem:

"Bread, butter and green cheese is good English and good frieze." (00:10)

This phrase illustrates the phonetic closeness and shared vocabulary between the two languages, more so than between English and other Germanic languages like Dutch.

Exceptions to the Indo-European Dominance in Europe

While the majority of European languages descend from the Indo-European family, Stroud acknowledges exceptions:

• Uralic Languages: Finnish, Estonian, Hungarian (Magyar)
• Basque: Spoken in northern Spain
• Turkish: Modern Turkish languages

These languages belong to distinct families and do not share the IE roots that unify most of Europe linguistically (00:10).

Conclusion and Teaser for Next Episode

Stroud wraps up the episode by posing intriguing questions about the origins of the Proto-Indo-European language and its speakers. He hints at the next episode’s focus on Grimm’s Law, a pivotal theory in historical linguistics that explains changes in the Germanic languages and aids in reconstructing PIE.

"In the next episode of the podcast, we'll look at how linguists have actually been able to reconstruct significant portions of this ancient language. And one of the key figures in this process was a collector of fairy tales, one of the famous Brothers Grimm." (00:10)

Listeners are encouraged to stay tuned for an exploration of how foundational linguistic theories have shaped our understanding of English’s evolution.

Key Takeaways

• Indo-European Roots: English’s foundational vocabulary stems from the Indo-European language family, particularly the Germanic branch.
• Borrowed Richness: A significant portion of English vocabulary is borrowed from other IE languages, chiefly Latin.
• Core vs. Peripheral Vocabulary: Everyday English relies heavily on Germanic terms, while its extensive dictionary is enriched by Latin and other borrowings.
• Historical Migrations: The movement of Germanic tribes to Britain in the 5th century was crucial in shaping Old English.
• Linguistic Relatives: Frisian stands out as the closest living language to English, highlighting the shared heritage within the Germanic family.

This episode provides a comprehensive overview of the Indo-European language family and English’s place within it, setting the foundation for deeper explorations into linguistic history and evolution in subsequent episodes.