In what sense can Loan Words be called some of the Milestones of the General History ?
Answer
Loan words have been called "The milestones of Philology" because they help in fixing the date of linguistic changes. They are also be called "The milestones of general history" because they help us to trace the growth of civilization and gives an insight into the inner life of the nations. Usually loan words are technical words belonging to some special branch of knowledge or industry in which the borrowing nation is deficient and in which the lending nation is proficient. Linguistic interpretation of such loan words throw a flood of light on the reciprocal relations of the participatory people in the time of global trans-migration.
Milestone No.1: LATIN LOANS BEFORE THE ADVENT OF CHRISTIANITY
Before coming to Britain the Germanic people learnt some Latin words by coming into contact with the Romans or continues in the period which may be called the Pagan and the Pre-Christian Period. Such words are 'Wine', 'Cheap', 'Dish' etc.,. The loan words borrowed at the first stage of civilization were practical and of material advantage. As the Roman were the masters of Britain of about four hundred years a number of Latin had naturally found their way into the Celtic Language. Latin 'Castra' for example survives in many place names like 'Winchester', 'Gloucester' etc.,.
Milestone No.2: LATIN LOANS AFTER THE ADVENT OF CHRISTIANITY
The introduction of Christianity into England about A.D.600 had far reaching linguistic consequences though the English had felt the Christian influence even before the conversion when they were living on the continent. Such Pre-Christian words are 'Church','Minster','Devil' etc.,. Some of the words borrowed after the conversion are mostly ecclesiastical to nature such as 'Apostle', 'Priest', 'Bishop', 'Disciple', 'Shine', 'Pope' etc.,. These borrowing mark an advance in the growth of the English Language and civilization as a result of the impetus derived by the English people from Christianity. There are as well some more words expressive of Latin Christianity such as 'Priesthood','Easter','Sacrehood' etc.,.
Milestone No.3: SCANDINAVIAN LOANS
A.C.Bough writes "Scandinavian Influence is one of the most interesting of the foreign influence that have contributed to the English Language." The Scandinavian Loan words were of purely democratic character which all seem to denote objects and actions of the most common place description and which are in everyday use like 'Husband', 'Egg', 'Law', 'Tell', 'Die', 'Take', 'Call', 'Sky' etc.,. The Scandinavian modified the legal ideas of the Anglo Saxons and a number of Scandinavian Law Terms entered the English Language. Such as 'Law', 'By Law', 'Trall', 'Crave' etc.,. The Scandinavian influence is also found in some personal ending 'Son' as Jhonson, Stevenson and some place names ending in '-by', '-throp' etc.,. Such as Withby, Goldthrop etc. The Scandinavian Influence not only affected the English Vocabulary but also English Grammar and Syntax.
Milestone No.4: FRENCH LOANS
The next incentive to the growth of the English Language and the development of the culture and civilization of the English in 1066 A.D. The Normans are more cultured race and for many years were the rulers of England. Their words were distinctly aristocratic and belong to different spheres of history and suggest the influence of an 'occupying power' over the existing racial group (C.L.Wrenn). Some special words are 'Crown', 'State', 'Government', 'Reign', 'Realm', 'Sovereign', 'Power', 'Council', 'Authority', 'Parliament', 'People', 'Nation' etc.,. Some words relating to the feudalism and military are 'Prince', 'Peer', 'Honour', 'Glory', 'Heraldry', 'War', 'Peace', 'Battle', 'Siege', 'Army', 'Navy', 'Office', 'Lieutenant', 'Challange' etc.,.
Milestone No.5: LATIN LOANS DURING AND AFTER THE RENAISSANCE
The Renaissance played the most important part in facilitating the adoption of Latin words again. The great historical event turned the best mind of Europe to the ancient civilization of Greece and Rome which were a store house of knowledge of all kinds of philosophical, ethical, literary, scientific etc. The rediscovery are of Roman Civilization widened the intellectual horizon of Europe. This third stratum of Latin loans embodies specially abstract or scientific words. The words borrowed by the English at this stage, point to the high stage of the culture and civilization attained by the English people. The words 'Enormous', 'Climax', 'Bathos', 'Epistolory', 'Phenomenon', 'Parricide' etc. Suggest the high watermark of contemporary culture.
Milestone No.6: FOREIGN LOANS FROM VARIOUS NATIONS THROUGH CULTURAL AND COMMERCIAL CONTACTS
The English of a Latin stage come into more intimate relation with the lives and habits as well as the language of the various nations of the world through cultural and commercial contacts and borrowed innumerable words belonging to different spheres like the Dutch, the Italian, the Spanish, the German, the Arabic, the Indian, the African, the Chineese and of other nations. Beside these they have the modern age, coined number of words in various way to give expression to the new ideas that are growing daily.
Conclusion
These words borrowed from various sources marks the stages in the growth and development of the English language and civilization which leads Jesperson to remark that loan words are the milestones of philology or the milestone of general history.
Comments
Post a Comment