The Anglo-Saxons were Germanic tribes that conquered England in the 5th century.

Old English was an early version of English spoken in the Middle Ages.

To translate something means to change it from one language to another.

If something is forbidden it is not allowed.

A paradise is a place of great happiness. It can also refer to heaven.

Reading an Anglo-Saxon Bible extract

English

In 'A History of Language' students gain an understanding of the way in which English has evolved over time. In 'Perspectives on Gender', students also consider how language has been shaped by historical and social factors.

In 'Sherlock Holmes: Short Stories', students practise argumentative speaking as part of role-playing a court case. In 'A History of Language',  students also argue to justify the addition of their new word to the dictionary.   

In this unit, pupils explore the history of the English Language. They first learn about the development of the English Language, before using a single word and the Lord's Prayer to explore how language changes. They then plan, write and deliver a persuasive speech about a new word.

A history of language

What was the name of the language that was created after the arrival of the Anglo Saxons?

Which of the following is an example of a text written in 'Old English'?

Match these 'Old English' words to their modern English equivalents.

If a text is in an unfamiliar language, which three things can we look for to help us decode it?

It was used in schools & churches and the Bible was translated into Old English.

Everybody was made to learn Latin in Anglo-Saxon Britain so many people knew it.

Latin was retained as the language of the legal and political systems.

Which of the following best explains why Latin was influential in the development of Old English?

What does the Old English word 'nǣddre' mean in modern English?

'Old {{}}' was the language spoken in Britain between the 5th and 12th centuries.

A noun is a word used to describe an action, state or occurence.

A noun is a word that names something such as a person, place, thing or idea.

A noun is a word that gives a description of an attribute of something.

In which century did the Anglo-Saxon era begin?

The Bible was influential in the development of English. In what language was it written when it first came to Britain?

To improve the language in a piece of writing.

To understand the main part of something.

To change something from one language to another.

Which of the following is the definition of 'translate'? Here it is used in sentence: The student was asked to translate the text into English.

Something you can do if safety precautions are taken.

Which of the following is the best definition of forbidden? Here it is used in a sentence: The children were forbidden from playing near the river.

Starter Quiz